About Montana Horse Sanctuary
The Sanctuary opened in 2004. The founders were Jane Heath, Vic Andersen and an in-crisis mustang named Sage. Sage first brought Jane and Vic’s attention to the huge number of horses in Montana whose owners no longer wanted them. Sage helped his owner raise her children and was a trusted saddle horse. Sadly his owner was no longer interested in keeping him and turned him over to Jane four years before she started the Sanctuary.
Since its inception in 2004, the Sanctuary has grown from 5 to more than 50 dedicated individual volunteers throughout Montana and a few in other western states. Other members of our network include veterinarians, horse trainers, an equine nutritionist, an equine massage therapist, artists, photographers and many others.
“No one person can run a sanctuary. It takes an entire state.”
Meet Our Board Members
Jane Heath, President
Stevensville, Montana
Jane is the co-founder and past executive director of the Sanctuary. Jane owns an equine therapy business and works on horses throughout western Montana. She has had horses for 46 years and currently has four horses of her own, two of whom she adopted from the Sanctuary.
Brenda York, Vice President
Bozeman, Montana
Brenda lives in Belgrade Montana and recently retired from Montana State University as Director of Disability, Re-entry and Veteran Services. She grew up in the Gallatin Valley and has been involved with animals most of her life. She has three horses: Bug, Judy and Tess. Brenda currently serves on the Governor's Board of Veteran Affairs and the Gallatin County Fair Board.
Shanna Bulik-Chism, Secretary
Sun River, Montana
Shanna, her husband Mike, and their two sons have three horses. She believes that once you commit yourself to a horse, you are theirs for life. All their horses are more than 20 years old, and all of them are a vital ingredient to a happy healthy family, she says. Shanna works full time as the administrator of the Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center. She has been around horses since she was nine, and received her first horse when she turned 12.
Horse Rescue is Rewarding Work
If you are interested in being involved with the Sanctuary, please fill out this form and click “submit.”