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Time Is of the Essence: Saving Sixe by Standing Between Them and Slaughter
Every single week, horses are shipped to slaughter.
It doesn’t pause. It doesn’t wait for funding. It doesn’t care how full our barns already are.
Our foundation rescues Belgian draft horses, and sometimes the call comes with no warning at all. About 20 horses arrived all at once in McLean at the kill pen, all needing help right now. When that happens, we can’t just turn away and pretend we didn’t see them.
Even knowing we can’t save them all, we keep showing up to save some.
These 6 Belgian Draft horses have carried people, pulled fields, and given everything they had. They deserve a safe, soft landing not fear at the end of the road.
Time is of the essence. If you’re able to support our fundraiser, your help directly gives these horses a second chance: safety, care, and dignity.
Thank you for standing with us and with them when it matters most.
Fundraiser Details
Bail Lot# 1011 - $1250
Bail Lot# 1009 - $1200
Bail Lot# 2008 Direct Ship - $1250
Bail Lot# 004 - $1075
Bail Lot# 006 - $1350
Bail Lot# 1023 - $1650
Transport - $200
Total Fundraiser - $7,975
Each halter hanging on this fence represents a life lost to horse slaughter. A silent reminder of the horses who never got the chance they deserved. These halters stand as symbols of their stories, their trust, and their worth. We display them not only to honor the horses we couldn’t save, but to raise awareness and inspire action so that no more lives are taken this way. Together, we can be a voice for the voiceless and work toward a future where every horse is treated with dignity, compassion, and the chance to live safely.
Big Hoof Foundation is committed to giving vulnerable and abandoned horses a second chance at life. But we can’t do it alone. Your support, whether through sharing our mission, donating, or simply spreading awareness directly fuels our ability to save lives and provide the care these horses desperately need. Together, we can continue offering hope, healing, and a safe future for every horse that comes through our gates.
Featured Rescue
THANK YOU for Believing in Second Chances
Tiny Tim’s rescue was made possible by an incredible community who chose compassion and hope when others felt there was none. This young gelding was pulled from Panhandle Feedlot and Kill Pen (Lot #2046) and taken immediately to veterinary care, where it was confirmed he suffered from severe flexor tendon issues in both front legs, along with arthritis and an upper respiratory infection. Our plan was to treat the infection and move forward with corrective surgery so he could finally live without pain.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, Tiny Tim’s condition proved far more advanced than anyone could see from the outside. At the vet, his body showed us the truth of how long he had been hurting he could no longer stand on his own, despite repeated attempts. Loving Tiny Tim meant making the hardest, most selfless decision: to release him from the pain he had carried for so long.
Though our time with him was heartbreakingly short, Tiny Tim mattered deeply. He was loved, he was not alone, and his life was valued until the very end. In his honor, the funds raised for his surgery were used to rescue and care for another horse in need allowing Tiny Tim’s legacy to live on by giving another life a second chance.
We are forever grateful to everyone who stood behind Tiny Tim and believed his life was worth saving. He will never be forgotten. His story is a powerful reminder of why we fight for these horses to give them dignity, compassion, and peace. We are forever grateful to everyone who stood behind Tiny Tim and believed his life was worth saving. He will never be forgotten.
Keep up to date with everything happening on the farm on our Patreon account!
Horse Rescue vs. Horse Sanctuary Understanding the Difference
Not all organizations that care for horses operate the same way. Understanding the difference is important:
Horse Rescue:
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Saves horses from abuse, neglect, or abandonment
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Provides rehabilitation and training as needed
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Aims to rehome horses in safe, permanent environments
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Typically offers temporary care until adoption
Horse Sanctuary:
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Offers a permanent, safe home for horses that cannot be adopted
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Focuses on long-term welfare, including elderly or disabled horses
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Prioritizes comfort, health, and quality of life
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Provides lifelong care
In short:
Rescue = rehabilitate and rehome
Sanctuary = lifelong care and safety
Big Hoof Foundation is a True Horse Sanctuary
At Big Hoof Foundation, we provide a permanent, safe home for horses, no matter their age, background, or health. Unlike rescue organizations that often rehome horses once they are rehabilitated, our commitment is lifelong: every horse that comes to us stays for life.
Our focus is on the long-term welfare of each horse, ensuring they receive proper care, comfort, and respect throughout their entire lives. From elderly horses to those with special needs, we offer a safe haven where they can live out their days in peace.
Big Hoof Foundation = lifelong care, safety, and dignity for every horse.
Equines Saved since 2022
317
With your support, we have saved
189 Belgian Draft Horses
3 quarter horses
5 standardbred
2 Brabant
3 BLM Mustangs
Clydesdale
2 Shire/Clydesdale
32 Percheron
1 Mule
3 BLM Burrou
and
76 Donkeys
from shipping to slaughter and have given them a loving retirement home.
Currently, 173 horses and 61 donkeys are living on the farm and enjoying retirement at our sanctuary.
Everything a horse needs...
Freedom, Friends and Forage!
Help save " Big Hoof " Horses
At the Big Hoof Foundation, we are devoted to rescuing and protecting Draft Horses who have given their strength and loyalty through years of service—only to be cast aside, neglected, or sent to slaughter when they could no longer work. These gentle giants, after a lifetime of steadfast service, deserve compassion, dignity, and peace—not abandonment or suffering.
With the support of our dedicated volunteers, board members, and veterinarians, we provide these majestic horses with a second chance. We rescue, rehabilitate, and offer them a peaceful, permanent sanctuary where they can enjoy retirement with compassion and rest. Most of the horses in our care are seniors with medical conditions and physical ailments that make rehoming no longer a viable option.
Our commitment to them is lifelong. We ensure they receive the highest quality care—both medical and alternative therapies—so they can live free from pain, fear, and hardship. Through education, outreach, and advocacy, we aim to inspire lasting change in how Draft Horses are valued and treated.
We believe every horse deserves a lifetime of love, care, and protection. To us, every horse is worthy of being seen, loved, and safeguarded—not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.
Our Mission
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To rescue and rehabilitate Draft horses.
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To provide a facility where no animal will endure the pain and suffering caused by a life of abuse, neglect or abandonment by giving the horses the proper medical care required to live a healthy life.
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To sponsor or host events that promote awareness of the neglect and abuse of the Draft Horse Breed.
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To create an equine therapy program to assist people suffering with mental illness.
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To bring awareness to the community about horses being released into a slow feral death or dropped at a dealer who sends them to auction then slaughter.
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To form relationships, share information and work towards a collaborative effort to solve problems that lead to the inhumane treatment of these big hoofed gentle giants.