Saving Draft Horses from Slaughter.
Giving Them a Life of Peace.
Not every horse comes from the same place.
Some are pulled from slaughter pipelines at the last moment.
Others are surrendered by owners facing difficult circumstances.
At Big Hoof Foundation, we take them in, heal them, and give them something they’ve never had before:
a permanent home where they are safe for life.
THEY MADE IT. ALL SIX ARE HOME.
We have the best possible update.
The 4 Belgian Draft horses and 2 Percherons, the ones sitting in a kill pen while the border stayed closed because of the New World screwworm export halt are no longer waiting on a truck to nowhere.
They are here. At the sanctuary. Safe.
If you don't know the full picture: since USDA halted live animal exports to Mexico on June 8, kill pens haven't stopped running, they've just changed where the horses end up...overcrowded holding facilities at the border, with no clear timeline, no guarantee of food or water, just horses packed in waiting for a door that may or may not reopen. For these six, that nightmare is over.
This happened because of you. Every share, every dollar, every person who said "I can't take a horse but I can give $20", that's what got them out before they became another statistic in a backlog nobody is talking about. We do not have the resources to do this alone, and we didn't have to, because you showed up.
Right now all six are settling in and we'll be sharing updates, photos, and (eventually) their personalities as they decompress and let their guard down.
Thank you for caring about horses most people will never know existed. You gave six of them a different ending.
Welcome home.
Fundraiser Details
Total Fundraiser - $9325
***SAFE***
Lot# 343 - Gelding - $1800 (BAIL PAID)
Lot# 350 - Gelding - $1100 (BAIL PAID)
Lot# 344 - Gelding - $1575 (BAIL PAID)
Lot# 342 - Mare - $1600 (BAIL PAID)
Lot# 341 - Gelding - $1600 (BAIL PAID)
Lot# 1189 - Mare - $1450 (BAIL PAID)
***SAFE*** BAIL PAID
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Lives Changed Through Rescue and Care
380 Horses & Donkeys Rescued from Slaughter or Owner Surrender
→ Each one now receives safety, daily care, and lifelong sanctuary at Big Hoof Foundation
140 Bales of Hay Needed Every Month to Feed the Herd
→ Hay is our largest ongoing cost and essential to keeping every horse healthy and nourished
200+ Animals Currently in Lifelong Care
→ Once rescued, they are never rehomed, sold, or returned to risk.
This is their permanent home
Why it Matters
These horses were once part of someone’s life. They are victims of circumstance, hardship, and systems that leave them with nowhere to go.
Each week, thousands enter auction pipelines where their futures become uncertain within hours. Some are at risk of slaughter, others face neglect, and many are surrendered when care is no longer possible.
At Big Hoof Foundation, we step in at that critical moment before uncertainty becomes irreversible loss.
Feeding the Herd
14 round bales every 3 days, here’s the monthly breakdown:
-
30 days ÷ 3 = 10 feeding cycles per month
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10 cycles × 14 bales = 140 round bales per month
About 140 round bales of hay every month
Round Bales are $140 each
Right now, nearly 200+ horses and 69 donkeys call our sanctuary home. A place where they are safe, cared for, and finally at peace. But with so many mouths to feed, the daily cost of hay adds up quickly, and we need your help.
This fundraiser is dedicated specifically to the horses in our pasture and the round bales of hay that keep them nourished. This does not include the feed for the special needs horses in the barn.
To put it into perspective, a single draft horse can eat 20–30 pounds of hay every day, that’s about 2–3% of their body weight. Multiply that by hundreds of horses, and you can see how vital consistent support is.
Every bale you help provide means full bellies, healthier horses, and one less worry for our team as we continue this mission of rescue and care.
No donation is too small every contribution goes directly toward feeding the herd.
If you’ve ever loved a horse, visited the sanctuary, or simply believe in giving animals a second chance, this is your moment to make a difference.
Together, we can keep the herd fed, safe, and thriving. Thank you for standing with us.