Big Hoof Foundation
Giving Gentle Giants a new rein on life!
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Text BIGHOOFFOUNDATION to 44-321 to donate
Feeding the Herd
14 round bales every 3 days, here’s the monthly breakdown:
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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 67 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.
Two lives, one unbreakable bond
We were alerted to a pair of bonded Percheron's, just 3 years old, facing an uncertain future.
These two have never known life apart, and we refuse to let that change.
We’re stepping in to give them the second chance they deserve, and we’re incredibly grateful to be teaming up with Border Horse to make it happen. They are covering half of the bail, and we are taking on the remaining half along with transport to get these boys to safety.
Now we need your help to finish what we’ve started.
Every dollar brings them closer to a safe place where they can stay together and begin a new chapter, one filled with care, dignity, and peace.
Fundraiser Details
Bail Lot# 7030 - $1480
Bail Lot# 7031 - $1580
Half Bail Paid by Border -$1530
Additional Transport - $300
Medical - TBD
Total Fundraiser - $1830
SAFE!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Last night, we received an incredibly generous stock donation from a donor and with it came something even more meaningful: the final horse from McLean is now safe!
Because of your continued support, every single one of these horses will be given a second chance. What once felt overwhelming is now a story of hope, teamwork, and compassion in action.
We truly couldn’t do this without you. Whether you’ve donated, shared our mission, or cheered us on...thank you for standing with us and helping bring these horses to safety.
This is what rescue looks like!
Below are SAFE!
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.
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
363
With your support, we have saved
217 Belgian Draft Horses
3 quarter horses
6 standardbred
3 Brabant
7 BLM Mustangs
Clydesdale
2 Shire/Clydesdale
37 Percheron
2 Mule
5 BLM Burrou
and
80 Donkeys
from shipping to slaughter and have given them a loving retirement home.
Currently, 204 horses and 68 donkeys are living on the farm and enjoying retirement at our sanctuary.
Keep up to date with everything happening on the farm on our Patreon account!
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.