Saving Draft Horses From Slaughter
Giving Them a
Life of Peace.
Every week, horses find themselves at livestock auctions, kill pens, or in situations where their futures are uncertain.
Big Hoof Foundation rescues horses in need and gives them what every horse deserves: safety, dignity, proper care and a place to call home.
ANOTHER BRABANT DRAFT HORSE NEEDS OUR HELP AND WE WANT TO GIVE HIM THE RETIREMENT HE DESERVES!
We are working to rescue a beautiful Brabant Draft gelding who is in his upper teens and desperately needs a safe place to call home.
After spending so many years of his life working, this big boy deserves something better for his remaining years. He deserves green pastures, good food, companionship, and the peace of knowing he will never have to face an uncertain future again. We want to bring him home, but we need your help! We have started a fundraiser to cover his bail and transportation to our sanctuary, where he will have a forever home.
This rescue is especially meaningful to us because we recently lost Moe, another beautiful Brabant gelding who had only been with us a short time. Although Moe's time at the sanctuary was far too brief, we are grateful he got to experience love, kindness, and safety before joining our Heavenly Herd. Losing Moe was heartbreaking, and while we can never replace him, we can honor his memory by giving another Brabant gelding the second chance he deserves.
AND THERE ARE TWO MORE LIVES WE ARE HELPING SAVE!
Joining this rescue are a miniature mule jenny and another mule who is almost completely blind. Both need a safe place where they can live out their lives without fear or uncertainty. We are incredibly thankful that a very generous sponsor has stepped forward to cover the bail for BOTH mules!Because of this wonderful act of kindness, we are one step closer to bringing all three to safety.
NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THE BRABANT GELDING HOME!
We are raising funds for his bail and transportation, and every donation makes a difference. At Big Hoof Foundation, we believe that age, physical limitations, or the inability to work should never determine whether an animal deserves to live. These animals have given so much throughout their lives. The least we can do is give them a peaceful retirement.
We couldn't give Moe more time, but together we can give another horse the lifetime of love and security he deserves.
Please consider donating to our rescue fundraiser. If you cannot donate, sharing this post is just as important in helping us reach more people.
Three lives. One rescue mission. A chance for the peaceful retirement they all deserve.
Fundraiser Details
Lot# 1425 Brabant Gelding - $1500
Lot# 534 Mini Mule Henny - $825 (PAID BY SPONSOR)
Lot# 1411 Mule - $625 (PAID BY SPONSOR)
Transport - $200
Medical - TBD
Feed - TBD
Total Fundraiser - $1700
Rescue is Only the Beginning.
Bringing a horse home is one moment.
Caring for them for the rest of their life is the promise.
Big Hoof Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit horse rescue and lifetime sanctuary. Many of the horses who come to us are older Draft Horses and former working horses. Others arrive with medical conditions, injuries or physical limitations that require specialized care.
Here, they aren't expected to earn their keep.
They are simply allowed to be horses.
Feeding the Herd
Providing lifelong sanctuary means showing up every single day.
Hay
Feed
Veterinary care
Farrier care
Dental care
Medications
Specialized diets
And all the ordinary expenses
A rescue may begin with one fundraiser, but caring for that horse continues long after the rescue is over.
Your support helps us keep that promise.
Some of Our Horses Need a Little More.
Older horses and horses with chronic medical conditions often require specialized diets, medications, veterinary treatment, dental care, farrier care and additional daily attention.
These horses may never be rideable.
They may never work again.
That's okay.
A horse doesn't have to be useful to deserve a good life
See Where Your Support Goes
We believe the people who support Big Hoof Foundation deserve to understand the impact of their generosity.
See our rescue numbers, sanctuary expenses, feed needs and financial information, and learn more about what it takes to provide lifelong care.
WIN 2 ROUNDTRIP
AIRLINE TICKETS
A generous Southwest Airlines employee, through an internal employee volunteer initiative, has donated two (2) roundtrip airline tickets, valid for travel anywhere within the continental United States.
All proceeds from this raffle directly support all the rescued horses and donkeys who call our sanctuary home.
Your generosity helps provide daily feed, veterinary care, and safe, comfortable shelter for these beautiful animals, many of whom have been saved from neglect, abuse, or slaughter.
Every ticket you purchase helps give them the happy, peaceful retirement they deserve.
· Each e-Pass recipient will receive (2) check bags (weight and size limits apply)
· Travel will be good thru December 29, 2027.
· Tickets are electronic and will be sent, via email, to the winner after the drawing.
· Each ticket is valued at $400 each.
· Drawing will be held on December 29, 2026.
· Raffle tickets will be sent via email, so please double-check that your email address is accurate at the time of purchase.
· Tickets are $15 each.
· Prize: Two roundtrip Southwest Airline tickets (Continental U.S. only)
Important Note: Southwest Airlines is not a sponsor or partner of the Big Hoof Foundation.
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Feeding the Herd
14 round bales every 3 days, here’s the monthly breakdown:
-
30 days ÷ 3 = 10 feeding cycles per month
-
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.
Lives Changed Through Rescue and Care
400+ 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
Help Us Build a Better Future for Our Herd
With over 200 horses and donkeys in our care, we've outgrown what our property can support. To protect the animals we've saved and continue our mission, we urgently need:
🔹 Existing barn renovation with a dedicated quarantine area
🔹 A new 80x80 barn
🔹 Additional pasture shelters & waterers
🔹 A secondary backup well
We've applied for grants without success, and the reality is that construction costs are steep while daily care expenses continue to grow. These aren't upgrades, they're necessities.
We are actively seeking corporate sponsors, donors and community partners. Financial contributions, materials, services, or connections all make a difference.
This is a pivotal moment for us. If you or someone you know can help, please reach out. Together we can build something worthy of every animal that calls this place 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.
Without rescue, many horses face:
❌ Slaughter transport
→ Long, stressful journeys with no return
❌ Neglect and starvation
→ Lack of food, medical care, or safe shelter
❌ Abandonment or uncertainty in the slaughter pipeline system
→ Sold repeatedly, or placed into unknown hands
Your support changes the entire outcome of their story.
Instead of fear and uncertainty, they receive:
✔ Immediate rescue from dangerous pipelines
✔ Veterinary care, nutrition, and rehabilitation
✔ Safe, open pastures and daily care
✔ A permanent home where they are never at risk again
Because of this support, horses who once had no clear future now live with dignity, safety, and peace.
They are not rotated through systems of risk—they stay here for life.