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.
This isn't a decision we've made lightly...
For as long as Big Hoof Foundation has existed, our answer has always been yes. Yes to the next call for help, the next horse or donkey who had nowhere else to go. Saying no to that instinct has been one of the hardest things we've had to do. But we've reached a point where loving these animals means pausing new intakes so we can pour everything we have into the herd already here.
We owe them that much. Every one of these lives depends on us feeding them properly, building the shelters and infrastructure they need, and giving them all the care they require. Honestly, that takes everything we have. We'd rather show up fully for the 200+ animals already counting on us than spread ourselves so thin we fail them.
We've applied for grants along the way, hoping for a little help carrying this weight. So far, none have come through. Those dollars seem to find their way to bigger, more established organizations. So we're turning to you, the people who've walked this journey with us and believed in what we're building.
We also get asked a lot why we don't adopt these horses out. The truth is tender: most of them have worked hard their whole lives, and their bodies carry that history old injuries, chronic conditions, things that need daily, careful management. Some of them may have years left in them. Some came to us for a matter of weeks. Some for only hours, so they wouldn't have to face their last moments alone. Every one of them deserves to live out whatever time they have safe, fed, and loved not handed off to an uncertain future.
That's what your support makes possible. Feed. Farrier care. Vet visits. The infrastructure that keeps this whole place standing. None of that stops just because we've paused taking in new lives.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every donation is tax deductible. (EIN# 92-0618011)
We've saved so many lives already. Now we're asking you to help us keep taking care of them.
This pause isn't forever. Once we're caught up, the infrastructure is funded, built and we're standing on solid ground instead of stretched thin we'll open our arms again. There will always be more horses and donkeys who need us, and we intend to be ready for them. For now, our full attention belongs to the ones already here.
None of what we've built would exist without you. Every donation, every share, every kind word left on a post — it all adds up to the safety and care this herd has today. We are endlessly grateful for the people who show up for these animals again and again, especially when the road gets hard. Thank you for standing with us.
-Logo_wine.png){kind=logo}
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.
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.
UPDATE: The EquiSculpt PEMF Machine is Coming Home!
FUNDED!!!
Some days, this work reminds you why we do it and today is one of those days.
A generous donor has stepped forward and covered the full cost of our EquiSculpt PEMF machine. Because of them, every horse and donkey in our care will have access to this healing tool...no fundraising left to do, no dollar amount standing in the way.
This means real relief is on its way for the ones who need it most: the seniors carrying stiff, aching joints, the ones still healing from neglect or injury, every animal whose body has been through more than it should have.
To the donor who made this possible — thank you. You didn't just fund a machine. You gave our whole herd a gentler path forward.
And to everyone who shared, commented, and rallied behind this cause you are just as much a part of this. This is what happens when a community shows up for animals who can't ask for help themselves.
What is PEMF?
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. It uses gentle electromagnetic pulses to stimulate cells, encouraging better blood flow, reducing inflammation, and supporting the body's natural healing all without needles, medication, or discomfort. It's used in both human and animal rehab to ease pain and speed recovery.
For our herd, this means real relief for the ones who need it most:
✨ Eases joint pain and stiffness in our older horses and donkeys
✨ Supports circulation and speeds healing for animals recovering from injury or neglect
✨ Reduces inflammation without added stress on fragile bodies
✨ Gives every animal in our care a gentler path to feeling good again
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.
