The organizations listed in this directory are horse rescues, equine-related networks, businesses, and professionals that operate under best practices, support the Five Freedoms and the Full Circle of Life Horse Shelter philosophy.
The Welcome Tier is for 501(c)(3) nonprofit horse organizations and horse related businesses that are newly participating in the Horse Shelter Network. They have, however, pledged to uphold best practices, the Five Freedoms, and the Full Circle of Life philosophy.
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Sundre, Alberta - Canada
Established in 2004, Bear Valley Rescue is a registered charity dedicated to saving, rehabilitating, and rehoming horses and various farm animals at risk of slaughter, neglect, or abandonment.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Serenity Stables Inc. is a non-profit that provides equine-assisted therapy for veterans, focusing on reducing stress responses by teaching skills to calm the autonomic nervous system. This program utilizes horse interaction to help participants manage anxiety, build trust, and develop emotional regulation skills to handle challenging situations and environments.
Atlanta, Kansas
Bluestem Equine & Livestock is a Kansas 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating at-risk horses and livestock and preparing them for safe, lasting futures through education, training, and responsible placement.
Annetta, Texas
Layla Rose Ranch is a 501(c)(3) equine rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary. Founded in 2020 by Catherine and Matthew Hudson, the ranch focuses on saving "the Cletuses of the world"—horses that have been discarded, neglected, or are in the slaughter pipeline.
Knoxville, Maryland
February Star Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, family-run sanctuary with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and provide refuge for horses and cats in need. February Star Sanctuary achieves success through equine and feline adoptions, fostering and refuge, TNR services, caring for cats of the homeless and community outreach.
Oroville, California
Wild West Horse Rescue Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity based in Oroville, California. It is dedicated to providing a safe haven and specialized care for horses in need, focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term sanctuary.
Albion, Michigan
Kellogg Equine Rehab and Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the welfare of horses, focusing on the rescue and rehabilitation of equines whose owners can no longer provide care. The organization specializes in working with horses that require trust-building and rehabilitation before being placed into suitable, permanent homes.
This elite tier is reserved and only awarded to established organizations that demonstrate substantial commitment and significant efforts toward achieving and maintaining top-tier status. It is for those with proven capacity and extensive experience who are willing to actively serve as mentors to other shelters. Members in this tier must fully practice the Full Circle of Life philosophy.
Hohenwald, Tennessee
Founded in 2003, Horse Plus Humane Society (HPHS) has rescued, sheltered, and protected over 15,000 precious lives. HPHS operates as an open-admission shelter, accepting any animal in need. Recognizing the necessity for greater collaboration among rescues, HPHS established this network in 2019. The goal is to unite organizations under a shared philosophy and mission to amplify their impact on animal welfare and foster a spirit of partnership.
Colfax, Wisconsin
Pony Tales Refuge is a Full Circle of Life open-door shelter, meaning it will take in any horse regardless of age, breed, training, background, or behavior. Every horse is evaluated by its veterinarian and training team for quality of life and suitability. The shelter provides them with the care and training they need while offering shelter and safety during their transition.
Rush, Colorado
Colorado Horse Rescue Network (CHRN) was established in 2013 after several founding members saw the need for a statewide organization to help needy equines. CHRN is an open admission shelter. The network has a central facility in Rush, CO and maintains a network of foster homes and transporters all over the state.
Ogden, Utah
Lazy B Equine Rescue & Sanctuary is Utah’s only open-door equine shelter, meaning we take in any horse, in any condition, no matter their age, health, or history. With the current economy forcing more owners to surrender their horses, the number of neglected and abandoned equines is at an all-time high.
Actively operating horse rescue organizations that are consistently engaged in the rescue and rehabilitation of equines, endorsing and upholding the Full Circle of Life philosophy.
Houston, Texas
The Houston Humane Society is dedicated to, & working towards, ending cruelty, abuse & the overpopulation of animals while providing the highest quality of life to those brought to us for care.
Winnsboro, Texas
Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, and sanctuary of critical and at-risk equines, particularly those in dangerous or unhealthy situations.
West Decatur, Pennsylvania
Serendipity Horse Rescue is committed to interceding for equines at risk, including those from slaughter pipelines, and dedicating itself to their continuous rehabilitation and lifelong well-being within a safe environment.
Piedmont, South Dakota
Happy Tails Haven is located on the 20-acre CoDreLea Farm near the Black Hills, its primary mission is to provide a permanent home for elderly and horses with extensive special needs. It also has a select few adoptable horses. The organization promotes responsible equine ownership, providing loving care, medical treatment, and specialized nutrition, with the goal of preparing adoptable horses for permanent placement.
Webster Florida
Wild Horse Rescue Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of mustangs and burros. The center relies on a network of volunteers, sponsorships, donations, and successful adoptions to provide essential care for these rescues.
Crossville, Tennessee
Outlaw Equine Rescue and Rehab is a Full Circle of Life Horse Shelter that strives to take in any horse in need, regardless of their stage of life. From their beginning to their end, horses find love, safety, compassion, and peace at the facility. Horses are accepted from owner surrenders, neglect cases, and directly from auctions.
Dunbar, Nebraska
MJM Horse Rescue is a dedicated organization committed to providing a safe haven and a second chance for horses in desperate need. Its core mission is built on a simple yet profound three-part process: Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rehoming.
Brentwood, New Hampshire
Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue's mission is to save horses from slaughter and find them safe, permanent homes. The money the rescue raises through donations is used to buy, transport, feed, rehabilitate, and rehome the horses and donkeys it rescues from livestock auctions in the Northeast.
Scotland, South Dakota
Gentle Spirit Horses is a rescue and sanctuary for horses their mission is to provide assistance to neglected, abused and unwanted horses, and through outreach and education, promote responsible horse ownership.
Clinton, Michigan
Two Wild Hearts Sanctuary is an organization in Michigan. We are a Full Circle of Life Horse Shelter with a dedicated mission to Rescue, Shelter, and Protect all equines in need, especially those in the slaughter pipeline, even if it is the Last Act of Kindness.
Lincoln, Missouri
Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue was founded to help prevent cruelty inflicted upon donkeys. Primarily focusing on donkeys with the United States, PPDR takes in abused, neglected, malnourished, ill and elderly donkeys and provides them medical, nutritional and emotional rehabilitation with the plan to later adopt them to loving homes.
Auburn, Indiana
Shadarobah’s mission is to save horses from slaughter, abuse and neglect; then place them in loving and nurturing homes, this mission includes educating people on the plight of horses and making it possible for all people to enjoy knowing a horse!
Deerfield, Wisconsin
North Winds Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming horses in need, while fostering meaningful connections that empower both horses and humans to thrive. Salvation for Horses, Healing for People.
Golden, Colorado
The Horse Protection League (HPL) is an organization. Our mission is to protect equines by building community through education and advocacy. Our goal is to find “forever” homes for all of our horses. HPL was established in 1994, and they are located at the beautiful and historic Churches Ranch in Arvada, Colorado.
Beloit, Wisconsin
Serenity Horse Rescue Inc. is an organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and finds homes for unwanted and abused horses. They also provide humane education and therapeutic equine experiences for the community.
Arlington, Washington
Established in early 2021, Helping Our Miniature Equines (HOME) is a haven for neglected, abused, and abandoned miniature horses and miniature donkeys. In deciding on who we can help save, we focus primarily on bonded pairs, family groups, and those most at-risk.
Colbert, Georgia
Redux started in January of 2021 when its founder rescued 5 horses from a sheriff's seizure. Those 5 were Redux's first official rescues, though the founder had been taking on horses to help people in tough situations for a couple of years prior.
Newer or smaller horse rescue organizations focused on building capacity and accessing essential resources. While actively supporting the core principles of the Full Circle of Life philosophy, members in this tier are committed to collaborating with higher-tier organizations.
Opelousas, Louisiana
Dedicated to the prevention of horses entering the slaughter pipeline. Working on getting a facility. Helpful for networking and local resources.
A specialized tier for organizations whose primary mission is dedicated to providing permanent, lifelong sanctuary to horses, ensuring all equine residents are experiencing the Five Freedoms, furthermore, these members commit to utilizing the network by referring horses requiring rescue, or rehoming to other appropriate organizations within the Horse Shelter Network for assistance.
Melrose, Wisconsi
Just A Horse Rescue and Sanctuary wants to spread its message of hope and compassion. The organization believes that a single action can make a difference in the community, and that collective action can greatly impact the world. Through advocacy and outreach activities, its team works tirelessly each day to contribute their part to the greater good.
Minnehaha, South Dakota
Borderlands Horse Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Humboldt, South Dakota that provides a permanent retirement home for senior horses to enjoy their twilight years.
McDowell, Virginia
The mission of Elegius Mini Equine Sanctuary is to provide permanent, lifelong housing and care for miniature horses, donkeys, mules, and ponies, specifically for those animals for which other options are not suitable due to disposition, injury, age, or illness. The sanctuary also offers adoption services for those minis who can be rehomed.
This tier is dedicated to forging powerful alliances with established equine-related networks, businesses, and professional partnerships. By joining, affiliates will actively collaborate with the Horse Shelter Network to foster broader resource sharing, leverage collective expertise, and maximize our joint impact, all in support of the Full Circle of Life philosophy.
Hohenwald, Tennessee
The Horse Plus Legislative Coalition, a 501(c)4, and the Horse Shelter Network have united to protect horses through legislative action. It is vitally important that the horse world unites on the legislative level so that this united front can help push for better laws to protect horses.
Vernon, BC, Canada
Too many Canadian horses face slaughter. We can change this by reducing the number of unwanted horses and ensuring humane euthanasia when no other options exist.
Our grants directly aid owners and rescues with financial assistance for humane euthanasia and spay/gelding.
Additional grants support the vital work of horse rescue organizations across Canada.
Richmond, Virginia
The Virginia Partnership for Horses' first mission is to engage the horse-loving citizens of Virginia with the work being done for equine rescue across the Commonwealth. It strives to provide a holistic, transparent, and interactive view of the equine welfare community within the state. Its second mission is to internally strengthen Virginia’s equine welfare community through connection, collaboration, and resource-sharing.
Inclusion Policy: To ensure integrity, only organizations that uphold best practices are listed in this directory. While other organizations may use the "Full Circle of Life Horse Shelter" name, only those listed here have been vetted and are actively adhering to these standards. Any organization found to have concerning factors will be removed.