Horse Harbor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, that has provided lifelong sanctuary for horses that have been abandoned, neglected, abused, or facing premature euthanasia and slaughter since 1994. The foundation provides shelter and care for up to 30 horses at any one time, all of which are provided the finest possible care to ensure that they live out the rest of their lives in a comfortable and loving environment.
Over 80 horses, most of them in their later years when they arrived, have been provided this opportunity. Although many have arrived at the sanctuary in poor health, the majority have live well into their thirties after being rehabilitated. Horse Harbor does not adopt out horses to the general public, but helps horse owners in its region re-home their horses when possible.
Those that are elderly, unsound or retired simply live out their lives with quality care and daily love and attention. A few of our rescued horses have even reached their forties before passing on to greener pastures and several of the current herd are well into their thirties.
This excellence in sanctuary operation was recognized in 2010 when Horse Harbor Foundation was awarded the highest level of achievement by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and still is one of only a handful of equine rescue sanctuaries in the United States to earn fully accredited status from this international organization.
In addition to rehabilitation, the Foundation trains younger horses that have become at risk because they have not been prepared for a productive role in life and incorporates them into a year-round education program that emphasizes developing competent future horse owners and riders.
The Foundation also offers free consultation to local horse owners on issues of proper care and keep and is actively involved in horse welfare issues and community outreach. The Foundation also intervenes in situations of horse endangerment in its region.
Its criterion for rescuing a horse is that it has no other options for survival unless accepted into the resident herd.