Brave Hearts & Hooves: Creating A Home Where Horses Run Free

Ten & Growing Horses. One Big Heart. Countless Second Chances. Welcome to our sanctuary, where we are actively creating a world where rescued horses can heal, thrive, and finally run free. Until we reach our ultimate goal of a permanent property, this incredible village of followers is our only safety net.

Just over two months ago, I took a massive leap of faith and rescued Buttercup from a kill pen—she was terrified, completely untouchable, and heavily pregnant. No one knew what her future held. For two long months, our entire community held its breath, hoping for a miracle and praying she would make it safely to the day her baby arrived.

During that same time, thanks to the incredible generosity of my supporters, we were able to pull Thelma and Louise out of another step in the pipeline, get them the medical care they urgently needed, and also grab Nakoma before he was pushed any further toward slaughter. Those efforts didn’t just save lives—they changed futures and gave all of us hope while we waited for Buttercup’s moment.

✨ And on July 1st, the miracle our whole community had been waiting for finally arrived. We officially welcomed Baby Rocket! ✨

He was born perfectly healthy, right inside the shelter shed on a fresh bed of straw—looking out at the open corral with hills and trees behind him, while the cows and horses quietly watched over his first moments. Because we pulled his mama from danger in time, Rocket will never know the fear of a kill pen or the auction pipeline. His very first breath was taken in absolute safety, comfort, and freedom.

CRITICAL UPDATE: A High-Risk Miracle from the Kill Pen

The miracles just keep coming for our sanctuary, alongside a massive new medical responsibility. I just found out that Thelma (who we recently rescued from the pipeline alongside Louise and Nakoma) is pregnant!

Thelma is a 22-year-old draft horse—which makes her a senior citizen in the horse world. Carrying a foal at her advanced age makes this a highly volatile and high-risk pregnancy. Heartbreakingly, it is believed she became pregnant while trapped inside the kill pen, right before I stepped in to save her life. She is about two months along, meaning we have nine months of intensive prenatal care, specialized senior nutrition, and strict veterinary monitoring ahead of us to ensure both sweet, senior Thelma and her miracle baby make it through safely. I know this is a heavy mountain to climb, but I also know the incredible power of this beautiful village. With all of your help, love, and support behind us, I know we can bring both Thelma and her miracle baby safely across the finish line.

✨✨ The Everyday Reality:

My sanctuary has grown rapidly—from a few rescues to ten beautiful souls in just over two months. It’s a beautiful sight to see them all thrive, but managing a herd this size means the daily expenses are constant and incredibly heavy. For years, I have carried this entire load completely on my own shoulders. Every single feed bill, every vet visit, every farrier visit, and every fence repair came directly out of my own pocket. I poured everything I had into keeping these animals safe.

But with five new rescues added so quickly, the financial weight of ten horses has grown far beyond what any one person can carry alone. To make things even harder, because we don't have a permanent property yet, the horses are currently spread out in different places. Paying multiple separate pasture rents and managing a divided herd is a massive logistical and financial hurdle.

There are no corporate sponsors or big grants behind this work. Until I officially transition Brave Hearts & Hooves Sanctuary into a 501c3 non-profit, this massive community of followers is my only safety net.

✨✨ Where Our Village Is Making a Difference Right Now:

Your support makes it possible to focus on these critical needs for our expanding family:

* High-Risk & Senior Vet Care — funding the specialized veterinarian visits, prenatal monitors, and ultrasounds needed to keep 22-year-old Thelma and her unborn foal safe.

* Pasture Rent & Fencing — covering the high monthly costs of keeping our ten horses safe and separated in temporary spots until our own land is secured.

* Feed, Grain, & Senior Nutrition — providing endless mountains of hay, specialized grain for a nursing mama (Buttercup), and high-calorie senior feed for pregnant Thelma.

* Emergency Vet & Farrier Bills — chipping away at our ongoing operational costs, including a recent, urgent $2,000 medical bill.

* The Land Fund — raising the capital to secure a permanent property so all ten horses—and our two new babies—can finally be brought together in one place, under one sky, to truly run free for life.

☆☆ Important Update for Our Donors

Many of you have asked about platform fees! GoFundMe has permanently eliminated their 5% platform fee, meaning every single dollar you give goes straight to our horses (minus standard card processing fees).

Please note that when you go to check out, GoFundMe will automatically add an optional tip to your total to support their platform. This tip is entirely voluntary and does not go to the sanctuary. They use a sliding scale at checkout—if you do not want to leave a tip, simply move the slider down to zero ($0) before finalizing your payment so it doesn't add an extra charge to your card.

✨✨ How Our Village Can Help Brave Hearts & Hooves Today:

✨ Donate to the GoFundMe: Every single dollar directly sustains our daily rescue operations and builds our permanent land fund.

✨ Share Our Journey: Keeping this post moving helps our 150,000-strong village grow even larger by connecting us with new horse lovers!

Thank you for being the reason Baby Rocket was born into freedom, for standing guard over sweet senior Thelma, and for helping me build a permanent home where this whole herd can finally live together. Please donate or share our story to help create a lasting sanctuary for these deserving horses. ✨

With deepest gratitude,

Allison ❤️

Brave Hearts & Hooves Sanctuary