Do you love draft horses? They have excellent temperaments, are very docile and adorable. They are big, sturdy and sure footed horses used for farm work, driving, riding or companionship.
Unfortunately many drafts around the US are in trouble due to neglect, abuse, getting shipped to slaughter, whether because they are no longer wanted, needed or are too expensive for the owner.
Draft horses are more work, and money than the lighter breeds. They take up more space, there’s more to clean, they’re more costly to feed, and the equipment for drafts is more expensive. You don’t see as many draft horse breeds as light horse breeds at the usual horse rescues.
Luckily there are a few rescues that have popped up around the country with these gentle giants in mind. People stepping up to the plate who want these horses to have a good life with love and good care.
If you are looking for a draft horse rescue in the United States where you would like to volunteer, donate, or adopt a draft horse, check out this list of available draft rescues.
I have gone around the web and gathered information about these different rescues so that you don’t have to search the internet and waste extra time. I could only find a handful. I found many draft rescue sites were no longer operating.
As far as the information I will be sharing about each of the rescues:
- The name
- Location
- Website
- Social Media
- The mission statement
- Phone number & email
- Programs such as whether they have horse adoption, volunteering etc.
- Ways to help such as wish list, donation
By providing this information to you, it should be a faster process narrowing down the rescues you may be interested in helping out or adopting from.
If you know of a draft rescue that could be added to this list let me know.
Disclaimer: Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by Sparkles Rainbows & Unicorns. Before contributing to or adopting from any of these horse rescues, make sure you do your own research to make sure your time and money are going to a worthy organization.
Now for the list of draft rescues! (Keep in mind most of these places have visits by appointment only and a couple are sanctuaries that don’t adopt out.)
Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue
Location
Mount Airy, Maryland
Mission Statement
“Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue is committed to saving draft horses from slaughter, abuse and neglect, and finding them adoptive homes as trail or schooling horses.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
- Horse Rehoming
- Operation G.E.L.D.
Ways To Help
- Volunteer
- Sponsor
- Donate
Website
https://www.gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.org/
Social Media
Phone Number
443-285-3835
Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue
Location
East Hampton, Connecticut
Mission Statement
“Retired draft horses, once their work careers are over, are often injured and thin. Consequently, large numbers of these horses go to slaughter. At this vulnerable stage in the life of a draft horse, many will be lost if an advocate doesn’t step forward. CDHR believes in the potential of these horses. We step up and provide a safe haven, skilled hands, loving care, and a future of hope and a brighter tomorrow for these gentle giants.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
Ways To Help
- Foster
- Volunteer
- Sponsor
- Donate
- Wish List
- Events
Website
https://www.ctdraftrescue.org/
Social Media
Phone Number
860-467-6587
Roanchar Ranch Draft Horse Rescue
Location
Varysburg, New York
Mission Statement
“We are a 501 (c)(3) organization located in Western New York and our goal is to provide a refuge for draft horses. The focus is to rehabilitate, retrain and re-home draft horses that are in slaughterhouses, feedlots auctions or have been surrendered to the rescue. For those horses that are not adoptable, Roanchar Ranch Draft Horse Rescue will be their forever home.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
- Driving Change Program
Ways To Help
- Volunteer
- Monthly Gift
- Donate
- Store
Website
Roanchar Ranch Draft Horse Rescue website
Social Media
Phone Number
716-289-7370
Draft Gratitude
Location
Winchester, NH
Mission Statement
“We are an all volunteer organization dedicated to saving the lives of draft horses that were bound for slaughter, victims of neglect or abuse, or whose owners are unable to provide for their needs.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
- Horse Sanctuary
Ways To Help
- Monthly Giving
- Amazon Smiles
- Veterinarian Fund
- Buy A Draft Gratitude Calendar
- Mail Grain Bag Tags
Website
Social Media
Phone Number
603-762-3266
Coast To Coast Draft Horse Connection
Location
Howell, Michigan
Mission Statement
“Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome draft horses and mules
bound for slaughter.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
Ways To Help
- Donations
- Share Adoptable Horses Via Social Media
- Volunteer
Website
Social Media
Black Mountain View Farm Draft Rescue
Location
Thurmont, Maryland
Mission Statement
“Each year we see thousands of draft horses that end up in auctions that are bound for slaughter. Black Mountain View Farm Draft Rescue, along with your help, rescues draft horses from auctions, kill situations, and neglect cases. The horses we take in are then quarantined for 30 days. Once they are healthy and rehabilitated. The horses may go up for adoption and can be adopted out to qualified home, we do our part in making sure we have the best possible match. Horses that are unable to be adopted out will live out their lives in our care.”
Programs
- Horse Adoption
Ways To Help
- Volunteer
- Sponsor
- Donate
- Amazon Smile
Website
Black Mountain View Farm Draft Rescue Website
Social Media
Phone Number
(240) 440-9297
Iron Gait Percheron
Location
Weleska, Georgia
Mission Statement
“Iron Gait Percherons, Inc. (IGP) of Waleska, Georgia, is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. Specifically, IGP rescues Percheron and other draft breed horses from abuse, neglect, abandonment, slaughter, or victims of the current economy, refurbishes all of their medical, nutritional, and emotional needs, retrains them for new riding careers, and provides a thorough screening process to find them safe, loving forever homes. IGP also seeks to increase beneficial human and equine relationships through animal/human interaction and education.”
Programs
- Sanctuary For Horses
- Retirement & Rehabilitation
- Horse Adoption
Ways To Help
- Volunteer
- Sponsor
- Donate
- Fundraising
- Wish List
Website
Social Media
Phone Number
770.648.1981
1 Horse At A Time Draft Horse Rescue
Location
Corvallis, Montana
Mission Statement
“1 Horse At A Time Draft Horse Rescue is driven by a single goal: to save unwanted, neglected and abused draft horses from going to slaughter! The rescue wants to do its part in making the world a better place for all, even if it can only be done 1 Horse At A Time. The rescue strives to build productive relationships and to make a positive impact with all of their pursuits.”
Programs
- Sanctuary For Horses
- Horse Adoption
Ways To Help
- Volunteer
- Sponsor
- Donate
- Events
- Shop
Website
https://www.1horseatatime.com/
Social Media
Phone Number
(406)493-4978
United in Light, Inc.
Location
Livingston, MT
Mission Statement
Enhancing and inspiring lives through healing and hope between horses and humans.
To provide Sanctuary to all mature draft horse breeds than have been rescued from an untimely death.
To provide a peaceful, loving environment throughout the rest of the horses’ lives.
To provide a place where humans and horses are reunited for healing and finding inner peace.
To provide people of all ages the ability to bond and experience the gentle giants.
To provide education to the public on the lives of draft horses and of the unique lifestyle that is lived here on this land.
To provide emergency assistance to horse owners in Montana due to natural disasters.
Programs
- Sanctuary For Horses
- Heart Whispers
- Reiki I & II Master Workshops
- Montana Emergency Fund
- Sponsor a Draft Horse
Ways To Help
- Donate
- Wishlist
- Become A Patron
- Merchandise
Website
Social Media
Phone Number
(406) 222-7982
Going Another Way Draft Horse Sanctuary Inc.
Location
Wellington, Colorado
Mission Statement
Going My Way Draft Horse Sanctuary, INC is a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that rescues senior draft horses from feedlots and other unfortunate situations.
Programs
- Sanctuary For Horses
Ways To Help
- Donate
- Sponsor A Draft
Website
https://goingmywaydrafthorsesanctuary.org/
Social Media
Another resource I have found if you are looking to adopt or rescue a draft horse is the Draft Horse Rescue Resource. They have a Facebook Page where they share draft horses needing homes. Also on there website they have a page with Horse Auctions throughout Canada and The USA if you are wanting to rescue a draft directly from auction.
This is the end of the list for now. Many draft rescues I found when I was searching had dead websites, so it seems many have had to close down.
If you are from a draft horse specific rescue and would like to be listed here contact me at [email protected].
Thank you for caring about these gentle giants!
Cheers, Kacey
