sanc·tu·ar·y - noun - a place of refuge or safety.
refuge, haven, harbor, oasis, shelter, retreat.
With 28 equines currently living in our sanctuary this is a full page with before/current photos and general descriptions of who they are and how they found their way to us. 
Meet Earl.
Earl arrived in August of 2022—by fate, and by faith in the people who support this work.
We had to buy him.
$1,000
Then transport—another $675.
But letting him disappear out a back door to an unknown and unkind fate was never an option.
Earl is the absolute sweetest mule.
He loves attention.
He loves hugs.
He loves being with people.
Before he came to us, Earl’s life had been anything but stable.
He went on an adventure.
Was caught by a trapper.
Sold to a kill pen.
Bought off a shipper.
Returned to his original owner—a trader.
By then, his chances of ever getting out of that cycle were slim. After everything, he wouldn’t be sold publicly again.
But we had a hunch.
After seeing a Facebook post, we started asking questions. Sending texts. Quietly inquiring about his future. We offered him something different—a fresh start.
And that’s how Earl came home
An incredible supporter stepped forward and sponsored Earl’s first months of rehab and evaluation. That generosity made everything possible.
Earl is now a hospice resident in sanctuary.
Over time, his front pasterns have begun to drop—the signs of DSLD. His comfort is carefully managed, and his needs are met with intention and care.
He is pushy in the most mule way.
Attention-seeking.
Social.
Pure comedy.
And also quiet.
And gentle.
Earl isn’t here because he’s useful.
He’s here because he matters.
This is what sanctuary looks like when the curtain is pulled back—
hard decisions, real costs, and animals whose lives are worth every single one.
Earl is one of our fully sponsored sanctuary members.
Sam.
Or as we call him—Sam-the-Mule (a play on Samuel).
Sam was purchased from a feed lot in June of 2025 alongside his teammate, Diane.
But his story doesn’t start that day.
Two months earlier, Sam and Diane appeared in an auction listing. Then the internet did what the internet does—outrage, backlash, noise. And suddenly they disappeared.
They slipped into a feed lot.
No updates.
No way to track them.
We assumed the worst.
And then—there they were.
A Facebook post.
Alive.
Still together.
There was zero hesitation. We secured them immediately.
When they arrived, they were worse than before.
Both thin.
Both shut down.
Carrying the weight of whatever those missing months held.
Six months later, we lost Diane to heart failure.
And Sam remained.
Sam is big—16 hands, 1,300+ pounds—and his heart matches his size.
He loves deeply.
He’s not the easiest mule to handle.
He’s afraid of ropes.
He doesn’t like to be haltered.
But love finds a way.
Sam will quietly wiggle himself in for booty scratches, leaning in like he’s always belonged there.
He carries grief.
He carries fear.
And he carries so much gentleness it almost feels unreal in a body that large.
Sam isn’t here because he’s easy.
He’s here because he survived.
And because once you see a soul like his, you don’t look away again.
Molly
“The best mule in the world”
Five years ago, Molly stepped off a trailer from a feedlot in Moses Lake, Washington… and into sanctuary.
After a lifetime of service to humans, she was discarded when she was no longer considered “useful.” The people she trusted most left her behind.
But Molly never let that define her.
Now somewhere closer to 40 than 30 years old, Molly still wakes up every day with curiosity, opinions, and a spark for adventure that refuses to fade. She still nickers for her people, still wants to know what’s going on, still believes every new day might hold something wonderful.
That’s the thing about animals like Molly… even after heartbreak, they keep loving anyway.
Over the last 5 years she has taught us so much about resilience, forgiveness, and quiet strength. She has earned every soft place to land, every warm meal, every peaceful nap in the sun. Sanctuary means she will never again have to wonder if she is safe or wanted.
But despite being one of our long-term residents, Molly still does not have a sponsor for her ongoing care.
For $200/month, a sponsor can help cover:
• Hay and feed
• Farrier care
• Annual veterinary exams
• Senior supplements and supportive care
Supporting a senior mule like Molly means giving dignity to an animal who spent her whole life giving to others.
If you’d like to become Molly’s sponsor and help us continue providing her the retirement she deserves, please reach out
Noel.
Found abandoned in the central Oregon wilderness, starving in the snow mid December. She wasn’t wild, she wasn’t from the reservation. She was being watched by a logging crew who started to haul food and water up to her as winter set in.
It took some coordination and approvals to step in, finally everything came together and at 10pm the trailer stopped in the road on the mountain to search for her. She came out from the trees and stepped right in. She was ready, and so were we.
With teamwork and fosters she made her way to the sanctuary a few days later.
Noel has trauma, touching her is a matter of her comfort level. She halters, leads, but she’s scared. She’s wary of touch beyond her neck.
Noel is an example of how young and healthy can still require sanctuary. She would be one of those “throw away” horses that spend their lives being passed around and given up on because she won’t preform to the humans desired perfection. Except here, she can live without expectations.
Misty
24 years old now.
She’s an off-the-track Thoroughbred who was originally rescued by Kara in 2017—long before WHOA existed. When Misty was found, she was living in a greenhouse.
Emaciated. Forgotten. And actively losing a hoof to rot.
Months of careful rehabilitation followed. Weight returned. Her hoof began to heal. At that time, Kara was a private rescuer—not a sanctuary, not a nonprofit—so when Misty was stable, she was adopted out.
That home failed her. Misty was repossessed, and everything started again—another rehab, another rebuilding of trust.
When WHOA was founded, Misty became what she had always needed to be: permanent sanctuary.
Today, Misty is blind.
Her vision loss came from equine recurrent uveitis—also known as moon blindness—left untreated for too long before she ever came to us. Her previous people never managed flare-ups or took preventive steps. And with ERU, that matters. While we couldn’t save Misty’s sight, we have been able to prevent further flare-ups—keeping pain and discomfort at bay and reducing the need for full eye removal surgery.
And Misty?
She’s anything but fragile. She’s spry. Athletic.Opinionated.
Molly and Earl act as her guides when she needs them—but she moves confidently through open pasture on her own. She walks into the barn and finds her stall unassisted, navigating her world with precision and trust.
Misty is an ambassador—for second chances, for education, and for doing things before it’s too late.
She is deeply loved.
She is safe.
And she will never have to worry about a human failing her again.
This is what sanctuary means when it’s done for life
Josie
Josie was rescued in July 2021 and arrived at WHOA that September, already estimated to be over 30 years old and severely emaciated.
By then, her ability to properly chew hay had essentially ended. Without a specialized diet of soaked and pelleted forage, Josie simply couldn't consume enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. What could have looked like an old horse who was "just skinny" was actually a senior whose care had failed to adapt as her body changed.
With an individualized feeding program, Josie recovered and has continued to thrive well into her senior years.
As she has aged, Josie has also experienced vision loss and was diagnosed with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). Her eyes are carefully managed and monitored, including the use of a protective mask during the day.
Josie is a quiet, independent mare who generally prefers staying outside the herd drama. She'll groom with Grace and is often a gentle first friend to newcomers while they find their place in the herd. Although exceptionally well behaved under halter, she doesn't seek affection or comfort from humans—and we respect that.
Today, our "old lady" Josie receives the specialized nutrition, medical management, and peaceful retirement she needs in lifelong sanctuary.
Growing old should never be the reason a horse is left behind.
Grace
Grace came to WHOA in December 2021 as a severely emaciated yearling. Born in March 2020 to a feral herd, she had been separated from her mother at only five or six months old and eventually found herself sick, starving, and headed through a local auction.
Grace collapsed in the auction parking lot as we prepared to transport her to Oregon State’s large animal hospital. Unable to stand, she was moved by sled and diagnosed with hypothermia, anemia, untreated strangles, and pneumonia. She was critically ill, but after ten days of hospitalization she was stable enough to continue her long recovery at home.
Once healthy, Grace spent several years in foster care before being diagnosed with bilateral hind ringbone. She returned to WHOA for evaluation and ultimately made it quite clear that she still had plenty of life left to enjoy.
Today, Grace is a permanent sanctuary resident—beautiful, independent, wonderfully semi-feral, and determined to experience life entirely on her own terms.
After fighting so hard for the chance to live, Grace deserves exactly that.
Ed
Ed arrived at WHOA on April 3, 2024, as an owner surrender. At 24 years old, he was severely underweight, pale, and showing the effects of months of inadequate care.
Before needing rescue, Ed had spent much of his life in service to people. He participated in sheriff’s posse and search and rescue work in Eastern Oregon, along with parades and trail riding.
With proper nutrition, veterinary and farrier care, and time, Ed successfully completed his rehabilitation. The weight returned, his strength improved, and his once-dull coat regained its beautiful golden shine.
Now 26, Ed is intelligent, opinionated, and thoroughly retired. He has made it clear that carrying riders is firmly in his past, and that's perfectly fine with us.
Today, Ed lives permanently at the sanctuary, where his only responsibilities are enjoying his herd, roaming the pasture, and being loved.
After a lifetime of service, Ed has nothing left to prove. His retirement belongs to him.
Ollie
Ollie, short for Oliver, arrived at WHOA on April 28, 2025, after spending nearly a year being offered for free online. Eventually, we were able to locate him and found an older horse living alone in a field, underweight and with patches of dull, unshed hair.
Estimated to be in his upper 20s or possibly around 30, Ollie settled into sanctuary life as though he had always belonged here. He is gentle, easygoing, affectionate, and equally loved by humans and his herd mates.
In 2026, Ollie survived a serious medical emergency involving unexplained bleeding from his kidney. After ten days of hospitalization and extensive diagnostics, no underlying cause could be identified. He recovered and returned home, where his health continues to be closely monitored.
Ollie was named Oliver in honor of Amanda’s grandfather, and the name has proven fitting for a senior gentleman who has faced his challenges with quiet strength and grace.
Today, Ollie enjoys retirement surrounded by friends, with nothing expected of him beyond simply enjoying the life he has.
Once offered for free and waiting for someone to notice him, Ollie will never be overlooked again.
Rose & Rango
Rose arrived at WHOA in the summer of 2021 after being rescued from a feed lot. The beautiful sorrel mare arrived without a name or known history, although her appearance and manners suggested she may once have been a well-cared-for halter horse.
After initially moving into foster care, recurring hoof abscesses brought Rose back to the sanctuary for further diagnostics. Then, in February 2022, we noticed another change—Rose was pregnant.
In the early morning hours of April 15, 2022, with temperatures around 20 degrees, Rose went into labor. Her foal became stuck during delivery, requiring nearly an hour of assistance before he was finally born into Amanda and Kara's arms.
We named him Rango.
Mother and son recovered beautifully, and Rango grew into a healthy, spirited young horse alongside Rose. Just before his third birthday, however, he was diagnosed with metabolic disease. Careful diet management and regular monitoring successfully stabilized his blood sugar levels, and his health continues to be closely managed.
Today, Rose and Rango remain together in lifelong sanctuary—one horse who arrived with an unknown past and the little life she carried with her.
Rose came to us without even a name. She gave us Rango—and together, they found a home for life.
Dandy
Dandy arrived at WHOA on July 5, 2023, in a condition that could only be described as a walking skeleton. At 16 hands tall, he weighed just 830 pounds after what we believe had been many months of severe neglect.
His recovery required a careful refeeding program, patience, and close monitoring. For nearly 90 days, Dandy slowly rebuilt the weight and strength he needed before he was ready to join the sanctuary herd.
But physical recovery was only part of his rehabilitation.
When Dandy was finally turned out to pasture, he seemed unsure how to simply be a horse. He didn't wander or explore, showed little interest in grazing, and stayed close to the barn with Isiah as his trusted companion.
With time, that changed.
Today, Dandy confidently explores the pasture, grazes, plays, grooms his friends, and participates fully in herd life. The horse who once seemed uncertain what to do with freedom learned that it was finally safe to enjoy it.
Dandy remains at WHOA in lifelong sanctuary, where his days are no longer about survival.
Dandy didn't just regain his weight. He learned how to be a horse again.
Isiah
Isiah arrived at WHOA in September 2023, a beautiful champagne Tennessee Walking Horse who was malnourished, neglected, and in need of a safe place to recover.
Estimated to be around 28 years old at intake, Isiah was also diagnosed with heaves, a chronic respiratory condition requiring ongoing management. His rehabilitation focused on restoring his weight, supporting his respiratory health, and giving his aging body the time it needed to recover. After more than two months of careful feeding and consistent care, he returned to a healthy weight.
Throughout it all, Isiah revealed himself to be an exceptionally kind and loving horse. He formed a close bond with Dandy, another rehabilitation resident who arrived severely emaciated just a few months before him. Together, the two found confidence and companionship in sanctuary life.
Today, Isiah is retired and permanently protected at WHOA. There are no expectations for him to perform, work, or carry a rider. His remaining years belong entirely to him.
After a lifetime of doing what was asked of him, Isiah finally gets to simply be a horse.
Harley
Harley came to WHOA as an owner surrender in 2022. He spent time in foster care in Corvallis and had a couple of adoption opportunities along the way, but sometimes even carefully considered placements simply don't work out.
Harley made his own feelings particularly clear.
He had become deeply attached to Josie, and leaving the sanctuary and his friend took a noticeable emotional toll on him. Eventually, we stopped asking Harley to adjust to another home and brought him back to WHOA to stay.
Now in his upper-to-mid 20s, Harley is beginning to show signs of arthritis and receives the care and management needed to keep him comfortable as he ages.
His devotion to Josie has faded over the years, but Harley certainly hasn't given up on having a favorite girl. These days, his attention is firmly focused on Grace.
Together, Harley, Grace, and Noel have formed their own little group within the herd—a trio we affectionately call the “Paint Mafia.”
Harley may not have found his forever home through adoption, but he did find it.
It was here all along.
Sometimes sanctuary isn't the original plan. Sometimes it's simply where a horse tells us he belongs.
MINI - Land
We currently house 14 mini’s in sanctuary, support 6 in foster, and have homed 19 by adoption or direct placement.
Thunder -
arrived at WHOA in the summer of 2021 as a four-year-old stallion and was gelded shortly after arrival. Small in stature but enormous in personality, his rearing, kicking, and biting quickly earned him the nickname “Tiny T-Rex.”
With patience and consistent handling, Thunder learned that human hands did not have to mean harm. He has made tremendous progress, although he remains unpredictable and isn't shy about communicating his feelings with pinned ears, a head toss, or an occasional sneaky nip.
In 2024, Thunder survived a serious bone infection that resulted in the loss of part of his coffin bone. He recovered, but his behavioral history and physical considerations make adoption an unnecessary risk.
Thunder will remain permanently at WHOA, where he can be safely managed by people who understand him.
Thunder doesn't need to be perfect. He just needs to be understood—and around here, he is.
Forest arrived at WHOA on January 12, 2023, malnourished and in need of rehabilitation. A caring family had removed him from a situation unsuitable for a horse but recognized they didn't have the experience necessary to restore his health.
Estimated to be around 15 years old at intake, Forest's weight rehabilitation was slow but uncomplicated. One persistent concern, however, was his chronically watery eyes. Further evaluation and allergy testing revealed sensitivities to several common horse-feed ingredients, prompting immediate changes to his diet.
Forest is now mostly blind, but his limited vision has done little to limit his enthusiasm for life. He confidently navigates familiar surroundings and still runs, bucks, plays, and participates in herd life.
Sweet, gentle, and full of personality, Forest has adapted beautifully to the world around him.
Forest may experience the pasture differently than his sighted friends, but he certainly doesn't enjoy it any less.
Peach arrived at WHOA as an owner surrender in February 2024 after her owner recognized she could no longer provide an appropriate environment for the elderly mini.
Peach arrived blanketed, but underneath she was caked in mud and manure, underweight, badly matted, and overdue for hoof care. It took several days of cleaning, clipping, hand-trimming mats, farrier work, and careful feeding to uncover the little horse underneath.
Estimated to be around 30 years old or older, Peach manages several conditions common in senior miniature horses, including insulin resistance, PPID, and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). With appropriate diet and management, she continues to do remarkably well.
Peach is independent, deliberate, and very clear about her boundaries. She enjoys her own hay net, companionship on her terms, and taking exactly as much time as she pleases to get anywhere.
Pop Tart is hopelessly devoted to her. Peach has yet to confirm the feeling is mutual.
At her age, Peach has earned the right to make a few rules—and we're happy to let her.
Dazzle came to WHOA as an owner surrender in November 2023. A senior miniature horse standing an estimated 24–25 inches tall, she is currently the smallest equine at the sanctuary.
Her tiny body carries some significant age-related challenges, including a dropped hind pastern and a heart murmur. Despite them, Dazzle remains remarkably engaged with life and her herd.
She is one of the most socially flexible minis in the pasture—grooming with different herd mates, happily sharing hay nets, and often being among the first to welcome newcomers.
Her enthusiasm for horses does not extend quite as strongly to humans. Dazzle doesn't particularly seek human interaction, and sanctuary gives her the freedom to have that preference respected while still receiving the care she needs.
Dazzle doesn't need to love us because we care for her. Our job is to give her a life she loves.
More bio’s coming soon!