Welcome
Welcome to Gypsy’s Hope, a sanctuary for providing every horse with a second chance, and a peaceful life.
About
40 years ago, I met a very special horse that trotted her way into my heart, and changed my life in the absolute best way possible by doing so. Her name was Gypsy; a beautiful Arabian that had been dealt a rough hand right from the start. She was underweight and looked defeated in every sense of the word. Despite this, I fell in love with her the moment our eyes met, and knew that she was the horse that I wanted by my side. After some time with her, I found myself getting into showing, and with that, getting a coach to help guide me and her along to make us a stronger team. Unfortunately, though, the winters in Minnesota were harsh, and Gypsy slipped on ice; sustaining an injury that rendered her unable to be shown. Being relatively new to the sport and uncertain of what I wanted, the coach that I had told me that if I wanted to continue, I would have to get a different horse, and I followed the advice. It wasn’t until I watched Gypsy being driven away in a trailer how strong a bond we truly had, and that very moment changed my life forever. Suddenly, the sport wasn’t important anymore, especially after seeing how horses who were no longer fit to be shown were treated as disposables. It broke my heart, and from that day on I vowed to help make a difference for those horses.
Now, after all these years, I am in a place where I can foster, or provide a forever home for elderly or injured horses to feel like themselves again, and live the peaceful and tranquil lives they deserve. My mission is to provide honor and dignity to these horses that people have cast aside or feel don’t deserve a purpose, so that no horse will ever have to spend the rest of their lives being not cared for, and feeling unloved. They are beautiful animals, and can give so much more than just their “intended” physical purpose, which I discovered when Gypsy and I met. She was the inspiration and catalyst for founding this sanctuary, and now, she is the heart and spirit that drives it forward.
Our Mission and Facilities
Gypsy’s Hope is dedicated to providing education about the importance of valuing horses for their intrinsic worth. Our mission is to raise awareness about the unique bond between humans and equines, and how every horse deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and dignity regardless of their condition.
Settled within 80 acres of forest and farmland, our barn is specifically designed to accommodate injured and elderly horses. There is special padding in each of the stalls, mats covering the concrete, overhead fans to keep the insects at bay, and a large pasture to graze in. They are visited several times a day and are provided with all of the enrichment that they may need. From grooming, special individual diets, special gear, and even playtime, we understand that every horse is unique, and we do our absolute best to accommodate their every need.
Our Horses
Meet our beautiful rescue horses, each with a unique story of survival and resilience. These horses came from the waiting list of This Old Horse. Please consider adopting or fostering a horse if you can these horses give so much joy. https://www.thisoldhorse.org/
Flamenco Lady
Meet Flamenco Lady! She is a 31-year-old Bay Arabian mare, whose soft personality and kind nature will melt your heart. She was a broodmare and lives with her daughter Chinaa Moon here at the sanctuary. She is quite a personable and inquisitive girl, and shows curiosity towards absolutely everything she encounters! Upon her arrival, she took an instant liking to Lisa, the founder of the sanctuary, and the two bonded straight away! Their calm personalities align beautifully; empathy and curiosity are at the forefront. Miss Lady has arthritis in her RF knee, and dropped fetlocks in the rear, which is DSLD. She has very few teeth left and has a special diet since she quids. She is the horse with the most medical issues at our rescue right now, but she has shown a great deal of improvement following her arrival, and continues to get stronger every day!
Chinaa Moon
Meet Chinaa Moon! She is a 24-year-old Arabian/Saddlebred, Bay/Tobiano mare. Her grace and beauty will instantly catch your eye. This charming girl is a bit skittish, but has begun to come out of her shell after arriving at our rescue. She has never been “broken in”, thus has some sensory issues with other gear that we’re still working through. She has spent her life alongside her mother, Flamenco Lady, but given her inquisitive nature, she shows a great deal of interest in making new friends. She took an instant liking to the founder’s child, Storm, who has a personality (and age) quite similar to hers! The two of them became best friends very shortly after she arrived at the sanctuary, almost as if they sensed each other’s anxieties and curiosities. They help lift each other up, and provide the one another with the reassurance they need to keep moving forward.
Layla
Meet Layla! This beautiful girl is in her late teens and is a Bay Quarab Mare. She is very well trained, social, and extremely agreeable! Very food motivated too; thoroughly enjoying her treats! She is accustomed to a saddle, has been ridden, and has absolutely no issues with any type of gear or grooming. Despite her age, she does have arthritis due to a previously sustained injury to the joint and ligaments on her front left foot, but you certainly couldn’t tell! She was bought in an auction last September from her previous owner so nothing is known from her past. She is still warming up to the other horses at the sanctuary, but is very easy going, and is the sweetest towards every human she meets! Since her arrival, she has formed an especially close bond with the founder’s husband, Michael, and the two of them are almost inseparable! Their personalities aren’t necessarily similar, but they’ve formed a unique bond that is heartwarming to witness!
Life at the Sanctuary
