Five Sanctuary Horses
The horses who shape this place
Shuki
Rescued in 2016
I first noticed Shuki in a dry pasture between Sosúa and Cabarete during a time of drought. The next time I passed by, I felt a strong inner knowing that if I did not take him then, he would die. When I returned, I found him severely wounded, barely alive, and left without care.
With help, I was able to rescue him that same day. His recovery took time and patient treatment, but he healed remarkably well. Today, Shuki is a strong and healthy horse, and for me he remains a living reminder of what compassion and timely action can change.
A story of survival and care
Laila
Trust built slowly over time
Laila appeared in the pasture at the equestrian center where Shuki was living. I felt a quiet wish to connect with her, but in the beginning I could not come closer than a few meters. She was deeply afraid of humans, and I later learned that she had been abused and had also been through a traumatic accident.
Building trust with Laila took months before she allowed me to come close, touch her, and eventually place a halter on her. Later, when I left the center, I was grateful that I could bring her with me. In a safe and calm environment her healing continued, and over time she became an incredibly gentle, calm, and loving horse.
A story of patience and trust
Bob
Joined Shuki in 2020
Bob was bought from the equestrian center, but he became very nervous whenever people tried to ride him. After two months of not being able to manage him, they turned him out into the pasture where Shuki lived. Very quickly, the two became inseparable. Every time I took Shuki out, Bob would call after us and try to follow, as if he was asking not to be left behind.
I asked if I could work with him, and they agreed. It did not take long for me to realize that Bob was not a difficult horse at all. He was beautifully trained and incredibly sensitive. What he could not handle was being treated harshly, like an object without feelings. Riding him with a bit and hard hands had frightened him so deeply that he had completely lost trust in people riding him.
I started over with him softly, patiently, and without force. I worked with him without a bit, giving him the time and kindness he needed to feel safe again. Little by little, he began to trust me. After some weeks, I could ride him without a bit, and eventually even without a saddle. For the first time in a long while, he looked peaceful again.
While I was away traveling, the equestrian center sold him without telling me. When I came back, I found him standing on a barren piece of land between houses. There was no grass, barely any shade, an abandoned construction site beside him, and garbage scattered everywhere. He had lost weight, and the sadness in his eyes broke my heart.
The new owner lived far away and had only tried to ride him once before becoming afraid of him. Since then, Bob had simply been left there, fed but emotionally abandoned. After weeks of difficult negotiations, the owner finally agreed to a price I could afford. The day Bob came home with me was the day his life changed forever. And honestly, mine changed too.
Bob turned out to be one of the gentlest and purest souls I have ever known. Today, he is not only safe and loved, but also the most incredible therapy horse I could have ever dreamed of.
A story of sensitivity and second chances
Samira & Sophia
A mother and foal welcomed in 2022
In the summer of 2022, I first noticed Samira and her little foal, Sophia. The boys from the orphanage were using Samira while searching for their cows. Sometimes two or even three boys rode on her back at once. Sophia, only about one month old at the time, tried her best to follow her mother, jumping through bushes and rough terrain to keep up.
Over time, I saw them grazing together with the cows on poor pasture with very little grass to eat. Samira lost a lot of weight. Then one day, the boys brought the horses near the pasture where my own horses were kept and asked if I could take them in just for a while because they did not have enough land and were afraid the horses would starve. How could I say no?
I agreed, but only under one condition: nobody was allowed to ride Samira anymore. Samira’s back was already damaged because she had been ridden far too young, before she was even two years old. She did not even have a name. Neither did her baby. The mother was so afraid of people that she could barely be touched. Even little Sophia, already around six months old by then, flinched away from human hands.
So we started from the beginning, with patience, kindness, and trust. Together, we chose names for them. The mother became Samira, and the little one became Sophia. Sophia opened her heart almost immediately. After only two days, she began to play, seeking attention and enjoying every gentle touch. Samira carried pain, fear, and exhaustion inside her. She needed food, time, soft words, and endless patience before she slowly began to trust again.
The horses stayed with me and later moved together with my own horses from the rented pasture to my land in May 2023. Then one day, Samira was missing. The boys later came back with her, claiming they had found her in the forest, but they had taken her without permission. People told me they had seen her carrying three boys on her back. I realized that as long as the horses belonged to the orphanage, they could be taken back at any time.
I spoke with my friend Micki, who is also an animal rescuer, and we decided to buy the horses. We talked to the pastor of the orphanage, who needed money at the time and was happy to receive it for the horses. Since then, Micki has continued helping the orphanage through fundraising.
Today, Sophia is the brightest and most intelligent horse in the group. She loves to learn, loves to play, and understands new things incredibly quickly. Samira’s back has healed beautifully through exercises, massages, and careful rehabilitation. Even more importantly, her soul has started to heal too. She has learned to trust again.
A story of protection, patience, and trust
