Hanaeleh Horse Rescue and Advocacy

a non-profit horse rescue working with abandoned, neglected and abused horses. Stop horse slaughter NOW!

Hanaeleh Achieves GFAS Verification

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We are very happy to announce that Hanaeleh is now verified by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. This is a huge undertaking for our small rescue and we finally did it! Here are the details from our press release: June 17, 2015 Hanaeleh Horse Rescue of California is Verified by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (Trabuco Canyon, CA) – The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate … [Read more...]

Pockets of Love/Gratitude: The Antidote for Compassion Fatigue

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If an optimist sees the world through rose-colored glasses, then an individual involved in rescue- whether it be human or animal- will eventually start to see the world through black iridium (that's the darkest lens Oakley makes, by the way, for those who do not live a few blocks from the Oakley headquarters). When faced with the worst that humanity has to offer day-in and day-out, it's difficult to be optimistic about the world. Many rescuers (as well as social workers, nurses, etc.) suffer … [Read more...]

Hanaeleh President’s Message – May/June 2015

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Friday marks the 16th year since I adopted a horse sight-unseen off of the Internet. It seems improbable that such an innocuous event could actually change a person's life (perhaps empty one's wallet, but not change one's life).  And yet, this purchase put me on a completely different life path. I purchased Cleopatra with a naiveté that I never suggest anyone indulge in when purchasing a horse. In truth, the horse who was advertised as being trained for trail, and just needed "a week of work," … [Read more...]

Why You Should Not Support the Kentucky Derby

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On Saturday morning, 20 horses will run in the Kentucky Derby and ONE will win.  Let me be a little more specific: Out of approximately 35,000 registered Thoroughbreds, 20 three-year old horses, who have been in training since they were 12 months or younger, will be running faster than is safe for their bodies.  These horses will be at a high risk for bone fractures and bruising. It's not necessarily that I am against horse racing... in theory. Racing is a time-honored tradition, and I see … [Read more...]

Check Out Our Newly Refurbished Arena and Round Pen!

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The Santa Ana winds that tore through our ranch last fall didn’t just destroy several of our shelters—they also blew away nearly all the sand from our arena. After the winter rains, we tried dragging the arena to loosen and soften the remaining dirt for the horses, but our current drag isn’t heavy … [Read More...]

SAFE! Yorba Linda, CA: 8 y/o TB Mare Needs Home

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UPDATE 4/18/25- The owner contacted us and let us know that Virginia has found a home! Thank you to everyone who helped share her story! Yorba Linda, CA: We were contacted by a woman facing financial hardship who needs help rehoming her 8-year-old Thoroughbred mare, Virginia. Virginia has … [Read More...]

Fallbrook, CA: Two Horses Need Homes!

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We were recently contacted by a woman who took in two horses—Brady and Quebec—after a friend moved away. Now, she is relocating out of state and, unfortunately, cannot bring the horses with her. Please note: Brady and Quebec are not currently at Hanaeleh. We are simply assisting in the search for a … [Read More...]