Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue (LOHR) is a nationally accredited equine sanctuary and community healing center located in Dutchess County, New York. Founded in 2008, our mission is simple and unwavering: “People Helping Horses Heal People.” We exist to provide lifelong sanctuary to horses in need and to create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to experience emotional growth, connection, and wellbeing through equine-assisted programs.
What began with a single rescued horse has grown into a nationally recognized, fully accredited sanctuary home to 43 horses, including 21 Thoroughbreds, many retired from the racetrack. These horses—each with their own story of abandonment, neglect, trauma, or transition—become teachers, partners, and healers in the work we do every day. LOHR is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and the EQUUS Foundation Mentor program, demonstrating our deep commitment to the highest standards of care, ethics, and animal-welfare practices.
Our Sanctuary Model
LOHR is a true sanctuary—once a horse arrives, they are home for life. We do not adopt out, sell, or return them to work. Instead, we focus on lifetime care, individualized health plans, enrichment, and giving each horse a purpose that suits their physical and emotional needs. This commitment is central to our philosophy: healing happens in safe, consistent, compassionate environments.
Every horse receives:
Daily individualized care
Veterinary and farrier oversight
Customized nutrition plans
Behavioral enrichment
Space to roam, graze, and interact naturally with a herd
Many of our horses are seniors or have chronic conditions that made them unwanted elsewhere. At LOHR, they are honored, protected, and valued—never discarded.
A Place Where People Heal Too
While LOHR is a sanctuary for horses, it is equally a place where humans find connection, confidence, and renewed hope. Our horses—once broken or forgotten—help people reclaim pieces of themselves they thought were lost.
We serve:
Veterans and active-duty service members
First responders and their families
Youth experiencing anxiety, bullying, grief, or trauma
Adults navigating stress, life transitions, and emotional challenges
Families seeking connection
Schools, community agencies, and therapeutic organizations
Participants do not ride the horses. Instead, they engage in evidence-based, experiential sessions on the ground, building skills in communication, emotional regulation, leadership, and trust. Horses respond authentically, without judgment, creating moments of insight and connection that traditional talk-based approaches can’t always access.
Programs That Transform Lives
LOHR offers a broad spectrum of equine-assisted development and learning programs tailored to community needs. These include:
Equine-Assisted Development (EAD)
Small-group and individual sessions help children, teens, and adults build self-awareness, emotional resilience, confidence, and healthy relationship skills. Sessions are facilitated by certified equine professionals trained in multiple modalities including E3A, CHA, Harmony Horsemanship, and Natural Lifemanship foundations.
Youth Development
Students learn communication, problem solving, leadership, and emotional awareness through structured, hands-on sessions with horses. Our youth programs serve local school districts, homeschool networks, youth agencies, and after-school programs, providing a positive outlet for kids who need safe and supportive environments.
Veteran and First Responder Support
LOHR proudly operates the SAFE Program—Suicide Awareness for First Responders and Equines—to help reduce the alarming mental-health crisis affecting these communities. Participants learn grounding skills, build trust, and experience connection with horses whose own stories of resilience mirror their own. LOHR has helped countless veterans and first responders reconnect with family, rediscover purpose, and build pathways to healing.
Women’s Peer Groups
Women facing life transitions—caregiving, divorce, empty nest, loss, burnout, or identity changes—find community in our supportive equine-guided circles. Horses model healthy boundaries, emotional clarity, patience, and self-worth, helping women rediscover their inner strength.
Humane Education & Community Outreach
From school field trips to community events to workforce development programs, LOHR educates the public about horse welfare, responsible animal stewardship, and the importance of mental health. Thousands interact with our horses each year, building empathy and awareness.
Why This Work Matters
Dutchess County and the surrounding Hudson Valley region are experiencing increased levels of anxiety, depression, social isolation, and stress among both youth and adults. Many families cannot afford traditional therapy or are seeking complementary approaches that feel accessible, non-clinical, and relationship-based.
At the same time, the need for equine sanctuary care is rising, as racing, breeding, and owner transitions leave more horses without lifelong homes. LOHR’s dual-impact model—saving horses and supporting people—fills two critical gaps in the community.
Each year LOHR:
Provides more than 800–1,000 hours of equine-assisted programming
Serves hundreds of children, families, veterans, and first responders
Offers year-round sanctuary to 43 horses whose lives would otherwise be at risk
Partners with schools, mental-health providers, probation departments, veterans’ groups, and community agencies
Offers free or low-cost sessions to individuals who would not otherwise receive support
The community’s needs are growing, and LOHR is committed to meeting them.
Impact in Action
Our participants describe breakthroughs that shape—and sometimes save—lives. One veteran shared:
“I walked into my first session feeling numb and disconnected from everything and everyone. I met Ruby, a massive draft horse with the softest eyes. She greeted me like she knew exactly how heavy I felt. Over time, that horse taught me how to open up, breathe again, and trust myself. LOHR didn’t just help me. It helped me reconnect with my fiancée, my family, and my place in this world.”
Stories like this are common. Horses reflect emotions honestly and non-verbally, helping people gain insights faster and more meaningfully than traditional approaches alone.
Our Commitment to Ethical, Sustainable Care
LOHR maintains the highest standards in both equine management and program delivery. Our staff are certified in equine facility management, equine safety, and experiential facilitation methods. We invest in ongoing training, accreditation renewals, and facility improvements to ensure everyone—horse or human—remains safe, respected, and supported.
We also prioritize transparency and responsible stewardship of donor support. Funds are directed toward:
Horse feed, hay, shavings, and veterinary care
Farrier services and medications
Staff compensation for barn care and program facilitation
Program scholarships for children and veterans
Facility maintenance and safety upgrades
New equipment such as fencing, footing, and barn repairs
Emergency resources for aging or medically complex horses
Every dollar helps sustain both lives and futures.
A Welcoming Home for All
LOHR serves a diverse cross-section of the community: youth facing Social emotional challenges, families seeking bonding experiences, veteran groups, first responders, trauma survivors, local schools, and more. Our programs are accessible, inclusive, and designed to meet people where they are.
We believe healing happens in relationships—with horses, with each other, and with ourselves.
Looking Ahead
As demand for our programs increases, LOHR is working to expand capacity through:
Additional program hours
Strengthened school partnerships
New community collaborations
Facility improvements including paddock upgrades and a new equipment shop
A comprehensive care plan supporting our aging herd
Expanded scholarship funds
Continued accreditation and best-practice development
With sustained support, LOHR will continue to transform the lives of both horses and humans for generations to come.
Join Us
When you support Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, you are not just helping a horse sanctuary—you are investing in a compassionate, resilient community. You are giving a second chance to horses who had nowhere else to go and opening pathways of healing for people who need connection, support, and hope.
Together, we can ensure that People Helping Horses Heal People remains more than a mission. It stays a living promise.
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