The Big Purple Barn, A Sanctuary

The Big Purple Barn, A Sanctuary Providing a lifetime of comfort and care to our sanctuary animals and connecting our community.

The Big purple Barn, located at Hidden Haven Farm, is a non profit organization that seeks to promote the horse human bond through innovative education and outreach programs we offer to the community that utilize our resident equines. We provide a permanent home and care to 15 special needs equines from our work with local rescues. We provide volunteer opportunities, horse care education, riding l

essons, day camps and various programs throught the year. Our volunteer staff is highly trained, our resident horses are personable and eager to interact with people and our programs are are geared towards teaching people about the joys and responsibilities of horses.

Hippity Hoppity Happy Easter from our adorable bunny 🐰 to you! 📸 Presely makes one adorable little bunny 🐇
04/20/2025

Hippity Hoppity Happy Easter from our adorable bunny 🐰 to you!

📸 Presely makes one adorable little bunny 🐇

Good morning everyone! Farm life doesn't stop, even when we are sad. Today we need to purchase hay AND our farrier is co...
04/16/2025

Good morning everyone! Farm life doesn't stop, even when we are sad.

Today we need to purchase hay AND our farrier is coming to trim hooves. Today will cost around $1500 🙃 and our winter funds are depleted. Can you donate just $20 towards our expenses? Every bit helps!

Jonas says, "thank you!"

Yesterday the farm said goodbye to one of the best barn dogs ever, Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie was part of the farm for al...
04/15/2025

Yesterday the farm said goodbye to one of the best barn dogs ever, Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie was part of the farm for almost 12 years, growing up here and being a part of everyday farm life from feeding to lessons. She was the constant companion of our Executive Director, Tara and was often seen right by her side. She loved the horses and the farm life. She sounded the alarm when people approached and while intimidating in size and voice, she really just wanted everyone to pet her and never stop.

The barn will be a little more quiet without her gentle presence. We will all be a little more somber for awhile. She joins an amazing herd at the Rainbow 🌈 Bridge and we know she's checking on all of our animals there for us.

Until we meet again Sweet Sookie 🥺💜.
Sookie Beatrice Chandler Stackhouse
October 13, 2013 to April 14, 2025

It's been an awfully 😖 dreary 🌧 week! Po-tato is here to bring you a little sunshine 🌞!
04/13/2025

It's been an awfully 😖 dreary 🌧 week! Po-tato is here to bring you a little sunshine 🌞!

04/12/2025

Did you know that the WB&A trail allows horses and sometimes you might encounter them! Horses are large and reactive so letting a rider know you're there plus giving them some space, and pausing to let them pass makes it safer for everyone! If you're on a bike, this is especially important.

Our spring time struggles continue, but so do we!✔️ We have almost completely cleared out Bruce's eyelid abcess and he's...
04/10/2025

Our spring time struggles continue, but so do we!

✔️ We have almost completely cleared out Bruce's eyelid abcess and he's back to his shenanigans!

✔️ We have successfully switched Maggie's steroid for her asthma treatment and are working on her step down doses to get her to the lowest and most infrequent dose possible that still keeps her comfortable.

🚫 Abby is still struggling through a lyme flare and after showing promise of improvement, she worsened again. This one has affected her joints, her hooves and digestive system. We work hard every day to manage her in a way that keeps her safe, promotes what movement we can while making her as comfortable as we can. We encourage her to seek out her friends and move around as much as she can. She gets medications twice a day as well as checks multiple times a day. Her reduced immunity, thanks to her cushings, makes getting over these flares longer and more complicated. We are staying in close communication with our veterinary and farrier team and making continual adjustments to her care.

📸 of Abby, in her comfort boots and moving around the barn as she pleases 💕

Hooray Hooray 🥳For National Unicorn Day 🦄!Jewel is the most unique unicorn there is! We celebrate our unicorns year roun...
04/09/2025

Hooray Hooray 🥳For National Unicorn Day 🦄!

Jewel is the most unique unicorn there is!

We celebrate our unicorns year round, but April is a special time. It's the time of year when our unicorns wake up powers from their long winter nap, thanks to the imagination of our friends, supporters and followers! Every horse is a unicorn 🦄 if you just believe 🩵.

This year we will not be hosting our large Unicorn Festival due to many contributing factors. We are hopeful to have it return here to the farm in 2026! We ARE planning a smaller scale Unicorn Celebration so watch here for the date and information!

Happy Unicorn Day 🦄 Everyone 💓!

Bright 🌞 Breezy 🌬Back in blankets! 🧥
04/08/2025

Bright 🌞
Breezy 🌬
Back in blankets! 🧥

Our Abby is still working through her Lyme flare up. It's so challenging to help her feel her best and adjust her care a...
04/08/2025

Our Abby is still working through her Lyme flare up. It's so challenging to help her feel her best and adjust her care and medications properly, but we have a great team! Besides, how could we not do everything we can for this adorable face!?

We found the oddest pile of p**p 💩 today! 🤣
04/08/2025

We found the oddest pile of p**p 💩 today! 🤣

Bruce is summing up how we all feel here at the farm about this recent change in weather 😝
04/08/2025

Bruce is summing up how we all feel here at the farm about this recent change in weather 😝

Not too late to stop by MOD pizza in Bowie for the fundraiser! If dining in, just mention the fundraiser, and if orderin...
04/07/2025

Not too late to stop by MOD pizza in Bowie for the fundraiser! If dining in, just mention the fundraiser, and if ordering to go online use the code MODGIVES25! Fundraiser goes all day!

Today is the day! From open to close at MOD pizza in Bowie, either show this flyer when ordering in person, or use code ...
04/07/2025

Today is the day! From open to close at MOD pizza in Bowie, either show this flyer when ordering in person, or use code MODGIVES25 when ordering online, and help support the barn!

Happy Gotcha Day to Stelladora Marie! Our precocious elder goat lady joined us 8 years ago along with her sister, Cookie...
04/05/2025

Happy Gotcha Day to Stelladora Marie! Our precocious elder goat lady joined us 8 years ago along with her sister, Cookie, who is now at the rainbow bridge. When Stella arrived, she was all white! We had no idea she would morph into such a colorful goat as she aged.

She is an alpine/boer cross from an Amish farm. She was bred for a combination of meat/milk, but here at the sanctuary she will not be used for either. Stella is currently the only goat with horns here and yes, she most definitely knows how to use them! She requires vigilance and respect.

It's been a long winter, and it's time to start getting back in shape for everyone! We use pole sets and various obstacl...
04/04/2025

It's been a long winter, and it's time to start getting back in shape for everyone! We use pole sets and various obstacles as part of the walking and physical therapy we do for the horses and ponies. Poles help Summer pick up her feet, increase her range of motion, improve proprioception, and strengthen her back. Horses are designed to move, and adding simple, beneficial exercises like this also helps their digestive system!

Friendship is crucial for horses as they evolved to live in groups. Managing any of our herd members with an injury or i...
04/04/2025

Friendship is crucial for horses as they evolved to live in groups. Managing any of our herd members with an injury or illness can mean time away from the herd. Abby is still in the beginning phases of recovering from her Lyme flare, which includes painful hooves and joints. At this stage, though, she needs to move around a little more and immerse herself, if even for a short period, in the power of the herd. She is equipped with her cushioning boots and some anti-inflammatory medication and out for the morning where Bugatti was ready to greet her and spend some time at the hay pile! Abby can stay out as long as she likes and has the ability to come back into her stall for rest.

Happy Gotcha Day to this beautiful unicorn! Interstellar, more commonly known around the barn as Sophia, joined us in 2...
04/04/2025

Happy Gotcha Day to this beautiful unicorn!

Interstellar, more commonly known around the barn as Sophia, joined us in 2018 from the Equine Rescue League . Sophia was an ACO seizure along with a young c**t who is not believed to be related. She was nursed back to health and fostered to help start her training before coming to join us. Her name, Interstellar, is a in homage to our other ERL adopted Arabian, Champagne Supernova (Nova), who had passed to the rainbow bridge prior to Sophia joining our herd.

Since her arrival, Sophia has been such a character 💕 She is quirky and sensitive but oh so personable and sweet. She is a huge part of our programs, helping with lessons and even ground based work with out special needs and veteran community.

4 years ago she had surgery to remove a large sarcoid tumor (a benign skin tumor) and thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, we were able to pay for her surgery in full! Thank you all for your support of our residents, like Sophia!

Sophia has a club foot which in turn, creates compensation in the opposing front foot giving her a unique appearance and mobility. Our farrier trims her in a way that makes her most comfortable and she will always require special hoof care.

Sophia can be quite sensitive and anxious so she lives in the mare field where she can have freedom to move 24 hours a day. However, she equally enjoys brushing, treats and attention!

Gingerbread House Zoo Crafts is a huge supporter of Team Sophia and have lots of goodies and specials on sale right now to help support her here at the sanctuary! Head to their page and give them a like 👍 and purchase some swag to support Sophia!

After 2 years of mild symptoms, Maggie finally had a full-blown asthma attack this winter and received her official dia...
04/03/2025

After 2 years of mild symptoms, Maggie finally had a full-blown asthma attack this winter and received her official diagnosis through a physical assessment and bloodwork to rule out infection and cushings. We were able to stabilize her with steroids and have worked to step her down to the lowest dose possible and still keep her comfortable. We are happy to say she's doing amazing right now, and her capacity to breathe easier has allowed us to increase her walking to help her to some weight, which also helps her breathe easier! Supporting our sanctuary residents through every challenge is what we do.

Address

6407 Hillmeade Road
Bowie, MD
20720

Telephone

+12406876995

Website

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Our Story

The Big Purple Barn was originally called Hidden Haven Farm, and established as a sanctuary for special needs horses and ponies. Since 2001, we have cared for over 25 resident horses, ponies and minis, until their call home to the rainbow bridge. In that time, we provided countless outreach experiences to our community and began community based programs to allow youth and adults a way to learn about and interact with our residents on a personal level in a supportive environment

The concept for The Big Purple Barn emerged in 2010 as a place for people and horses to connect and have the opportunity to learn and grow together. We are pleased to announce our non profit application acceptance in 2013. Prior to this, The Big Purple Barn was part of Hidden Haven Farm, established in 1991 and finding a permanent home in Bowie, MD in 2001. The farm worked closely with local rescue organizations providing a permanent home for special needs horses and ponies and minis as well as providing opportunity and access to the animals and basic riding and horse care programs to the community.

As our relationship in the community deepened, The Big Purple Barn was born out of the needs of our community to provide more focused opportunity to discover horses and provide opportunities for special needs populations as well as community service learning opportunities for local schools. Since 2010, we have expanded our programs to include volunteer opportunities, school and event outreach as well as interactive and educational opportunities for special needs members of our communities. In 2013, we received our 501C3 designation. In 2015 we began accepting new animals into the sanctuary and now we proudly provide a home to pot bellied pigs, sheep and goats! Our programs focus not only on animal care and appreciation, but on land conservation and stewardship and urban agriculture.