Steele Magnolia Sanctuary

12/02/2025

Steele Magnolia Sanctuary…a soft place to land for countless horses who’ve run out of chances…horses that have been abused, neglected, abandoned or surrendered.
We typically spend 6 months to 1 year re-feeding & rehabilitating each horse that comes to our sanctuary.

While we advocate for horses in need of rehoming & actively search for placement, the horses we take in, become permanent residents due to age, health issues &/or injuries that require special care.🥹
The promise we make to our rescue residents is that they will never again be abused, neglected or abandoned. It’s so beautiful to watch them as they come to trust that they will be loved & well cared for.🥰
Quality hay, feed, supplements, vet, dental & farrier care is expensive & we’re grateful for our family of followers who’ve never failed us! 🙏🥰🥹🙏💜
As a registered nonprofit, we rely solely on donations & volunteers to help with the needs of our rescues, it wouldn’t be possible to continue rescue efforts & care without the support our community!🙌 It takes a village!🙌🙏

🎁This , if you’re able, we ask that you make a donation to support our rescue horses. All donations will help us to purchase the remainder of hay needed for this winter. We spend approximately $6,000- $7,000 annually on hay!

We thank you so very much for your continued support!💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏

11/28/2025

🥰💜Happy Thanksgiving💜🥰

11/25/2025

A few bitter sweet memories popped up today…oh how you’re missed around here, Romeo.🥹
It’s so painful when we have to let go of our beloved animals, isn’t it? But how grateful I am for them & for the time God allows us to love them & be loved by them.💜🙏💜
Today, I’m grateful to begin decorating, cooking & preparing for family & grateful for our menagerie who allow us to exist in “their” home & on “their” property.🥰😂
Adding a few of my favorite recent photos of Lexi Lou, Daisy Doodle Bug, Princess Marshmellow, Coco Bean Chanel & Meatball, whose called by his full name, Rueben Meatball when he’s naughty, which is a lot!🐯

11/23/2025

🎄🎁Thank you to all who participated in our 1st Mini Little Christmas & to our volunteers who came out to help!🎄🎁 The weather was perfect & the animals were very well behaved…treats helped of course, but you’d think some of them were posing!😂 What a fun day it was!!! Can’t wait to see the professional photos!!
Thank you at Honey & Light Photography! You are so gifted & creative…you captured some great shots!!💜🙏💜 ❤️

11/21/2025

This.

WHEN A HORSE TRIES TO LEAVE — AND WE DON’T LET THEM 🧨🐴

I watched a woman leading her gelding the other day.
He stopped.
He turned his head away.
He shifted his weight like he wanted to walk off.

And she tightened the rope.

“Don’t be rude,” she said.

He tried again — a small step to the side.
She bumped the rope.
Made him “face up.”
Asked him to “be with her.”

And everyone watching thought he was being disrespectful.
But he wasn’t.
He was uncomfortable.
He was trying to create space.
He was saying no in the only safe way he could.

The tightening of the rope made him “behave.”
He stood still.
Head low.
Eyes dull.

People call that good manners.
Connection.
Leadership.

But it’s not.

It’s a horse giving up because the alternative is pressure.

Here’s the truth most people don’t want to face:

A horse who isn’t free to leave is not choosing to stay.
A horse who is corrected every time they express discomfort is not learning trust — they’re learning silence.

And silence is not partnership.
It’s shutdown.

This is what we teach in Learn to Speak Horse:
How to recognise the moment a horse says,
“I need space,”
“I don’t feel safe,”
“I’m not okay,”
…so you can actually respond — not correct it out of them.

If you want a relationship where your horse feels safe enough to tell the truth, this is where it begins:
👉 livingthehorse.com/speakhorse

🧨 If this hits home, please share it. So many horses are punished for simply trying to communicate.

11/19/2025

Many horses are discarded due to no longer being rideable…too many horses are dumped at auction or abandoned due to things like old age, injuries or health issues that are manageable…sadly, there are more horses in need of rescuing than there are rescues & sanctuaries…we get calls weekly.💔

There’s so much more to horses than riding, in fact, my favorite place to spend time with a horse, is on the ground.🥰
Just look at beautiful Steele…he’s the reason my hair always looks so terrific!😂 Steele was 8 years old when we took him in, we could have started him under saddle but chose not to because of the neglect & physical abuse he endured for so many years.
Many people think horses need a job, I’m not one of those people…horses are not humans, in the wild, they do not have jobs, they’re free to roam, they get exercise & have companionship within their herd. I do think it’s important to provide training, exercise & have consistent interaction with the horses we take in…it’s irresponsible to have horses that are not safe to handle & expect your vet or farrier to take care of them. This being said, Steele & all of our horses have purpose, in addition to having companionship with their herd mates, they’re worked with, groomed & loved on by us & our therapy & lesson students.

While most of our horses are not rideable, the ones we take in that are rideable, are ridden on a regular basis.
With every new intake, we spend 6 months to a year rehabbing, which begins with re feeding & restoring them physically & then training…discovering what they know & working on the things they don’t know or need a refresher on.
Just like us, each horse has their own personality, fears, needs & limitations…handling Nova, who is blind, requires special care but it doesn’t mean she’s not capable of being worked with & learning…she’s proving to be a very sweet therapy horse!🥰
If all you’re doing with your horse is riding, you’re truly missing out…working with them on the ground & simply sitting with them, letting them choose to come to you & loving on them when they nudge you is so amazing…it builds trust & creates the most incredible bond!🥰 Love the horse before the sport.

11/13/2025

Lounging in a bed of hay & sporting their hay bellies…typical, following a few extremely cold days.😁🥰Thank you .e.jordan for the 2nd photo & for all you helped us with today!💜🙏💜 ❤️

11/10/2025

❄️🥶Wintery temps for the next couple of days but we’re prepared…3 of our mares, Magnolia, Ruby & Nova, who get cold easily, have their blankets on, all pastures have clean, mucked out shelters & plenty of water & hay. Our barn, tack room & feed room, are now clean & organized, thanks to our most amazing volunteers!!🙏🙌💜extra big thank you to Jenn for all you did for us over the weekend!🙏🙌💜
Also, Bob & his dad worked on the much needed horse shelter expansion for the “3 Amigos,” Kid, Jasmine & Nova!🙌 …grateful🥰

11/08/2025

Calling all horse lovers, especially mini horse lovers! Honey & Light Photography & Maekayla Renea Photography have offered to do a limited number of Family Holiday Photo Sessions here at Steele Magnolia Sanctuary!
Only 12 slots are available & will include festively decorated areas with a mini horse & the Grinch!
And while you’re here, meet & pet on our rescue horses, while listening to Christmas music & enjoying our hot chocolate bar & Christmas Cookies!🎅🏻🎄🍪🐴🦄