Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue

06/21/2025

Watch the new Friesians unload and go into their new pasture!

06/21/2025

We’re getting ready to take our new arrivals out to their pasture! Y’all asked for more lives after watching their arrival last night so we’re going to do it again! Check back in in about 45mins when we get to their new field!

06/21/2025

06/20/2025

UPDATE: NEW ETA is 8:00 PM EST!

BREAKING NEWS! 39 MORE NEGLECTED FRIESIAN HORSES SEIZED FROM FRIESIANS OF MAJESTY BREEDING FACILITY IN TOWNSHEND, VERMONT. 31 OF THE SEIZED HORSES ARE HEADING TO GENTLE GIANTS!

On Wednesday, June 18, Vermont Fish and Wildlife executed a search and seizure at the Friesians of Majesty Breeding Facility, owned by Robert Labrie in Townshend, Vermont. A shocking 39 out of the approximately 100 horses still on the property were removed due to conditions deemed inhumane—described by prosecutors as the worst they have ever witnessed. Many horses are suffering from extreme starvation, and at least two needed immediate transportation to an equine hospital. This seizure marks the fourth of its kind at this breeding operation since 2023, with a total of 79 horses rescued so far, and approximately 60 still left on site. (UPDATE: We've received new information that only 25 horses remain.)

Gentle Giants is already currently housing seven adult Friesian stallions that were seized on September 10, 2024. Among these stallions is the legendary Othello, who was once regarded as the top breeding stallion in the United States. The hearing for the charges related to the 20 horses seized in September 2024, which includes the 7 stallions in our care, took place in April 2025. As of now, no verdict has been reached, leaving the horses in a state of legal limbo.

Tomorrow, the first group will arrive, including 10 stud colts and 2 adult Friesian stallions. On Monday, 19 mares will travel to our rescue where they will discover the love, safety, and comfort they've been longing for.

We have committed to provide the highest level of care for all 38 horses in our custody. This includes special housing, veterinary care, farrier services, dental care, and daily attention to ensure these majestic animals regain their strength and spirit. We do not seek reimbursement from humane law enforcement agencies, many of whom are already severely underfunded and understaffed. The cost of transportation alone for these horses alone is a staggering $33,000 for the seven stallions that arrived in September, and this incoming group. Your support allows us to be there for our partners in equine welfare when they call for help, and our gratitude truly runs deep.

Thank you for always being there for us, especially during times like these when we need help the most. Because of you, we can make sure these horses arrive safely and are well taken care of. We appreciate you for being in our corner and for believing so strongly in our mission!

We’ll be going live on our Facebook and Tiktok channels so you can witness their arrival with us! We are anticipating the horses to arrive between 6:30-8:00 PM EST. Keep an eye on our social channels for updates regarding their exact arrival time tomorrow!

06/17/2025

RACE RESULTS ARE READY!!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out on Saturday to run with the giants. We know it was cold, wet, and muddy, but nonetheless, you showed up ready to run and we are thrilled to share that this was our most attended 5K in the last 10 years by over 250 runners!!

We hope you all had a great experience and appreciate everyone's patience and kindness through the on-site registration process. For those of you who registered prior to June 14th, but did not receive a t-shirt, we have placed an order for more t-shirts and medals and will send an email with information on a pick-up date. If you are unable to make the pick-up date, we will mail your items to you.

http://mdtiming.com/2025/Thund2025-Results.TXT

06/05/2025

Taco’s surgery is tomorrow!

He’s staying the night in the treatment room of our Healing Barn with his buddy Kerrygold in the stall next to him. Tomorrow morning, his left eye and all of that cancerous tissue will be removed. We’ll have a better idea of the extent of the cancer once our vet gets in there but we’re very hopeful that Taco will have a great prognosis and finally be able to fully enjoy his new life, free from pain and constant discomfort.

06/04/2025

Remember Polar (left)? He came in as a scrawny Stallion with severe neurologic symptoms. We weren’t sure if he was going to be able to overcome the extreme hind end weakness that had him weaving from side to side. Today, he’s still not 100% but he is significantly improved and he has a new bestie that he spends every minute with! Him and Owen (right) are quite the pair!

06/02/2025

GG Alum Drifter (right) was cooling off in the wash stall after drill team practice and had a surprise visit from baby Cadbury! Needless to say, Drifter was immediately obsessed. How could you not be?! You'll notice Cadbury making a chewing motion with his mouth while Drifter interacts with him - this is called "clacking". Clacking is a behavior that baby horses will do to indicate to other horses that they are just a baby, still learning manners, and to please be patient with them. While clacking is always adorable, Cadbury has his own technique of flopping his lips while he clacks which makes his clacking especially adorable!

05/30/2025

New arrival, Altivo, wants to wish you all a very happy Friday! He and his friends are settling in nicely and are thoroughly enjoying their alfalfa. Soon they will be out of quarantine and ready to meet the rest of the herd!

05/24/2025

“This is a really good group!” - us, every single time we bring a new group of rescues home! We can’t help it! They all truly astound us with their ability to embrace a new environment, engage with new people, and trust us as we try to heal them inside and out.

05/22/2025

How nice is this?! Improve Equine just sent us several samples of organic and wild harvested herbs and spices to use in a water buffet for our horses! Water buffets are a great way to encourage hydration, provide enrichment, and they allow horses to self select the minerals and nutrients they need.

We’ll be building a special area for the buckets of flavored water and installing them for our two dry lot herds 😁 Can’t wait to see what they think of their new buffet and discover everyone’s favorite herbs and spices!