04/18/2026
There are many differences between a sanctuary and a “regular” farm.
While that difference is often most visible with animals typically used for production, it exists for horses as well. For thousands of years, horses have been bred and trained to serve humans. Most horse owners are dedicated and thoughtful caretakers who love their horses deeply. However, many horses’ lives are still shaped by their usefulness to people.
Most of the equine residents who come to Treasure Hunt Farm, as well as many of the intake requests we receive, are horses who are elderly and no longer rideable, or who have serious medical conditions that make riding no longer possible. Because of the cost of maintaining a horse, many owners eventually face an incredibly difficult decision: euthanasia, rehoming, or continuing increasingly expensive long-term retirement care.
At Treasure Hunt Farm, our animals live with no expectations placed on them. Our role is simply to care for them in whatever ways they need. Each day, hours are spent carefully cleaning stalls, adjusting bedding for individual comfort, steaming hay to reduce sugars and dust for horses with metabolic and respiratory concerns, managing specialized feeding plans, administering medications, and more.
Because our animals follow consistent routines and receive individualized care, they generally settle in quickly and comfortably. Sometimes, however, unexpected events require us to adjust those routines.
Chesa is finally returning to something close to normal after his shed row was destroyed by a drunk driver. He has never loved being confined to a stall and now likes it even less, but physically he is healing well. His energy and spirit are returning a little more each day.
Now, we are focused on supporting Hank after Worthy’s passing.
At some facilities, when one horse in a closely bonded pair requires euthanasia, both horses are put to sleep. In situations where the surviving horse may seriously injure itself due to stress, that decision can sometimes be appropriate. Here, most of our horses have adapted well to new companions after losing a partner.
While we work on finding Hank a new companion, we are focused on keeping him comfortable. We bring his meals wherever he prefers to eat, allow him to choose whether he would rather be inside or outside, make sure horses he enjoys spending time with remain nearby, and support him medically. He is currently receiving Ulcergard to help prevent stress-related ulcers, light sedation when needed to reduce anxiety, and pain medication to support changes in his activity level.
Even while grieving, Hank remains spirited and very much himself. We are hopeful he will settle back into his routine soon. Calm, however, has never really been Hank’s style, even at 31 years old.
We have added Ulcergard tubes to our Amazon Wishlist, along with supplies to support our spring cleaning efforts, enrichment items for the animals, and even some stuff to say “thank you” to our incredible staff. (Link in comments)
We are incredibly grateful for the support you have shown us through Chesa’s accident, Worthy’s passing, and now as Hank adjusts to the loss of his best friend. Being able to share these moments with you means so much to us, and your support makes this work possible.
