The average yearly cost to care for one rescue horse at The Horse Shelter is approximately $3,000 and rising. 

On a typical day here at THS we house over 76+ rescue horses with a maximum capacity of 80. This cost doesn’t include our facility, maintenance and ranch equipment, like barns, shelters, paddocks, wells, fencing, tractors, ATVs, horse trailers, etc. 

It takes a lot to care for a rescue horse at The Horse Shelter, with your generous support we will continue rescuing, rehabilitating and finding forever homes for these gentle horses. 

Here is a breakdown of the basic costs for keeping and caring for a rescue horse. 

Hay for one horse costs $5.00 per day, $150 per month and $1,800 per year! This is not including supplemental feed, such as grain. We experienced a 21% increase in cost in 2021 and with the ongoing drought, rising fuel and transportation costs, are preparing for continued increases in 2022. 

• Farrier every six to 12 weeks (depending on training status) at $45 per trim – at least $180 per year. 
• Dentistry once or twice a year (depending on age) at $125. 
• Annual basic core vaccinations of rabies, tetanus, equine influenza, and other routine vaccines at $95.00 per horse, some new intakes need boosters as well. 
• Other needed items, such as mineral blocks, de-wormers, supplemental feed as grain, halters, training tools, feeders, water troughs, fly masks, fly predators, and more! 
• Another very large expense is the ongoing cost of equipment maintenance (truck, trailer, tractor, manure spreaders, etc…) and staff to muck, water, clean troughs, socialize and train! 

Additional Expenses 

• Feeding more expensive concentrates or supplements. 
• Accidents and unexpected veterinarian bills 
• A horse that requires shoes or special trimming 
• A horse that is ill or injured. 
• Some horse arrive at the shelter pregnant or severely emaciated and require additional veterinary care. 
• Rapidly rising fuel prices and replacement cost for all our equipment, transportation. 
• At the Shelter we have no pastures and must feed year around. With ongoing drought the price of feed is driven up significantly. 

COVID changed everything for us, and this year is all about overcoming the unexpected. We took our cue from how horses teach us patience, resilience, partnership and leadership. The challenges we faced in this tough year were the force that drove us closer together, taught us how to do better, and lead us to dream bigger. Thank you to our volunteers who spend countless hours supporting every facet of the organization, the staff members with their immeasurable passion for the mission, the donors who give even in the toughest of years, and the Board of Directors, who not only set the strategic direction of the organization but is all-hands-on-deck to find new connections and opportunities for the organization. 

In this year of the unexpected we put our hearts focused forward and rescued 16 hungry, neglected and sometimes sick horses. We hired our new Ranch Manager, Rhoda Rein, who is passionately and enthusiastically leading us in new directions. We have implemented a marketing program to increase awareness and better tell our story. We held our first Virtual Auction and Hay Fundraiser. Our modified Gimme Shelter event successfully adopted out three horses (thank you to our stalwart bidders). We held our first Octoberfest and Open House to bring our horses closer to the public. Through all of this, we were voted third best animal shelter for the second year. 

The necessary expenses to feed, water, care for, train and clean the stalls to give our horses a lifetime home is like trying to keep an empty bucket under a faucet that never stops flowing. The loss of revenue from the pandemic along with the $100,000 annual hay costs going up due to the prolonged exceptional drought is creating unique challenges and straining feed, rehabilitation and training efforts. Your support is needed. 

Without your support we would not be able to continue to meet the growing demand for rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of horses in need. 

There are several ways to donate either by sponsoring a horse, direct donation and planned estate giving. 

Thank you all for tapping into the power of generosity and your ongoing passionate and enthusiastic giving. 

The Horse Shelter Resale Store is the premier resale store in Santa Fe. We sell art, jewelry, apparel, housewares, furniture, saddles, tack, horse supplies and much more.