Founded in 2012, This Old Horse is a private, volunteer-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and serve horses while they continue to serve as ambassadors to the positive effect of "horse power" in the lives of people.​

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Our mission is to find a happily ever after for horses in transition--from hardship to healing, from career to retirement and to revere and respect those who have served us well.  As these horses age, time and effort take their toll, and they are no longer capable of full-time work. Often their owners or handlers must move them out to make room for more able-bodied replacements.

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We give horses a safe harbor for life where they may age in place, loved, honored and respected to the end or move on to a happily ever after in a loving new home.

 

We have a volunteer-based model with no paid administrative staff. Our leaders and key employees are volunteers as well as nearly 3000 community members who have joined our mission since we started.

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We work with horses of all breeds and disciplines.  

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This Old Horse has been accredited, awarded and certified by many major equine welfare organizations, empirically and objectively demonstrating our high standards of equine care and support as well as management, fiscal and administrative excellence. Most notably, we are the only Minnesota organization with facilities accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

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We have been awarded and lauded as a national model for innovation in equine adoption strategies. Our adoption rates are remarkable by any standard and exceptional considering we are specialists in supporting unrideable, special needs and older horses.