Sampson's Sanctuary

Through lots of determination and a refusal to give up, Sydney discovered that Sampson was bred on purpose. He wasn't an unwanted horse from an unwanted pregnancy - he was no accident. An older woman bred and owned him for the first half of his life, and it was good! Then, as too many horses do, Sampson fell through the cracks after his owner's passing. Sometimes we humans try to do what's best for the horse, but due to not knowing any better, actually end up sending them into a poor situation. This was the case for Sampson. He was sold to a commercial trail riding outfit in Texas where he experienced food scarcity, rough handling, and lots of unpredictability. Imagine going from one gentle, quiet owner your entire life to a bustling and ramshackle operation where he suddenly became one of many, with many different riders! This was extremely stressful for Sampson, and thus his condition - and behavior - began to worsen. This is how Handsome Sampson ended up at an auction in Iowa, where he caught Sydney's attentive eye and lit a fire for rescue and rehab within Sydney. 

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Here at Sampson's Sanctuary, we believe ALL behavior is communication. We believe that horses deserve to live with the three F's: Friends, Forage, and Freedom. While some of the scars and habits from past years never fully go away (if you watch close, sweet Sampson still eats teeth first due to having to pick sparse stalks of hay out of deep mud), we offer a safe, predictable, gentle environment for horses in need to come, thrive, and blossom. Matching adopters with their heart horses is our passion, and we are proud to offer a permanent home to those who cannot or should not be rehomed. Quality of life and doing what's best for the horse is of utmost importance in the decision-making process regarding rehoming a horse or keeping them as a long term resident of our sanctuary. We make these decisions on a horse-by-horse basis, as each horse is an individual soul with a unique story, past, and set of circumstances.