East Tennessee Miniature Horse and Donkey Rescue
Sanctuary Program
Where Second Hand Minis Give First Class Love
We do believe in humanly euthanizing when certain criteria has been met: if there is no quality of life, the miniature is terminal, or suffering. However, some horses are not adoptable immediatly or will require special care the rest of their lives, what then?
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What to do with a miniature that can have a happy life with the right balance of care and maintenance?
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What to do you do with a miniature that could get hurt during horse play in a “normal” healthy herd?
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Is it ethical to euthanize a happy animal just because it needs special care for an extended time or may never be considered adoptable?
More and more rescue miniatures need specialized care for a period of recovery or the rest of their lives. So what happens to them? What is the answer?
The solution to this dilemma is simple, a sanctuary program has been created for our most “delicate” ones. In the sanctuary program, they can either recover to be adopted at a later date or become a permanent resident.
Poem by Athey Thompson
I shall
Gather up
All the lost souls
That wander this earth
All the ones that are alone
All the ones that are broken
All the ones that never really fitted in
I shall gather them all up
And together we shall find our home
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Sabrina
Steve
Sabrina is a sweet senior mare with melanoma. Though this is a common issue with grey horses, Sabrina has an abnormally large amount of tumors. She was entered into sanctuary due to the amount of care she requires.
Silver
Silver is a senior gelding who has been ETMHD's ambassador from the beginning, He was pulled from a livestock auction and became the face of the rescue. Silver is a senior who requires a special mash due to a lack of teeth.
Goliath
Goliath is a tiny senior gelding with mobility issues. He has arthritis and some nuerological issues from untreated EPM before his arrival. He has regular chiropractic work to help keep him moving freely. Goliath is a favorite of visitors and the volunteers.
Wren
Wren was one of our first sanctuary horses. She has been with us since 2017. She was born with a spinal deformity that could cause her to easily be injured but is not in any pain. This fiesty girl has no idea she is different, in fact, she is just one in a million!
Anne Bonny
Anne Bonny is a small pony mare that suffered a horrific injury to her hind leg before coming to rescue. When we took her in she was missing the bottom third of her hind leg. Anne Bonny now runs around on a prostethic made just for her.
Steve
Steve is the youngest horse we have ever had in sanctuary. He has juvenile arthritis and angular limb deformities that cause mobility issues. He is also an internet sensation and he knows it!
Delilah
Delilah has been in our sactuary program for a long time. She is a gentle soul and very sweet. She is completely blind but gets around perfectly with her pasture mates.
Honey Smacks
Honey Smacks aka Honey Sass, as she was dubbed at the UT Large Animal Hospital, is a young foal we pulled from a live stock auction. She is being treated for lesions in her joints and our hope is one day she can be adopted out.
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Twinkle Toes
Twinkle Toes is the sweetest little girl. She was part of a hoarding case and was horribly starved and crippled from lack of care. She is in the sanctuary program because she has to have specialized farrier care that includes foal shoes.
Sargon's condition was critical when he was rescued from a live stock auction. His front legs were so contracted that he could barely walk and was forced to walk on the top his hoof. However, he is now undergoing tendon surgery and corrective hoof trims to help him walk again. Despite his ordeal, Sargon remains a sweet and gentle animal, and we are happy to report that he is doing great.