Elaine has loved horses since she was a child, but did not start really interacting with them until her kids were grown. She states “I bought my first horse, and soon had three. My herd continued to grow. There was just something about horses that made me want to spend time with them. They are such a calming and relaxing influence when you spend time with them in their pasture. I love watching them interact and seeing how the majority of the time they all enjoy being together.”

In the fall of 2020, Elaine started considering opening a sanctuary for horses. Although there were several rescues in the area, she felt that horses should be able to live their lives with the horses they become comfortable with, as they build relationships just as people do. The Sanctuary opened in the spring of 2021.

Initially Elaine just wanted to give horses a safe place to live their lives, but the majority of the horses she had previously rescued and re-homed had really enjoyed the interaction with people. So, soon, with the backing of the Board, she decided to promote the horse/human relationship through Equine Assisted Wellness Programs.