Free Rein Rescue and Rehab

About Free Rein Rescue

Free Rein Rescue & Rehab is a 501(c)3 nonprofit equine rescue and sanctuary nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire's North Country. Founded in June 2023, we are dedicated to rescuing horses, ponies, and their farm friends from slaughter pipelines, providing them with compassionate rehabilitation, and offering them a safe and loving forever home. But our mission goes beyond the animals; we are building a place where horses and humans come together for healing, growth, and joy.

Every animal in our care arrives with a story. Hershey is a 28-year-old pony who spent his life as a therapy horse, giving comfort to others before it was his turn to receive it. Now managing Cushing's disease in his senior years, he has found a soft landing with us. Lily, just seven years old, is full of life and possibility, her whole future ahead of her. Both came to us through a partnership with the SPCA after their devoted owner faced a sudden life emergency and had no choice but to find them new homes, a heartbreaking situation that so many horse owners fear. We were there to help, and we are glad we were.

At Free Rein, we believe that rescuing a horse is only the beginning. Each animal receives individualized care, including veterinary attention, farrier services, proper nutrition, and the patient, trust-building work that helps horses who have been through hardship learn to feel safe again. We work with each animal at their own pace, honoring who they are and what they have been through.

Our vision for the future is ambitious and community-centered. We are actively developing equine therapy programs for veterans coping with PTSD, adaptive athletes, at-risk youth, elderly individuals, and survivors of trauma. We are building school partnerships to bring children face-to-face with horses for hands-on learning, and we are working toward a permanent facility, an 8-stall barn in Coos County, that will allow us to serve more horses and more people than ever before.

Since our founding, we have been proud to show up for this community. Roman participated in the Bethlehem Summerfest parade and greeted neighbors at the Vintage Market in the Mountains. We joined the Kamik 5k and were honored to be named a Littleton Coop Partner of the Month, where we earned the highest monthly revenue of all 2024 program participants, proof that this community shows up when it matters.

We are a small organization with a big heart and an even bigger purpose. Our work is sustained by donations, grants, and the dedication of volunteers and supporters who believe, as we do, that every horse deserves a life free from suffering, and that the healing that happens between a person and a horse is unlike anything else in the world.

This NH Gives season, your support will help us feed, care for, and rehabilitate horses in need. It will help us build the infrastructure to expand our programs, and it will help us say yes the next time a horse needs somewhere to go.

When they come here, they're home. Help us keep the door open.

Help Us Grow

Our animals are safe, loved, and well cared for. But to grow our capacity and serve more horses and the people in our community, we need your help building the foundation, literally.

Right now, fencing is one of our most pressing needs. Safe, secure pasture fencing is essential for the health and freedom of our animals, allowing them to move, graze, and simply be horses. It is also a critical step toward expanding our rescue capacity and opening our doors to the public for therapy programs, trail rides, educational visits, and community events. Every post, every rail, every acre properly enclosed brings us closer to the sanctuary we are working to build.

We are also actively seeking land where we can put down permanent roots. A property of our own means stability for our animals, a home base for our programs, and a lasting presence in this community for years to come.

Sponsor One of Our Animals

Not everyone can volunteer or donate to a building project, but anyone can make a difference in the daily life of a horse or pony. Our animal sponsorship program allows you to support the care of a specific animal, covering costs like feed, medication, farrier visits, and veterinary care. Sponsors receive regular updates, photos, and the knowledge that they are part of that animal's story.

Consider sponsoring Hershey, whose Cushing's management requires ongoing daily medication and regular veterinary monitoring. Or sponsor Lily, a young pony with her whole future ahead of her. Every contribution, large or small, keeps them healthy, happy, and home.