Meet the horses and donkeys that call buddha barn home
Each animal here has a story, a history, and a set of needs that continue to evolve over time.
At Buddha Barn, sponsorship is what allows us to provide that level of individualized care, and support everything from daily nutrition to specialized medical needs and long-term wellbeing.
When you choose to sponsor an animal, you’re not just supporting Buddha Barn - you’re becoming part of their daily life here.
Sandro's Story
Sandro was the first horse at this farm. He is 13 years old and had a career as a hunter/jumper show horse. I met him at a show farm, I was not there to look for horses but he was so loud. He came right up to his stall barrier with big big energy and looked at me with a plea for a big field and a different life. For whatever reason the show world and it’s usual turn in / turn out schedule did not suit him, all horses are different. Months went by and he was not purchased, his future did not look good, his trials resulted in people complaining that he was unpleasant to handle and not great under saddle. Unpleasant to handle is an understatement. He has tried to run people over while exiting his stall and when he first got here he got very aggressive when I tried to work with him on lead. Sooooo, I turned him out in our biggest paddock with my adopted salt of the earth donkey Hannah and I told him if he was going to be mean about work I would not push him or put myself in danger. We would just be friends.
Over time he learned that this go around, that this home (probably his 10th in 13 years of life) was different, I didn’t need anything from him, I just wanted him to be happy. During the next few months he got much needed dental help, Xrays to understand what past injuries he was recovering from and freedom. After 3 months of life on the hills, he started to engage with me, as a matter of fact he naps on the ground and gives me hugs daily. He will run over to greet his humans, gives tons of licks, loves his donkey and life. He still hates stalls and complains about them when the dentist or vet comes and he is brought in. He still doesn’t handle that great on lead, he has no respect for personal space and in dopey fashion he will just walk over someone like they aren’t there. But he is a very good listener when you are on his back and he is confident and brave; he throws his halter at me when he wants to be engaged with. While we do ride him, he will never have to jump or work past his capabilities ever again and he will carry the legacy as the first rescue we took in.
Over time he learned that this go around, that this home (probably his 10th in 13 years of life) was different, I didn’t need anything from him, I just wanted him to be happy. During the next few months he got much needed dental help, Xrays to understand what past injuries he was recovering from and freedom. After 3 months of life on the hills, he started to engage with me, as a matter of fact he naps on the ground and gives me hugs daily. He will run over to greet his humans, gives tons of licks, loves his donkey and life. He still hates stalls and complains about them when the dentist or vet comes and he is brought in. He still doesn’t handle that great on lead, he has no respect for personal space and in dopey fashion he will just walk over someone like they aren’t there. But he is a very good listener when you are on his back and he is confident and brave; he throws his halter at me when he wants to be engaged with. While we do ride him, he will never have to jump or work past his capabilities ever again and he will carry the legacy as the first rescue we took in.
doodle's Story
Doodle is a beautiful saddlebred that looks like a young fit stunner, despite his looks, he is in his late 20s. He was 2 days away from euthanasia when I took him in. He was brought to my attention by a friend whose daughter was heartbroken to hear a horse at her riding barn was getting put down because he was “dangerous” and unrideable. I would later learn his left hind was filled with bone chip fragments causing extreme pain. At the time my plate felt very full. I tried to get other rescues to take him in but they felt he was a bit too much for them to handle and not a match for their herd. As I watched videos of him my heart sank. I had the space for him I just wasn’t sure I had the time or energy. A day later I said yes. I thought he was on his way to me, but unfortunately he refused to load onto the trailer. All the sedation in the world would not touch his anxiety. The next day my hauler went with multiple hands and we managed to get this high energy nervous gelding to our farm. It has taken patience and love but he is now willing to let certain people handle him, his head hangs lower and he is not as high strung. His CBD and 24/7 turnout schedule has transformed his life. He loves his feisty mini paddock mate Little Bit and enjoys his routine. We are so happy to let this beautiful boy live out his days in peace and appreciate his sponsors for helping support his life with us.
Captain's story
Captain is Friesian cross. He is 9 years old and was found by my trainer on facebook. She knew I always wanted a friesian to do dressage riding with, well lol he is not that, at all! Captain is a beautiful boy but he is up there with the most special needs at the farm. Captain had surgery for wobblers at a young age which he mostly recovered from. He suffers from String haunt, body weakness, trouble keeping on healthy weight, he gains fast and drops faster. He is very bonded to his Zonkey friend Gary and gets nervous when he is without Gary.
Captains “nervous” can turn into unintentional dangerous behavior if not handled with proper care and caution. Wobblers impacts the spinal cord and Stringhault is also a problem in the nervous system. Because of his condition, Captain not realizing where is feet are so he may kick out or almost fall over involuntarily. Working on him requires awareness of your space and his. So long as you know that and work from a safe space he is pure love. He enjoys grooming and being spoken to, he prefers the turn in/turn out schedule of a show horse. This means he spends the nights inside the main barn instead of in a field 24/7. This allows us to keep a better eye on his needs as they come up as well. He is always knotted up, covered in sap, having a foot issue or other ailments. We tackle each one as they arise. His best bud Gary goes along with Captain's schedule and adapts to his needs. We adore his goofy, snuggly character and feel lucky to have him.
Captains “nervous” can turn into unintentional dangerous behavior if not handled with proper care and caution. Wobblers impacts the spinal cord and Stringhault is also a problem in the nervous system. Because of his condition, Captain not realizing where is feet are so he may kick out or almost fall over involuntarily. Working on him requires awareness of your space and his. So long as you know that and work from a safe space he is pure love. He enjoys grooming and being spoken to, he prefers the turn in/turn out schedule of a show horse. This means he spends the nights inside the main barn instead of in a field 24/7. This allows us to keep a better eye on his needs as they come up as well. He is always knotted up, covered in sap, having a foot issue or other ailments. We tackle each one as they arise. His best bud Gary goes along with Captain's schedule and adapts to his needs. We adore his goofy, snuggly character and feel lucky to have him.
clifford's story
Clifford arrived at our sanctuary in October of 2024 as an 8 year old. He came from a high end show barn. Clifford had a ton of promise to be one of the top rider’s winning horses. This plan fell by the wayside when he kept growing and growing. He grew so big he began sustaining subtle injuries. His trainer diligently searched for an appropriate home for him. They knew he still appreciated riding partnerships and would enjoy a home where light hacking and trail riding was an option. They also warned if he remained in the competitive world in any capacity he would end up falling short and getting passed around with the possibility of ending up in the pipeline. Thanks to their good intention and a little luck he ended up with us. Since he has been with us he has touched many hearts. He has two ladies who enjoy riding him and he enjoys their company. When they show up he sparkles a little brighter. He is a true gentle giant who loves to hack the property, go on trail rides or just hang in his paddock and play fight with his best bud Sandro and his donkey friend Hannah. We love him.
frodo's story
Frodo arrived to us in February of 2026 as a 5 year old. He was in an unfortunate situation. He was imported with a haul of sport horses from Europe and fell into an equestrian facility that shortly thereafter entered into a legal battle and a partnership dissolution. While the humans were fighting the horses under this umbrella were considered frozen assets and their fate was uncertain. The use of horses as pawns in this particular situation was disgusting and truly awful to navigate. But we navigated it; not once, but twice. The first horse we pulled from the mess was in too bad of shape to survive but Frodo was a different story. He was very lame, underweight, suffering from an extreme skin disease and possibly has neurological issues. Today he is on the mend! He is at a beautiful weight and after 8 weeks of skin treatments and holistic IV medication his skin is starting to heal. He has a beautiful mind and is enjoying making friends and practicing groundwork. We are excited for him to enjoy the rest of his life with us and grow in whatever capacity best suits him.
gracey's story
Gracey came with her bonded best friend Emma in May 2026. She retired from working on a farm for 12 years. She was part of a team that performed demonstrations for the community on how farming practices were done in the 1950s. She was a diligent, hard-working mule who was loved by her handlers very much. As she rounded her mid to late 20s, they started to look into ways that she could be retired and leave the park system. When Gracey arrived, she was already completely blind in her right eye with some degeneration in her left eye. She was very excited for retirement and became part of our herd and family. We try to look into ways to make her later years more comfortable with eye removal if needed for pain and support of her aging body. We look forward to providing her lifelong care and sanctuary.
emma's Story
Emma came with her bonded best friend Gracey in May 2026. She retired from working on a farm for 12 years. She was part of a team that performed demonstrations for the community on how farming practices were done in the 1950s. She was a diligent, hard-working mule who was loved by her handlers very much. As she rounded her mid to late 20s, they started to look into ways that she could be retired and leave the park system. Emma is a bit reserved until she trusts you and then she opens up and becomes the sweetest big girl ever. We believe she is suffering from arthritis and some stomach imbalances. We will consult with doctors and holistic practitioners to help her age gracefully. We look forward to treating her and getting her to her best providing her with lifelong sanctuary.
Nina's story
Nina was born around 2015. She is a standardbred mare and was used to pull carts and race. For the 6 years preceding her time at our sanctuary she lived with one family. The dad of the family loved her dearly. Around the time of his passing Nina was diagnosed with loss of eyesight. She went fully blind after only a year from the onset of her condition. Without the owner alive, his family did not know what to do with her or how to care for her. All they knew was she was always their dad/grandpa’s horse and he loved her. They explained Nina would let the kids ride her bareback and she was always dependable and trustworthy. That is still true today. Nina is one of our most trustworthy residents. It took time to help Nina settle, acclimating a blind horse was one of the hardest challenges I have taken on and a truly humbling experience. We provide special tools for her, at the beginning she had whiskers (zip ties) on her halter at all times, which warned her when a wall or object might be near. We put down stone dust perimeters and pool noodles in her paddock, we use wind chimes and even tried water fountains in her water bucket (which she didn't like). Over time she memorized her space and while she bangs into stuff from time to time she doesn’t overreact or act upset. She is exactly what her previous family said, dependable and trustworthy and all love. She is home forever and we love her.
Moxley's story
Mox was born in 2001 as a real life unicorn. After a long career in the show world Moxley was acquired by our founder in 2020 before the sanctuary was even a figment of her imagination. He spent the next few years with Danielle as she navigated different boarding options. Eventually, they found their own sanctuary space to call home where partial retirement would be in order. Moxley still enjoys being partnered for light exercise. He prefers children over adults so we look for the right opportunities to allow Moxley to enjoy partnership on a limited basis. He loves living in a herd lifestyle with ample turnout. He is a true blessing and we love being his forever home.
Thea's story
In June of 2025, Thea arrived to our sanctuary as a 9 year old, she came with her two week old foal Little Foot. They were knocking on deaths door. Unwanted from a bad breeding situation, Thea had a history of being passed around, she was heavily abused and separated from many of her babies. A good friend of mine called and asked, can you please make space or they wont have a chance. Upon arrival they were placed in isolation and seen by our vet. Their blood work was very bad and their situation was dire. They were rushed to Mid-Atlantic Animal Hospital and immediately began life-saving treatments. Both were treated for sepsis, extreme malnourishment, eye ulcers, major skin issues, and lice. It took our sanctuary a long time to get them healthy but today Thea is healthy and Little Foot is thriving. Thea is still very hesitant and uncomfortable around humans, her vision is impaired and she has physical impediments in her body. Little Foot however is very healthy, very spunky and plays with everyone especially our dog. We can’t wait until Thea realizes she has a forever home. Patience and love is all we send her way.
Little Foot's story
In June of 2025, Little Foot arrived with his mom, Thea. They were knocking on deaths door. Unwanted from a bad breeding situation, Thea had a history of being passed around, she was heavily abused and separated from many of her babies. A good friend of mine called and asked, can you please make space or they wont have a chance. Upon arrival they were placed in isolation and seen by our vet. Their blood work was very bad and their situation was dire. They were rushed to Mid-Atlantic Animal Hospital and immediately began life saving treatments. Both were treated for sepsis, extreme malnourishment, eye ulcers, major skin issues, and lice. It took our sanctuary a long time to get them healthy but today Thea is healthy and Little Foot is thriving. Now, Little Foot is very healthy, very spunky and plays with everyone.
Little bit's story
Little Bit was brought to us by another local rescue, he was about to be homeless after having the same home for 16 years. Due to his owners’ life changes, his one home did not exist anymore, turning him over to us was the most difficult thing she ever had to do. When I started to settle him in I realized that the 20 something year old mini had NEVER been taught any respect or proper behavior. He was an absolute rogue treat monster. He also had never been dewormed, never had dental care or proper farrier care. His intake was a ton of work. Funny story, day one we went for a walk and he took off. I didn’t let go of his lead because I was worried he would get hurt in the new environment. I now wear a lovely knee scar because he dragged me on the gravel for 6 feet and tore my pants open. I never underestimated his sass after that. He is learning not to bite humans and to behave for care. We fixed up his worms, his diet, his feet and teeth. He quickly bonded to Doodle and enjoys his routine. He turns in at night with a whistle and spends his days enjoying grass and friends.
king's story
King was born in 2013. King was a very very early purchase in Danielle’s time as an equestrian. She invested in him with one of her first trainers. They wanted to see what he could become. This is the exact mentality that threatens sanctuary life and it was a very quick lesson to Danielle in what she considers is ethical horse care. King was imported in 2019 and immediately became a challenge. Many trainers over the years told her to sell him because he was dangerous and not properly trained. It was during this time that Danielle realized horses deserve to live with their owners forever, whether they can be ridden or not. Danielle adapts everyday to King's needs. He is one of the most special ponies and he is often used to train volunteers on how to handle horses that are sensitive. His exercise program is heavily based on adapting the partnership and work to the mood that King is in each day. Weather, energy, farrier cycle and overall mood are big factors when evaluating what is appropriate each day.
Admiral's story
Admiral was born in 2010 and lived the first 10 years of his life as a high level jumper. He was trained in France traveled around Europe and eventually found his way into the states. In 2020 Danielle acquired him as a riding horse. Upon intake, it was determined that Admiral was suffering from a disease called PSSM. This is a muscular disease that is contracted at birth and starts to show up around the age of 10. In 2020 Danielle‘s journey to heal Admiral began. She looked into finding holistic remedies and understanding ways to heal different elements in her horse. He also provided an immense level of emotional therapy to Danielle and other family members. This touched her soul so deeply. She vowed to find ways to give back to him for the rest of his life. This also began her interest in setting up therapeutic programs with horses. Today Admiral is still a pillar of the therapeutic program. He lives a semi retired life with exercise that is specifically created to help keep his PSSM at bay while maintaining a healthy mind and body. He is her trusted go to for most visitors looking to heal and connect. However, she always asks Admiral first if he is up for the connection and honors his answer.
vigo's story
Vigo was born in 2013. Danielle purchased him in Florida when she was looking to learn how to jump courses. She instantly fell in love with this athletic and graceful boy. Shortly into their relationship, she recognized that he was more horse than she could handle. She noticed some greenness in his demeanor, weaknesses in his muscles and imbalances in his alignment. She immediately started working with a variety of different trainers to try and help him progress. During this process, she learned that the best progress came from patience and simplicity. His demeanor changed when he was moved to the sanctuary and enjoyed winter retirement. He integrated into a herd and spent a majority of the day in turnout. These lifestyle changes made a huge difference for him. Vigo is living his best life and still thoroughly enjoys partnership and being an athlete. The main difference is that his exercise is not based on performance goals. His work schedule is not demanding and his daily schedule is adapted based on his demeanor each day.
Leia's story
Leia has been such a bright light. When I first saw her she was on a random instagram post with her mom as a newborn. I reached out because I saw how bad her mom’s condition was and hoped to save them both. Her mom was missing half her ear, had the worst bow legs I had seen, and her health looked grim. I immediately invested in both of them and got them into a quarantine set up. I provided vet care and farrier care but it was too late for her mom. They hadn’t been in quarantine for more than a few days; I went to visit and arrived to see baby Leia staring at her deceased mom on the ground, sunken in and invisible. Leia herself was not looking so good. After seeing that, I didn’t wait to complete the offsite quarantine. I set up a secluded location at our farm with hazmat suits and all the safety protocols. I popped her into the back of my family SUV and took her home. She was bottle fed and nursed to health. Since then she has grown into a ball of energy. She doesn’t recall the potential bad nature of humans or any cruelty in this world. She thinks she runs the farm. It’s cute but we are working on behavior and respect for humans and paddock mates. Coco and Malcom are the chosen part time parents (they roll their eyes at her antics but show kindness and patience). They cannot make babies of their own even though they try so they seemed like an appropriate choice. Leia has a forever home here and we love her zest for life.
gary's story
Gary the zonkey is a favorite amongst visitors, if his cute face and goofy legs don’t make you laugh just wait until you hear his “hee-haw”. Gary’s bray or hee haw is mostly a plea for attention and it has a 98% success rate. Gary came to us after we lost Zulu, our first zonkey. Zulu passed away suddenly in the night with little to no warning. She left her bonded pal Coco behind and her other paddock mate Malcom. When donkeys loose a bonded friend they themselves can pass away from mourning so we found Gary in hopes of saving Coco. When Gary was introduced to Coco, Malcom lost his nuggets and Coco got up from mourning so offended by Gary’s big energy that she was cured from her mourning. To make the entire situation a little crazier Gary showed signs of laminitis day one of arrival. We spent 3 weeks caring for Gary in a stall and fixing his feet. He was then integrated with Captain and has been living his best life ever since. Our biggest caregiver battle with Gary is keeping him safe from the flies and keeping up with his insanely fast growing feet! We love you Gary.
Malcom's story
Malcom came to us from another rescue. He is a beautiful mini donkey with a heart of gold. Due to a very late castration he liked the ladies a bit too much and the ladies at that rescue all had sons that did not appreciate his behavior. My dear colleague came to look and carefully consider if my set up was better for him. At the time I had Coco and Zulu for him to live with; they were such tough ladies and Zulu, my ninja warrior, would not let anything happen to Coco that she didn’t consent to. We said let’s try it and started the integration. It worked like a charm and we never looked back. Malcom took a few beatings and was put in line. His hormones calmed down and the three of them lived in peace. Malcom was a slight outsider but, when Zulu passed, Coco bonded to Malcom and they fell in love. They frolic every night when baby Leia goes back to her stall like young lovers. Malcom also is my personal therapist and will sit with me for hours and provide his calm stable loving energy. He is a protector for all.
Hannah's story
Our beloved girl was inherited by us when we purchased the farm. The old owner gifted her to me with love and well wishes because we knew she would never want a new home. Hannah has fat deposits all over her little body so we constantly give her massage work and supplements for liver support. She has to wear a grazing muzzle overnight and during the morning portion of the day to limit her grass intake. She is not thrilled by this idea but it truly keeps her alive. Hannah loves attention and snuggles, although she may nip a finger if she thinks it’s a treat. We are very lucky to have Hannah’s trusty calm energy. We hope Hannah stays with us for many more years to come.
Gargamel's story
Gargamel is a mini goat that lives with our resident sheep, Lily. Both came to us as bottle babies who were rejected from their mothers. They are spunky and bring a lot of light to our space. When Gargamel arrived he was entering septic shock, we rushed him to New Bolton for emergency care where he remained for a week. A sanctuary friend took Lily into her home during the time they were separated so she would not be alone. They were reunited and began to grow to love each other dearly.
lily's story
Lily is our resident sheep, she lives with Gargamel our mini goat. Both came to us as bottle babies who were rejected from their mothers. They are spunky and bring a lot of light to our space. When Gargamel arrived he was entering septic shock, we rushed him to New Bolton for emergency care where he remained for a week. A sanctuary friend took Lily into her home during the time they were separated so she would not be alone. They were reunited and began to grow to love eachother dearly. Lily has a deformed back hoof and requires specialized farrier care every 5 weeks. Other than that they are a bonded pair that make everyone smile.
Coco's story
Coco and Zulu came to us extremely unhandled. As a matter of fact, the trailer had to back up into a gated area and they were herded in like cattle. When they arrived at the farm Zulu was the most magnificent looking animal, she had the face of a zebra mixed with the disposition of a Feral donkey. She was a ninja warrior. Coco was her bonded side kick. They were always together. Thelma and Louise vibes. Zulu wasn’t a mean animal, but if you didn’t respect her space barrier she would give a swift kick to whomever got too close without permission. The only animal that kept our fierce Zulu in check was her mini donkey, Coco. Coco is tough as nails, and took just as long as Zulu to allow us to handle her. We had to have our vet use a pole to tranquilize her every time the farrier came to trim Zulu. They were two tough chicks. When my friend called me about a donkey that had just been castrated but was too feisty for her herd I told her I had a perfect crew. After a gentle integration the three of them worked. Malcom minded his business and the girls were happy. After a full year they softened up a tiny bit towards humans. Things were turning a corner when suddenly Zulu passed away. Coco went into deep mourning for about 5 days before i set a plan in action that resulted in me gaining a best friend in Coco for life. I tried to set her up with a male Zonkey named Gary, she was so offended by the plan that she came out of mourning in protest. Her paddock mate Malcom who was always kept at arms length took the same stance. So we removed Gary. Now Coco is gentle and friendly to humans and happy frolicking with her beloved Malcom.
in memoriam
honoring those who have crossed into our rainbow herd
Onyx's story
Onyx was a gentle sure footed beautiful fell pony. He came to us from a location that was getting taken over by the concrete jungle. There was almost no more space and his owners could not come up with a better solution for his retirement. He was and is loved by them and visited often (which makes my heart very happy). When he got to us he needed immediate dental care which was provided and his comfort increased. We also believe he suffered from chronic nasal issues.
Liam's story
Liam was with us from November 12 until December 15th when he passed over the rainbow bridge. Liam is challenging to write about. He came from the same situation as Frodo. He was imported with a haul of sport horses from Europe and fell into an equestrian facility that shortly thereafter entered into a legal battle and a partnership dissolution. While the humans were fighting all the horses under this umbrella were considered frozen assets and their fate was uncertain. The use of horses as pawns in this particular situation was disgusting and truly awful to navigate. Liam was released faster and easier than the other horses as a surrender because of his condition. He was very thin, he was very scared and needed major sedation for transport. When he got to me my first focus was to try and help him slowly gain weight and to figure out what neurological condition he was suffering from. He was a grade 4 on the equine neurologic scale; displaying severe deficits, a high tendency to buckle and trip and his gates were a mess. We started to treat him for ulcers upon arrival and then for EPM a week later. Around week 3 very bad weather rolled in and he appeared dull, stoic and in pain so we called for the emergency vet. Upon arrival he was diagnosed with severe DSLD in addition to underlying neurologic conditions. Over the next few days Liam refused to eat, he would not engage with any other horses and aside from the few moments of connection when I would call out to him he did not want us to get attached. It became apparent we were the end of the road for him, his body had failed him and it took too long for humans to notice and take action. We cleared the snow and gave him the most beautiful patch of grass for his final resting place. Surrounded by a few friends he passed peacefully and his ashes remain with us today. He is a stark reminder of what can happen when ego gets in the way of care. Rest in peace beautiful boy.
Zulu's story
Coco and Zulu came to us extremely unhandled. As a matter of fact, the trailer had to back up into a gated area and they were herded in like cattle. When they arrived at the farm Zulu was the most magnificent looking animal, she had the face of a zebra mixed with the disposition of a Feral donkey. She was a ninja warrior. Coco was her bonded side kick. They were always together. Thelma and Louise vibes. Zulu wasn’t a mean animal, but if you didn’t respect her space barrier she would give a swift kick to whomever got too close without permission. The only animal that kept our fierce Zulu in check was her mini donkey, Coco. Coco is tough as nails, and took just as long as Zulu to allow us to handle her. We had to have our vet use a pole to tranquilize her every time the farrier came to trim Zulu. They were two tough chicks. When my friend called me about a donkey that had just been castrated but was too feisty for her herd I told her I had a perfect crew. After a gentle integration the three of them worked. Malcom minded his business and the girls were happy. After a full year they softened up a tiny bit towards humans. Things were turning a corner when suddenly Zulu passed away. Coco went into deep mourning for about 5 days before i set a plan in action that resulted in me gaining a best friend in Coco for life. I tried to set her up with a male Zonkey named Gary, she was so offended by the plan that she came out of mourning in protest. Her paddock mate Malcom who was always kept at arms length took the same stance. So we removed Gary. Now Coco is gentle and friendly to humans and happy frolicking with her beloved Malcom.