OUR STORY

Mission Statement: Helping Horses, Helping People

Sunshine Horses, Inc. makes a humane, compassionate difference in the lives of horses in Central New York…. through rehabilitation, retraining and ultimately adoption. By doing this we make a profound difference in the lives of our own volunteers, as well as those from within our community. We do this through education and the care of our horses, promoting the horse/human bond.

History:

Sunshine Horses, Inc. is a non-profit, 501c3 rescue and rehoming facility for horses located outside Syracuse, New York. Founded and incorporated in 2003, it was influenced by the Standardbred racing industry.
Those that started the organization saw the value, heart and versatility of this breed. It was difficult for them to bear the burden of seeing them go to an uncertain fate after racing. They had witnessed the pile high of halters removed from those being sent into slaughter. They remember hearing the cries of terror from the horses from within the slaughterhouse. The founders recognized there was another option for Standardbreds after racing and searched to find the means to help these horses find their second careers.
The organization began small with only 6 horses. It was housed within the stables at the New York State Fair Grounds. There, they remained for the next 9 years. Since its inception, Sunshine Horses, Inc. has found homes for over 300 horses. Well over 200 volunteers have joined its force, caring for an average of 25 horses on their 56-acre farm located outside Syracuse in Clay, New York.