Photo Credit: freedwallpaper.com

There are countless abused animals in the world, but neglect and mistreatment is not limited to the cats and dogs you see on those horribly sad television commercials that are almost too difficult to watch. Unfortunately, there are lots of other animals that need rescuing, in desperate need for some kind human intervention after suffering from abuse, often for years, which is why sanctuaries like The Duchess Sanctuary near Oakland, Oregon are so important. Thanks to this facility the horses finally get to run free.

This 1,120-acre facility is a beautiful, vast oasis for the more than 200 formerly abused, abandoned, neglected, and homeless horses that are now living the rest of their lives out here, finally able to run freely. Each one has a name, a distinct personality, likes, and dislikes, and Jennifer Kunz, who lives in this horse haven knows them all by heart.

Jennifer explains in the video below that many of the rescued horses come from the PMU, or Pregnant Mare Urine, industry. Premarin uses conjugated equine estrogens as the hormonal component in the Premarin family of products used to treat menopausal symptoms in women. According to LCAnimal.org, “Harvested for their urine, the horses suffer terribly for the production of this drug. They are kept continually pregnant in stalls too small for them to even turn around in order for their urine to be collected by filthy, bulky tubing attached to their bodies. When they can no longer reproduce quickly they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Their meat is then sold for human consumption or dog food.”

The especially heartwarming moment in the video comes at :44 as the herd gallops towards the camera – the number of beautiful, rescued horses that were abused but are now relishing their new life is almost overwhelming.