Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We work to provide support to unwanted horses through our sanctuary program and foster network.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Equine Rescue
• This Old Horse is one of only five Minnesota horse rescues certified by the Minnesota Horse Council.
• Our rescue program accepts horses voluntarily surrendered by owners in hardship circumstances and abused and neglected horses seized by law enforcement in welfare cases.
• We provide layup for horses recovering from acute or chronic conditions and refuge for horses with special needs such as blindness, lameness, respiratory, neurological and metabolic conditions.
Equine Retirement
• We create a sanctuary for aged and unwanted horses that have worked in service to their human professionals. As these horses age, time and effort take their toll, and they are no longer capable of full-time work. Often their owners or handlers must move them out to make room for more able-bodied replacements. We give these veterans a home for life where they may age in place, loved, honored and respected to the end.
Where we work
Accreditations
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accredited 2016
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (accredited) 2020
Standardbred Transition Alliance (accredited) 2022
Awards
Help a Horse Home Winner 2018
ASPCA
Help a Horse Home Winner 2019
ASPCA
Horse Whisperer 2020
Equus Foundation
Horse Whisperer 2021
Equus Foundation
Affiliations & memberships
ASPCA / The Right Horse Adoption Partner 2018
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals with freedom from hunger and thirst
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Rescue
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals rehomed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Retirement
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of new programs/program sites
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Retirement
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of new donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Rescue
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Rescue
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of community events or trainings held and attendance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Equine Retirement
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of overall donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We help horses who are unwanted for any reason and help horses and horse owners who are facing hardship circumstances. We help horses stay in their current setting by providing resources to struggling owners, we place horses into safe harbor situations by matching them with our sanctuary placement or our foster host network.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We offer support and education to horse owners who are experiencing hardship. This includes finding new owners for the horse, placing horses in our main sanctuary or with our foster host network. We conduct extensive community relations and outreach programs to educate and expand our base of supporters, volunteers and hosts.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a 43 acre horse farm that provides sanctuary for unwanted horses--retired, rescued and special needs. We have an extensive foster network with hosts in 3 states that take in horses referred to us. We provide support and resources to horse owners who need temporary help to avert a crisis for their horse. We have a solid base of private donors, effective fundraising events and hundreds of reliable volunteers who make this all work.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have helped more than 200 horses find safe harbor through our organization. Since we provide long-term placement and sanctuary, this is a remarkable accomplishment since we do not adopt horses out. Last year, we partnered in the largest equine rescue in U.S. history, helping place 907 wild Mustangs from failed sanctuary. We welcomed 48 of them into our program--16 of them blind. We are one of only about 30 U.S. equine programs accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THIS OLD HORSE INC
Board of directorsas of 04/15/2022
Nancy Turner
AXIS, Inc.
Term: 2012 - 2022
Mr Thomas Rhode
Red Jack Ranch
Term: 2012 - 2023
Kathleen Amerongen
Avatek, Inc.
Mary Maher
Retired school administrator
Ellen Hill
AXIS, Inc.
Julie Fischer
Dakota County Sheriff
Brenda Teter
Independent Social Worker
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data