Project Barnyard Foundation

Did you know each horse's ear can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to focus on sounds from any direction? No matter how quiet I try to be, Orie will turn in my direction in a matter of seconds, even if I'm on the opposite side of his pasture. He will walk straight in my direction, and only veer left or right to go around the sprinklers. We humans have 5-6 million olfactory receptors. A horse has over 300 million. When sitting with Orie, if he smells Ezra walking up, he walks away and continues on with his day. If he smells anyone else, he will stay. He always knows. He can smell fear or stress, picking up on human emotional scents. All this being said, a blind horse is much less prone to injury than a seeing-eyed horse. Instead of observing their surroundings with their eyes, they tune into how things feel, smell, sound, and adjust accordingly. Orie continues to teach me more and more as time goes on. I can't wrap my head around how lucky I am to have found him. #projectbarnyard #horserescue #equinerescue #savethehorses #blindhorse

Juwon is not seen on here often. He and Wilt were rescued out of BLM holding pens after they were rounded up and separated from their mamas in 2019. We lease a pasture down the road from us where they're able to remind as "wild as possible" while protecting our 5 rescued alpacas! Wilt has very much remained a shy, timid boy. Whereas Juwon has found so much confidence and trust in us humans! Rescue looks different for every animal... some need stimulation, some need retirement, and some need the space to stay wild and not be messed with. I will forever continue to honor what is best for each of our individual rescues. ✨

POV: that special horse who needs just a little bit more stimulation to stay cool, calm & collected during his monthly trim & shoeing

Have you ever heard happy piggy noises before? We rescued Nellie from a local homesteading Facebook page. Aside from food, belly scratches while laying on the lawn is her favorite thing, and her little grunts are here to prove it. 🤍 #projectbarnyard #pigrescue #rescuepig #kunekunepig #animalrescue

Our Samson is (very) slowly, but surely coming around. He's just beginning to understand that his hard days are in the past. It may not look like much, but he has already gained some weight and has lost so much of that dead, unhealthy coat his body was holding onto. To healthier, happier days ahead Samson. You are SO loved!

24 people. 376.8 miles ran. $16,159.82 raised. This year was our second Ragnar Trail Zion x Project Barnyard. Only this year, we doubled our awareness and money raised. My entire life, my passions have been centered around two things. 1. Helping animals and 2. Pushing my body in workouts and runs, even past its breaking point. And somehow we have found a way to combine those two things into a weekend of a lifetime. People traveled in from Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Salt Lake City and San Francisco to run for our rescue. There are no words to describe what it's like to have no service, sleeping in the hard dirt, running every 5-8 hours all through the night whether your body is cooperating or not, with a shared motivator in mind. The animals. It takes a special kind of person to do that. Just a few days before the race began, two of our runners lost a family member, suddenly, to ALS. When I, of course, expected them to stay home and grieve, and not make the 10 hour trip, they responded with "No we are going Thursday! We are not only running this for the horses but we are running this for her, we are able to move our bodies." This Ragnar was not only dedicated to our rescue, but to Michelle. Thank you dad, Emma, Ellie, Ana, Shawna, Jessika, Sophie, Nicky, Erin, Patrick, Luke, Emily, Caroline, Max, Christina, Sarah, Kyle, Tommy, Alex, Caroline, Lucy, Dallin & Ayden for all of the hours spent training, fundraising & traveling to be here. And to all of you who donated in support of this race, thank you. Til next year Ragnar! #RunningforRescue

Samson is settling into quarantine. 🙏🏼 One of my dearest friends got to go and see him in person. She messaged me and said "He hid behind the feeder from me when I first came up 🥹. He's so shy he brought me to tears. Shy and frightened." It pains me to think of what's led him to be this way. I can't wait to show him what love is, and help every wound inflicted on him heal. We love you, Sammy boy!

We officially have had Iris for over a year now, and I can't believe it. Iris is the first Percheron I ever rescued... she is what started my love for the Ex - Amish working horses. They show love in different ways and I can tell she is simply grateful to be here. She is never pushy, never fights us on anything, she just appreciates her meals, her space and us respecting her retirement. They expect so little, because all they've ever been given is just enough to continue working. And sometimes, not even that. Her scars tell the story of her past, one I wish I could know more about. Yet her big, full belly, hair growth, and cared-for-hooves tell the story of her sanctuary journey here with us. She is loved, respected, and appreciated for being exactly who she is.

This is Eleanor. One of our most resilient, senior mares. I know in my heart she was a kid's horse, and was well taken are of at some point in her life. She only has love to give. Her favorite thing in the world is to place her head on yours, breathe in your scent, and rest - knowing she is finally safe. She has come so far in her rescue journey. 💛

No one softer, snugglier or sweeter than our dearest Lucille. Our mascot who started it all and quickly became one of our strongest pillars; one I lean on frequently. Witnessing so much cruelty, abuse, and neglect can make the rescue space feel so grim at times. But don't let the darkness dim the light. There is so much beauty in every individual save. Watching an animal go from knowing only "fight or flight" to freedom and comfort brings me more peace and joy than I can put into words. It makes every minute of work, late nights, early mornings, medical emergencies and loss more than worth it. They each make up our "why".

A life spent doing a labor of love. The easiest decision I have ever made was choosing to show up every single morning, 365 days a year, for these animals. Lucille, Wilt, Juwon, Lilly, Daisy, Rosie, Poppy, Violet, Lenny 🕊️, Gus 🕊️, Roman 🕊️, Wilson 🕊️, Kemp 🕊️, Woodrow 🕊️, Jovie, Jasper, Piper 🕊️, Prue, Phoebe, Alice, Gregory 🕊️, Maia, Fanny Mae, Merlin 🕊️, Davy 🕊️, Eleanor, Nebo 🕊️, Maisy, Olive, Bodie 🕊️, Pearl, Walter, Gertie 🕊️, Lago, Bonnie 🕊️, Clyde 🕊️, Iris, Hank 🕊️, Huey 🕊️, Lance 🕊️, Magnolia, Sawyer 🕊️, Agnes 🕊️, Mork, Lila 🕊️, Levi, Bea, Orie, Soren, Marnie, Scarlet, Henry 🕊️, Arnie, Milo 🕊️, Mabel 🕊️, Ezra, Samson. These are not just names. They are what make us the sanctuary we have become today. It does not matter how much time has passed, to me, they are forever a part of our herd. My family. 🤍

If you've never seen an ADD horse before, let me introduce you to Lago... our (almost) 28 year old guy who thinks he is still a stallion that must keep lookout 24/7 to make sure no one is coming to take Iris from him. I could watch him (attempt to) eat all day. 🤍 #projectbarnyard #horserescue #funnyhorses #horses