The Horse Shelter

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The Horse Shelter The Horse Shelter is a 501c3 equine rescue located in Cerrillos, NM, with over 100 horses on-site.

The mission of The Horse Shelter is to serve as a sanctuary for New Mexico’s abandoned, abused and neglected horses. Rescued horses will be rehabilitated and adopted out whenever possible to environments that support their well-being and future long term care. The Horse Shelter has between 75 and 80 horses on site and adopts up to 30 horses per year into new homes. We have an onsite trainer that helps our horses get ready to go to new homes.

Witness the power of love: the first photo is Victoria at her intake in January 2026. In the second photo 10 months late...
11/02/2026

Witness the power of love: the first photo is Victoria at her intake in January 2026. In the second photo 10 months later, we are now at the point of considering a wee diet for the happy gal.

Also note the swelling on her left hind leg when she arrived has almost gone. A former fracture in her fetlock healed but was never set, so she will be happiest as a non-riding companion horse.

Next step - finding a permanent home with other happy, quiet horses. Are you that caring person?

Photos Evalyn Bemis for

Meet darling little Opal. And we do mean little, as in pony-sized. Just remember, mighty things sometimes come in small ...
10/31/2026

Meet darling little Opal. And we do mean little, as in pony-sized. Just remember, mighty things sometimes come in small packages.

Opal thrives with a quiet, attentive, skilled person who is willing to work to gain her trust. Opal lived most of her life with a free-roaming herd before coming to THS and had not had much human handling before this year. She is skeptical and no-nonsense but enjoys being out on the trail. Opal will do best with an advanced rider that can help her continue her training.

You can watch a video of her in trading with Anna on our website.

Photo Evalyn Bemis for

ADOPTION ALERT 🎊🎉💐 x2!!! Natilla is moving to southern Colorado to her with adopter, Sue! Special shoutout to Katie Fo...
10/28/2026

ADOPTION ALERT 🎊🎉💐 x2!!!

Natilla is moving to southern Colorado to her with adopter, Sue! Special shoutout to Katie Four Corners Equine Rescue for doing a home check for us! You are awesome! Thank you to Cori Hoody Horsemanship for giving Natilla a great foundation!

Nigel has found his forever home with Cookie and her two geldings and family! Nigel is fitting in well so far! Thank you Brianna Gooch for all the rehab, conditioning and evaluation you put in to prepare Nigel for his new home!

We are so thrilled to find wonderful homes for these deserving horses! Thank you, Sue and Cookie, for giving a rescue horse a second chance at a happy, safe life!

📸: TK

Mateo is a volunteer favorite. He strutted his stuff during our open house at the ranch and just basically looked like a...
10/27/2026

Mateo is a volunteer favorite. He strutted his stuff during our open house at the ranch and just basically looked like a happy camper.

Mateo has an interesting back story. He has received a lot of training and been a good boy, such that he has been adopted out a number of times. At some point, in his life as a trail horse, a young girl’s barrel racing prospect, a young man’s Western mount, there are various reasons he has returned to us. Due to an old injury, he is now retired from riding.

It is clear that Mateo’s happy place is here with us and he returns the favor by being such a good instructor for our volunteers.

We are a ‘big tent’ organization so there is room for those who need to heal before they find their new families and there are some who find sanctuary with us.

Photos by Evalyn Bemis for

We know you don’t volunteer just so you can get an invite to our annual appreciation party BUT we do have a heckuva good...
10/25/2026

We know you don’t volunteer just so you can get an invite to our annual appreciation party BUT we do have a heckuva good time, with great food and camaraderie, plus OMG, the prickly pear c***r, and a free calendar.

If you do feel inspired to join our team, please contact Kevan Saunders at volunteer .org

Photos Evalyn Bemis for

Isla is a rare girl in a crowd of quarter horses, mustangs, and “choose to not disclose” - meaning, we can see she is an...
10/21/2026

Isla is a rare girl in a crowd of quarter horses, mustangs, and “choose to not disclose” - meaning, we can see she is an Arabian. She is fun, she is spicy, and she is affectionate.

She also is a favorite of THS volunteer Valerie, here giving Isla a pat for being such a good girl.

Photos by Evalyn Bemis for

Let’s look at the legendary THS weekly newsletter writer, Tina Ossorgin. She keeps tracks of doings at the ranch on beha...
10/19/2026

Let’s look at the legendary THS weekly newsletter writer, Tina Ossorgin. She keeps tracks of doings at the ranch on behalf of the volunteers who make the place run smoothly (sign up, sign up!) and the comings and goings of our herd.

Here she is, caught during a little coming and going with her own herd of two, Sabine and Oliver, on a walkabout in her neighborhood.

We think of October as Volunteer Appreciation Month, so thank you.

Photo by Evalyn Bemis for

What is this contraption, you might reasonably ask? Why, it just happens to be the most fabulous piece of safety equipme...
10/16/2026

What is this contraption, you might reasonably ask? Why, it just happens to be the most fabulous piece of safety equipment a rescue can dream of having. It safely holds a horse that may not have had enough training for our staff to work on it in a freestanding mode, especially in an urgent care situation, and it can be hydraulically tilted into a number of positions, including laying a horse flat on its side. All the openings allow a veterinarian to access separate parts of a horse individually, without risk to human or horse.

We have wanted this important piece of equipment for a long time and are so happy that assistance from our supporters and funders has made it possible to acquire it.

Photo Evalyn Bemis for

Some horses demand attention. Vesuvius is one of these, who KNOWS he was put on this earth to be admired and petted. H...
10/14/2026

Some horses demand attention. Vesuvius is one of these, who KNOWS he was put on this earth to be admired and petted.

He is an unusually handsome horse, with a golden hue, long blond mane and tail, and enormous amber eyes. He will decorate any pasture to the nines.

His one drawback? As a former breeding stallion, he is very preoccupied with the girls. He will do best if adopted as a companion horse for a gelding.

Best boy, Vesuvius.

Photo Evalyn Bemis for

One of our very best success stories put in an appearance at our annual open house this past Sunday. Meet Kelsey, with a...
10/12/2026

One of our very best success stories put in an appearance at our annual open house this past Sunday. Meet Kelsey, with adopter Carrie.

Kelsey came to us with a bunch of feral horses and had such bad feet that at first glance it seemed unlike she would never be sound enough to be ridden. Her right front foot was particularly deformed- long and twisted.

With time and skilled farrier work, her feet came around and she grew into a lovely horse. Her attitude helped the process - it was almost like she understood what we needed to achieve. Training her to the saddle was the easy part!

We appreciate adopters like Carrie who help us showcase success stories like Kelsey’s. Go, .

Photos Evalyn Bemis for

Address

100 Old Cash Ranch Road
Cerrillos, NM
87010

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15054716179

Website

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