Second chances are our first order of business…
Welcome to the website of The Missed Path Sanctuary - we’re so happy you’re here!
Established in 2020 we are a small equine rescue charity based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina - 25 minutes from downtown Asheville in Pisgah National Forest.
The Missed Path Sanctuary was awarded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status in 2024, so we are now in the process of raising funds to enable us to grow and help more horses.
Our ethos
Horses and People: a timeless connection
Throughout history, horses and people have shared a profound and enduring bond. For countless centuries, these majestic creatures have been an integral part of human civilization. They’ve worked alongside us, carried us into battle, helped us to farm, and provided transportation, in a relationship that has spanned millennia. It is only in the last 150 years or so that we have slowly drifted apart from our equine friends, mainly due to the rise of industrialization and the advent of modern technology.
But it’s essential to remember that the connection between horses and humans runs deep, engraved in our shared history and DNA. There is an unmistakable magic that horses can unlock within us. Beyond their physical strength and beauty lies an extraordinary ability to touch our souls and awaken something profound within. It is a connection that transcends the limitations of language and cultural barriers, reaching deep into the core of our being.
A mirror for ourselves
Horses possess an innate ability to mirror our emotions and respond to our unspoken cues, allowing us to forge deep bonds based on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. In their presence we find solace, companionship, and a profound sense of unity with the natural world. They teach us patience, humility, and unconditional love — the kind of love that is free from judgment or expectation. And horses never lie…
A chance to reconnect
This magical connection, born from the partnership between horses and humans over countless generations, is not limited to a select few. It resides within all of us, waiting to be rediscovered and reignited. In our fast-paced, modern lives, it may be easy to overlook the subtle whispers of this ancient connection. But when we make the effort to slow down, to listen to the wisdom of both our hearts and the equine world, we unlock a hidden source of vitality and inspiration within ourselves.
In the hustle and bustle of the digital age, Missed Path Sanctuary and the Thirsty Horse Academy’s aim is to help us remember our shared history with horses and the undeniable magic they awaken in us. In rediscovering this ancient bond, we find a pathway to rediscover our own authentic selves—a journey guided by the wisdom and grace of our hoofed companions.
Our journey
Missed Path Sanctuary is the brainchild and passion project of Marc DiFrancia and Mike Cooper, who moved from London to Western North Carolina in 2014.
It was never our original intention to start a sanctuary, but when Marc followed his lifelong dream to start riding in 2019 he soon discovered that the reality of life for all too many horses was not a happy one… Too many of these beautiful animals suffer, one way or another, at the hands of the very people they depend on.
From horses whose owners deem them too old to work or be “useful”, to horses whose owners are no longer - for whatever reason - able to look after them, many end up slaughtered, neglected or just plain abandoned.
While we can’t help them all, we’re committed to doing what we can for those we can help, rehabilitating them so that they’re able to trust and work with people, and to take part in the leadership and development programs we run on site.
Our challenge
Missed Path Sanctuary resides on Marc and Mike’s property in Candler: a stunning location at the base of Mount Pisgah, but with only limited cleared land (it was never intended to be a horse ranch!) Most of their 19 available acres are uncleared forest on the side of a mountain. As such, Missed Path is now at capacity for the available space with the four horses already on site.
Our plan going forward, and with sufficient support, is to acquire more adjacent land; put in access roads and paths; and create more space, so we’re able to accommodate more horses in the future. We also have the possibility of offering camping spaces and even yurts or tiny homes, for guests who want to stay or take part in our schedule of activities and trainings.
To do all of this we’ll need to raise funds, and to that end we’re in the process of establishing Missed Path Sanctuary as a registered non-profit foundation with 501(c)(3) status.
“Rescuing one horse won’t change the world.
But it will change the world for that horse…”
What is the “Missed Path”?
Our name comes from the title of a book Marc was inspired by, which dealt with the process of “restarting” and rehabilitating horses who - for whatever reason - didn’t manage to get started on the right “path” the first time around. Our Meet the Horses page tells the stories of our rescues and how they missed their paths on the way to us.
Our approach to working with horses is firmly rooted in the concept of “softness”, which extends beyond physical interactions and encompasses emotional and mental aspects of the horse-human relationship.
At its core, softness represents a state where both horse and human can communicate and cooperate effectively, without force or resistance. It emphasizes the cultivation of trust, respect, and understanding between the trainer and the horse, leading to a harmonious partnership and using only the amount of force that’s needed to accomplish the task in hand. In practical terms, softness entails gentle and light touch, both physically and in communication.
Want to know more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
and then Meet the Horses!
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