Meet the horses - the story so far…
Daisy
Daisy is a beautiful young grulla mare who missed her path and got into an argument with a barbed wire fence, losing the sight in her left eye as a result. Careless ownership like this causes many problems for horses. Worse still: Daisy’s herd rejected her when she became impaired.
Daisy’s eye trauma led to her developing a condition called uveitis - an inflammatory disease of the eye which is irreversible and usually ends up taking the sight in both eyes. Sure enough, around eight months after joining us, Daisy’s uveitis came back and left her completely blind. We worked around the clock with our vet to try and ensure she didn’t lose the eye itself…
Fortunately, Daisy is in the best place she can be: a small, manageable yard where she always has her bearings; a low stress herd who don’t seem to mind her blindness; and a constant equine companion in the form of Annie the Mini horse (who you’ll meet further down the page!)
But looking after Daisy is an ongoing commitment. As well as the usual expenses, she needs drugs to manage her condition and regular checkups from the vet, which is where your support is invaluable.
Melodie
Melodie is a stunning Belgian/Quarter Horse cross who originally belonged to the Amish. She has problematic conformation—she’s pigeon-toed, meaning her hooves turn inward more than they should.
Because of this, Mel was always destined to develop arthritis as she aged. But she missed her path when her owners saw her impairment not as a limitation, but as an advantage. A horse with inward-facing hooves has better traction on a road, so they put her to work pulling a cart—knowing full well it would likely shorten her life and cause her pain.
When we rescued Mel, we worked closely with our skilled trimmer to mitigate the issue as much as possible. Over time, careful trimming has helped her plant her feet more naturally, reducing the likelihood of future complications. And, of course, life at the sanctuary is far gentler than the hard labor she once endured.
At around 1,300 pounds, Mel is a big girl! Her primary needs are proper nutrition and ongoing hoof care to keep her comfortable as she ages. Thanks to donor support, Mel now has the life she was always meant to have—one of care, kindness, and a true sanctuary where she will never be asked to suffer for someone else’s benefit or burden again
Sundance (“Sunny”)
Sunny joined us in March of 2022. Marc really wanted a horse that could do cool things and give him his “Roy Rogers and Trigger” relationship. And from what we saw prior to the online auction, Sunny seemed to fit the bill…
But when he turned up it was clear he’d been badly abused in the training process (as we now realise is all too common). He has a scar where his tongue was tied and nearly ripped out during his training; he was covered in whip marks, cuts and bites; and his skin was so thin and fragile that he bled every time he bumped into something. It’s truly heartbreaking what some people will do in the name of “horsemanship”.
Sunny may have missed his path, but now he has humans who love him and care for him, and who work to try and reestablish his trust in people. He’s an inquisitive boy, and we’re always finding him going through the grooming bucket or doing some “remodelling” of the fence bars. He and Mel are paddock companions and spend their days on the mountain eating hay together.
Annie the Mini
It’s not necessarily that we’re saving the best till last, but we do have a special place in our hearts for Annie the Mini Horse! Annie was our first rescue, arriving at the Missed Path Sanctuary in late 2020.
Annie was the head of her herd of thirteen mostly full-sized horses, just a few miles from us. She wasn’t abused, but had fallen into neglect as her aging owner became less and less able to take care of the horses he loved. Sad though he was, he was happy to see her go to a good home.
When she arrived, Annie’s halter had been left on her for several years, so it was in the process of growing into her face. The first thing we did was gently remove it. The pictures here show her recovery and were taken a year apart.
Annie is a happy, healthy mare who’s always whinnying to us from across the yard. She’ll walk anywhere with just a hand placed gently on her shoulder. And now she’s a companion animal for Daisy, so our blind horse always knows she has a friend nearby.
Annie is fairly low-maintenance, but she has the same needs as a full-size horse in terms of food, vet bills and keeping her happy and healthy. We hope you’ll agree she’s worth every penny!
If our horses’ stories have touched you, we invite you to be part of this mission. Your support—whether through a one-time donation, a sustaining membership, including us in your estate planning, or even volunteering—helps us rebuild, recover, and expand so we can give more horses the sanctuary they deserve.
This special haven, nestled at the base of Mount Pisgah in Candler, just 20 minutes from downtown Asheville, is more than just a refuge for horses. It’s a place of healing, connection, and second chances—for them and for all of us.
Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Thank you for believing in what we do and for helping us ensure a future where more horses can find safety, love, and a forever home.
Who’s next…?
We never planned to start a horse sanctuary—but the horses had other plans. Every horse that found its way to us needed rescue in one way or another, whether we knew it at the time or not. And once they were here, there was no turning back.
For the past four years, we've built Missed Path Sanctuary with our own hands, funding it entirely from our own pockets. Every dollar, every hour, every bit of love—we've given it all to create a safe, healing space for horses who needed our help and had nowhere else to go. In 2024, we became a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, allowing us to expand our mission with the help of grants, donations, and community support.
Then in September 2024—just a couple of weeks after we received our not-for-profit approval and were ready to launch officially—Hurricane Helene hit. The biggest storm in our area’s history took a heavy toll on our sanctuary, stretching our already limited resources beyond what we can sustain alone. While we didn't start this charity because of Helene, the reality is that recovering from its impact-while continuing to care for our horses—has made outside support more essential than ever.
We want to keep going—not just to maintain what we’ve built, but to grow. We dream of expanding our space, creating new pastures, and offering even greater care to the horses who call this place home—and to the ones still waiting for their chance at safety. But to do that, we need your help.
Please lend us your support today. Your contribution helps ensure the future of our mission to look after these amazing animals - and to expand to help even more horses in the future!
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We’ll keep you informed about fundraising, events and ways to get involved - and we’re grateful for your support!