Home At Last Farm Mini Horse & Donkey Rescue

08/24/2026

08/23/2026

URGENT FUNDRAISER: For the first time in a year, Home At Last Farm is raising funds for 2 new intakes.

Two minis need our help. They are mostly unhandled and have gone years without veterinary, dental, or farrier care.

Their family has continued to keep them fed while facing declining health, depression, and circumstances that have made their care increasingly difficult. Their owner put aside her fear of judgment and did something incredibly brave: she asked us for help.

There is no shame in asking for help when life becomes more than one person can carry. We are grateful she trusted us enough to reach out.

We have an experienced nearby partner facility equipped to house and safely handle two unhandled intact boys. Now we need to raise $8,000 for veterinary exams, vaccines, bloodwork, dental care, specialized hoof care, castration surgeries, recovery, and specialized boarding.

Last August, I closed intakes while fighting for my own life. I promised every animal in our care that I would never take on more than we could responsibly support.

We would remain closed until I was ready to stand again.

One year later, I can finally feel the ground beneath my feet.

We are ready to help again.

If 1,600 people donate just $5, we will reach our goal.

Please donate if you can. If you cannot, sharing this post helps.

We are still here. I am still here.

And these two minis need us. Thanks everyone. We’re back.

08/22/2026

Olive and Poppy are available for adoption through Home At Last Farm.

📍 Located in Mill Spring, North Carolina

Olive is a five year old grey and brown miniature jenny. She is curious, intelligent, and observant, with a gentle nature. She can be cautious with unfamiliar people but responds well to patient, consistent handling and positive reinforcement. Once she is comfortable, Olive is affectionate and enjoys neck scratches and attention.

Poppy is a four year old white and spotted miniature jenny. She is sweet, sensitive, and closely bonded to Olive. Poppy looks to Olive for confidence when navigating new situations, and the two are happiest together in the pasture.

Olive and Poppy will be placed together. Both are accustomed to being haltered for routine veterinary and farrier care. Their experience outside their current property, including leading and loading, is limited. Applicants should have appropriate donkey experience and be prepared to continue their groundwork using patient, consistent methods.

Both jennies are current on vaccinations, dental care, deworming, and hoof trims. Both have tested negative for Coggins.

New England adopters are welcome to apply. The adopter will be responsible for professional transportation and all health certificates required for interstate travel.

All applications will be evaluated based on the needs of Olive and Poppy and the suitability of the prospective home.

Learn more about our adoption process and apply at:

https://homeatlastfarm.org/adopt

08/21/2026

Olive and Poppy are available for adoption through Home At Last Farm.

📍 Located in Mill Spring, North Carolina

Olive is a five year old grey and brown miniature jenny. She is curious, intelligent, and observant, with a gentle nature. She can be cautious with unfamiliar people but responds well to patient, consistent handling and positive reinforcement. Once she is comfortable, Olive is affectionate and enjoys neck scratches and attention.

Poppy is a four year old white and spotted miniature jenny. She is sweet, sensitive, and closely bonded to Olive. Poppy looks to Olive for confidence when navigating new situations, and the two are happiest together in the pasture.

Olive and Poppy will be placed together. Both are accustomed to being haltered for routine veterinary and farrier care. Their experience outside their current property, including leading and loading, is limited. Applicants should have appropriate donkey experience and be prepared to continue their groundwork using patient, consistent methods.

Both jennies are current on vaccinations, dental care, deworming, and hoof trims. Both have tested negative for Coggins.

New England adopters are welcome to apply. The adopter will be responsible for professional transportation and all health certificates required for interstate travel.

All applications will be evaluated based on the needs of Olive and Poppy and the suitability of the prospective home.

Learn more about our adoption process and apply at:

https://homeatlastfarm.org/adopt

08/17/2026

At first, this might look like a cute picture of Stuffin scrunching his nose being silly. Once you know what he was going through, you’ll see something very different.

This was Stuffin was during a serious episode of choke this past Saturday.

As you all know, our sweet little Stuffin is one of our most senior special needs equines. Everything he eats is finely chopped or thoroughly soaked, he receives no long stem hay, and he has dental care several times a year. Despite every precaution, food still became stuck in his esophagus on Saturday.

We believe the episode happened due to a very brief period without water after his new pasture friend, Butters, dumped their pasture bucket so he could play with it. Stuffin was without water for only about 30 minutes max, but consistent access to water is so important for a senior horse with swallowing difficulties.

Choke in horses is very different from choking in people. With equines, food becomes lodged in the esophagus rather than blocking the airway, but it is still a veterinary emergency.

Stuffin began coughing so forcefully that his entire body shook. Green liquid containing food came from his nose, and he made the face shown here in between coughing 😭

Our veterinarian was away, but another veterinarian from her practice and two additional local veterinarians responded quickly and kindly to my calls. After about half an hour of carefully massaging his esophagus, the discharge changed from green, to clear, and then stopped as the obstruction passed.

Stuffin is doing very well now.

This was a reminder to look beyond an expression that initially seems cute or funny and ask why an animal might be doing it. They communicate discomfort through changes in their faces, posture, appetite, and behavior.

Caring for senior equines is not for the faint of heart. Their needs become more complex, and the cost of keeping them healthy can increase exponentially. Their senior years are when they most need the security and care of the people who know them best.

08/16/2026

Did you know you can cut an old pair of leggings, tights, pajamas, etc and fit them to your donkey for fly control? We love this ingenious idea! 💡

08/11/2026

Today ➡️ Day of their rescue

….While drinking my coffee this morning, I looked up and this was my view. Mama on the left. Her daughter Lady Bug on the right. And The General above them. I smiled to myself and snapped this photo to share with you all.

Just 3 years ago Mama was captured with her final litter of babies and brought to our farm. She had been living under an abandoned house for years having litter after litter. Some people in the neighborhood tormented her. One amazing person finally caught her and her babies and brought them to us. The shelters around us were full. Rescues were also full. So Chris and I agreed with the blessing of donors to take them in. We had an open stall in the barn which ended up being the most perfect transition for her and her pups. Never having been handled (kindly) by humans or having been inside a house, a safe dry stall inside a clean & well ventilated barn was a perfect step up.

Lady Bug was her favorite puppy. They had a bond that was so unbelievably special and sacred. Chris and I agreed they would both become part of our family. And as you all may remember, we found the most amazing homes for Mama’s other pups.

The General and his siblings were trying to establish a feral cat colony behind the Dollar General up the road from our farm. We were told by the cashier their mom was hit by a car, left in the road, and the (older) kittens were huddled on top of her lifeless little body before they finally left and found safety behind the store. The employees had been feeding them for a few months.

I spent a week or so trapping every cat and getting them fixed, vaccinated, etc. The General decided he no longer wanted to be a feral street cat. After a brief stint as a DG employee, he was promptly terminated and trespassed from their premises after a shopper complained about him. Chris and I were there to pick him up and after another short stint on our farm as mouse patrol in the barn grain/tack/lounge, he is now retired and living his best life.

I am eternally grateful for these precious animals we share our lives with and care for. And for every single person who has been a part of their journeys. 🫶