MOORELAND, Ind. – A local horse rescue is giving animals a second chance after saving dozens of horses from kill pens across several states.

Sweet Liberty Ranch and Rescue, founded in 2021 by Sherry and her husband Shawn, has rescued nearly 60 horses from facilities in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. The rescue rehabilitates the horses before placing them in carefully screened adoptive homes.

Barks said her decision to start the rescue came after learning more about the number of horses at risk of being sent to slaughter. She said she became aware of online groups focused on kill-pen horses, where people share information about horses in danger of being shipped to slaughter facilities outside of the U.S.

“I never really believed about horses being shipped to slaughter and stuff like that,” Barks said. “And once I really found out how many horses get shipped for no reason, it kind of hurt.”

Barks’ connection with horses started years before the rescue opened. She and her husband began with her first horse, Sabrina. After Sabrina later had a foal named Libby, whose registered name was Sabrina Sweet Liberty, the couple used that name when creating Sweet Liberty Ranch and Rescue.

"In the first year I think we got out probably 20-25 horses out of the kill pen. Some of them were older horses that just needed to be put out to pasture for awhile, or companion horses that still had a lot of life left, but couldn't be ridden any more," Barks said.

Many of the horses arrive needing rehabilitation and time to recover before they can be adopted.

“The main focus when we first get them is letting them settle in and making sure they’re getting the proper nutrition that they need. A lot of them are very skinny and have not been fed correctly for a while.”

The organization currently has 14 horses in its care, including a recently born foal. Barks said the goal is to adopt out as many horses as possible because the rescue does not have the space to operate as a sanctuary.

Prospective adopters complete an application, provide references from a veterinarian and farrier, submit photos of where the horse will live and sign a contract requiring the horse to be returned to the rescue if they can no longer care for it.

Funding remains one of the organization’s biggest challenges.

“Right now, I think our biggest challenge is fencing,” Barks said. “We’ve got a lot of fencing that needs to be replaced and it’s probably going to be $10,000 or so to replace all of this.”

The rescue relies on fundraisers, donations and volunteers to continue its work. Barks said the need for animal rescues remains high as existing rescue organizations operate at or beyond capacity.

“The main message is to stop all of the unnecessary breeding,” Barks said. “There are so many animals that are being dumped daily.”

More information about Sweet Liberty Ranch and Rescue can be found online.