Sanctuary

Enhancing & inspiring lives through healing & hope with horses & humans.

United in Light, Inc. is located in Livingston, MT with a satellite office for business in Bozeman, MT
All of the horses have been rescued from slaughter. United In Light, Inc. rescues mature draft breeds that are not as adoptable due to their age, injuries and lack of training. We consider ourselves to be a retirement home for these worn out bodies, a place to receive healing and to be joined with other horses of their kind to live out the rest of their lives free...free to lay down and rest, free to jump, run and play, free to eat healthy food and drink lots of clean water. Free to make their own decisions about wanting to trust us again….and they always do, thanks to you.

When we first unite new horses together, we've been witnessing a ritual of welcome. The other horses run to the newcomer and touch crown to crown with each other in a long moment as if to say, “Welcome old friend, we have been waiting for you”. Then the fun starts as they run around at the realization of their freedom. Shouldn’t we all greet others that way?

We also have programs that allow all people to come and participate in healing workshops.
It is quite a sight to have an elderly woman smiling and brushing every horse here, then to look at her family as they were all in tears. It was the first time in ten years that they had seen her with a smile on her face.

That is what United In Light Inc. is all about.

Mission Statement for United In Light, Inc.
Enhancing and inspiring lives through healing and hope between horses and humans.
To provide Sanctuary to all mature draft horse breeds than have been rescued from an untimely death.
To provide a peaceful, loving environment throughout the rest of the horses’ lives.
To provide a place where humans and horses are reunited for healing and finding inner peace.
To provide people of all ages the ability to bond and experience the gentle giants.
To provide education to the public on the lives of draft horses and of the unique lifestyle that is lived here on this land.
To provide emergency assistance to horse owners in Montana due to natural disasters.

About The Horses

All Gentle Giants listed are in order of time Rescued. We have 10-12 Giants residing at the Sanctuary at one time.
All of the horses have been rescued from slaughter and with funds donated by all of our supporters. Every bit make a huge difference in the lives of these horses and the many hundreds of visitors that are touched by them. Thank you

SunDance
SunDance (previousely named Big) was found in a feedlot in NV with Squire. Several supporters stepped in prior to these boys going on a meat truck headed to slaughter and pulled them out so they can reside here at United In Light. SunDance arrived at the UIL ranch July of 2014 at the age of 14.
17 year old Belgian gelding
19 hands high

Ashley
Ashley pictured here with Sundance, is our first and only nondraft! Ashely was also at the NV feedlot and just minutes to being led on the meat truck to slaughter the UIL board members said take her! She has been a great blessing here at the ranch. Very sweet disposition and all the Giants love her. She has also been instrumental in the educational program as a comparision between draft breeds and non draft breeds. Ashley & Lucky have become very fond of eachother. She arrived at the UIL ranch in July of 2014 at 3 years old.
Ashely is a 6 year old Quarter horse mare

Malcolm
Malcolm came to us via concered workers of a MT Ranch when he was not able to perform work anymore. They contacted UIL so that he could continue his life rather than be send to slaughter. Malcolm is another sweet giant who loves attention from humans. He also LOVES hanging out with the elders. Jake and Malcolm have become inseparable! Malcolm arrived at the UIL ranch in August of 2014 at 14 years old.
Malcolm is a 17 year old Clydesdale/Cross gelding

Bentley
Bentley arrived in April 2015 at the age of 20 yo. He is 17+ hands & Lame due to ringbone. Bentley was rescued from New Holland Auction in 2012 by Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in MA.
Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue contacted UIL to see if we had room available for him so they could rescue more horses.
He is a 23 year old Belgian.

Aribella
Aribella came to UIL in April 2015 at 12 years old. She has Lameness due to suspensory desmoiditis.
Aribella was legally removed from her home (along with 7 other draft horses, 3 of which had to be humanely euthanized due to their level of neglect) in 2014 by the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area, and placed in Gentle Giants care.
Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue contacted UIL to see if we had room available for her so they could rescue more horses.
She is a 15 year old Percheron mare

Angel
Wonder was orginally rescued from going to slaughter from a PMU Ranch in Canada at the age of 11 months! Then due to troubled times the owners contacted UIL. Wonder arrived at UIL in May 2015 at 7 years old.
She wanted her name changed to Angel for her new life here. She is a 12 year old Percheron PMU Mare.

Arrow
Arrow was (aka Guthrey) rescued from a feedlot in Colorado. His age is unknown at this time (20 plus) and he is possibly blind in his left eye. I guess someone thought his life was done...we didn't think so.. He arrived April 1st, 2018 to United In Light.
25 plus y.o Belgian Gelding

Hawk & Eagle
Found in Louisiana Feedlot and out of 20 that found homes, Hawk, Eagle and William were left with hours of being loaded up to slaughter. The three boys ended up having a horrific journey from LA to MT. They ended up in WI for a time as the transporter dragged Williams leg for over 4 miles. All the horses in the transportation were at body grade levels of 2 or less, William had to be euthanized. We were grateful for Riding with Angels Rescue in WI were they were giving great care until they were able to be brought home to MT. The boys are inseperable, definitely brothers. They are huge loves and we are so grateful we were able to rescue them. You can find more about William on Rainbow Bridge page.
Hawk and Eagle arrived in the evening of June 28th, 2018. They are in their 20's, belgian geldings.
Update: Due to his severe conditions with starvation through the action and conditions on the feedlot, Eagle was only able to be with us for several months, then his body just could not sustain. We were all heart broken, yet sometimes the best gift we can give them is lots of love, healing and amazing space for them to crossover..

Tom aka Black Bird
Tom was originally a part of a team that the owner had crossed over so Tom and Jerry went to a wonderful private sanctuary for many years. Jerry had crossed over and Tom was the only draft in a large herd. We were contacted to see if we were able to take him for his last years. Tom is a 25ish year old, gelding, Percheron. He is fitting into the herd wonderfully and hanging out with Malcolm, Hawk, Eagle and Arrow(the elders).

Babe
Babe and her sister Bella were rescued as a Montana family had a death in the family and had to regime themselves and decrease their herd. Due to Babe and Bellas ages of 2o plus years, the family was fearful of them going to slaughter so they contacted us. Bella was only here for her quarantine time as she seemed much older than Babe and her immure system was doing very well. We came out to find she has crossed over on her own peacefully. We contacted the family and believe that Bella crossed over with their family member as she was one of her favorites. Babe fit right in with Snowman and the rest of the herd. She is a sweet pea and very funny. Babe is a 20 plus Percherone Mare.

Snowman
Snow was rescued from Missoula Auction by 1 Draft Horse at A Time Rescue. Due to his conditions of old injury to right front leg and shoulder and cancer of the left eye, he was not a great candidate for rehoming so UIL had a space available and brought him here to live amongst the UIL herd. He is a draft cross gelding 20 plus years old. He has done very well here and the low level laser therapy has helped him to keep his eye and slow the progression of the cancer. He has also started to develop more muscle strength in his leg which keeps him pretty mobile.

Betty and Pearl
September 17th, 2020 We welcomed Pearl and Betty(Betty White). These two elders have had a rough life of neglect and abuse. Betty is 34 and riddled with Cancer including a tumor that was removed from her eyelid, Pearl is 18 and has a self healed fractured jaw that left her paralyzed on left jaw. If you remember the seizure of 34 horses in Northern MT? These two elders were rescued and UIL was contacted by their rescuer to help provide a lifetime sanctuary. They are both Percheron crosses.

Momma Cass
Rescued by Equine Voices as a rescue from the Premarin Industry. Mama Cass was number 821 on a ranch that provided Pregnant Mare Urine (Premarin), a product to help women through menopause. The mares are in standing room stalls with catheters collecting the pregnant urine. When it is time to foal, unfortunately the foals are aborted or sent by the hundreds to slaughter. Equine Voices is one such amazing Organization that rescues the mares and the foals. Due to Covid, the owner of adopted Mamma Cass had to sell her ranch and find a new home for Mama. Equine Voices and MT Horse Sanctuary contacted Us. She arrived safely September 29th, 2020 and excited meeting humans and being a part of the UIL herd. She is 21 years old and have had many foals taken from her. Yes, they do feel the loss. Since her arrival, she has decided to change her name to Sophie. We always give the residents here the choice to change their names as it's a way to honor them and allow them to leave the past behind here at UIL.