Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary
Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary (SSECS) is committed to enhancing the quality of life for horses. Focused on equine rehabilitation and training, the facility provides foster care and sanctuary for needy horses with private educational and enrichment opportunities.
Equine Center Barn Nearing Completion
The Hanson Family Foundation has 75 acres at 85th & Sycamore in Sioux Falls, South Dakota dedicated to Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary and future grown. The property includes a 5-acre pond, pasture land, hay fields, a state-of-the-art private stable with 16 barn stalls, an attached 72'x 144' hay barn, tack room, and office. The facility will house sanctuary horses for rehabilitation and training.
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Meet Betsy Hanson
In 2023 Betsy Hanson became a founding Board Member of the Hanson Family Foundation and she serves as the Director of Equine Facility & Programs for Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary. In that role, Betsy oversees the care of our first two residents, Magnolia & Sage. She also manages the barn, coordinates intake, adoptions and programs of the sanctuary at 85th & Sycamore. Betsy's love for horses started at a young age and she is also a Horseback Riding Instructor. Betsy is passionate about equine care and looks forward to working with sanctuary horses, offering community enrichment opportunities and education. When Betsy is not with horses she is spending time with her husband, Sam and her one-year-old son, Ezra.
We welcomed our first sanctuary residents: Magnolia, a 10-year old mare & her young filly, Sage
Construction progress continues at Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary but sometimes rescue just can’t wait! In June we jumped into action to help this skinny 10-year old mare and her 1-week old foal. They are just settling in — mama immediately laid down and rolled around, knowing they are in a better place. Betsy Hanson is overseeing their care. Mama was named Magnolia and her filly Sage. Magnolia is eating grass/alfalfa hay mix as well as grain while she’s nursing. In October we moved them to our sanctuary facility, and they are settling in well.
SSECS Intake Policy & Wait List
Shepherd's Stable Equine Center & Sanctuary (SSECS) accepts needy horses, ponies and miniature horses from the area as openings become available at our facility. Intake is managed from our equine wait list and a surrender fee is expected to help offset initial expenses. When an animal comes to the sanctuary we provide care and enrichment through the end of life unless the animal is determined to be adoptable and will then be re-homed in accordance with the policies established by the Hanson Family Foundation Board of Directors.
Wait List Priority & Protocols:
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Law enforcement horse seizures in cases of animal cruelty where charges are filed against owner (we do not board horses for agencies but can accepted horses that were signed over to the law enforcement agency)
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Owner surrender horses (for owners needing to surrender needy horses we request a $500 surrender fee per horse)
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Horses that were adopted out from Shepherd's Stable and need to be returned to our sanctuary
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Horses in need of urgent veterinary care at local auction facilities (if $1,500 per horse was raised in advance to make purchase)
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Other intakes on case-by-case basis with approval from the Board of Directors
Note: The sanctuary also maintain space for fostering horses from other local equine organizations needing care and enrichment.
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Follow this link to access our Equine Wait List Application if you have a horse you need to surrender.
All animals brought into SSECS will be subject to a 30-day quarantine period prior to being integrated into our facility unless otherwise recommended by a veterinarian.