Madison Grove Farm began in 2008, but the story started many years earlier with a horse named Jake.
I lost my only sister, Linda, when I was fifteen years old. It was the early 1980s, and grief wasn't something people talked about much, at least not in my world. There weren't conversations about how a teenager was supposed to make sense of such a loss. Life went on, even when you weren't quite sure how to go on with it.
Jake gave me a place where I didn't have to explain anything. I could spend time with him, often just being together quietly, without needing to find words for what I was feeling. I didn't understand it all back then, but I knew that being with him gave me something I wasn't finding anywhere else.
That experience stayed with me. Over the years, I came to understand how much horses have to offer us, and how much responsibility we have to give them the same care, understanding, and respect in return.
Long before Madison Grove Farm became a reality, I knew I wanted to create a place where horses could find safety and healing, and where people could experience the kind of connection that had meant so much to me. When I founded the farm in 2008, both were part of the dream from the very beginning.
Our Story: A Sanctuary Built on Connection
Jake 1989
A Vision of Healing for Horses & Humans
When I founded Madison Grove Farm in 2008, I knew I wanted to create more than a safe place for horses. My dream was to build a sanctuary where horses and humans could help one another heal. That belief has guided the farm from the very beginning.
I met Russ at the farm in 2013, and over time he became part of my life and the work of the sanctuary. In 2019, we relocated Madison Grove Farm from King County to our private property in Winlock, Washington, where the horses now have more than 40 acres to call home.
The horses have always been at the center of everything we do. Their safety, well-being, relationships, and ability to make choices guide our decisions. As the farm has grown, so have the opportunities for people to spend time with them, whether through volunteering, learning, or simply being present.
Today, that original dream continues through the care we provide to horses in need and the connections that develop between the animals and the people who come into their lives. We have learned over the years that healing doesn't always look the way we expect, and sometimes the most meaningful things happen when we simply make room for one another.
From a Dream to a Sanctuary
2008 | Madison Grove Farm Is Founded
Madison Grove Farm began with a vision of creating a safe and compassionate environment for horses in need, while also offering people opportunities to experience the connection, understanding, and emotional support that horses can bring into our lives. From the beginning, the intention was to create a place where horses and humans could help one another heal.
2013 | Our Family Grows
I met Russ at the farm in 2013. Over time, he became part of my life and the work of caring for the sanctuary. What began as my personal dream continued to grow with the support of people who believed in its purpose.
2019 | A New Home in Winlock
Madison Grove Farm relocated from King County to our private property in Winlock, Washington. With more than 40 acres of pastures, forests, and trails, the horses had more room to live in established herds, develop relationships, and experience a life centered around their individual needs.
Expanding Our Mission | Equine-Assisted Learning
As Madison Grove Farm grew, so did our ability to welcome people into the lives of the horses. What began as a personal understanding of how meaningful these relationships can be has grown into opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience that connection for themselves.
Through observation, groundwork, and time spent with horses at liberty, participants can explore trust, communication, boundaries, and self-awareness. Each experience is shaped by the horses themselves, their individual personalities, and their willingness to participate.
The sanctuary remains at the heart of everything we do. Our horses are never expected to participate for the benefit of people. Their comfort, well-being, and choices always come first.
Today | Humans Helping Horses. Horses Helping Humans.
Today, Madison Grove Farm is a nonprofit equine rescue and sanctuary, supported entirely by donations and volunteers. We provide lifelong sanctuary care for horses, donkeys, and mules in need, while also helping other equines find suitable homes whenever possible.
Our programs welcome people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities, with experiences offered free of charge.
The farm continues to grow, but the original intention remains the same: to provide a place of safety, compassion, learning, and connection where both horses and humans have the opportunity to find something meaningful.