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rescued horses & sacred sisterhood

together we heal

  • Presence

    Morning birdsong, sunshine, soft grass, sacred land, sisterhood and horses. Our hour together will ground us with the earth, quiet our busy mind, and shift into the body, through pranayama, meditation, somatic healing + intentional movement. This connection of women & beautiful horses will be a salve to the soul. No longer stuck in the past, nor worried about the future, together we will heal in present moment. The natural world will be our guide, and the horses + women, our nourishment.

  • Connection

    why connect with horses? Horses are pure magic! Their magnetic field is 10x larger than ours, so their healing energy is encompassing and extensive. horses are highly intuitive, and can feel our heartbeat and our calm or stressful energy. They see our true selves, beneath the armor and walls we’ve built for protection. and remind us that we are lovable after all we've survived. Connection and nourishing touch is healing for ourselves as well as for the horses, creating a beautiful symbiosis. They are our nervous system whisperers!

  • Healing

    horses hold tension, stress, heaviness, and trauma patterns in their body the same way we do. and like us, when the energy in these areas are moved, the breath expands, muscles soften, and their nervous system is shifted toward safety. through our similarities, we can heal together with earthing, somatic techniques, yoga, pranayama, grounding meditations + sensory scans. Together we transform, find freedom, come back home to our true selves, and honor our presence in the natural world.

Soul stride Sanctuary

women coming together with rescued horses for our next chapter in healing through yoga, somatic therapy, nature, sisterhood, and soulful connection

two nervous systems choosing softness over survival create a love that heals ~~

two nervous systems choosing softness over survival create a love that heals ~~

Yoga + Horses will return spring 🌸 2027

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Join us for a beautiful morning outside in the grass, warm sun upon our skin, birdsong, and our horses neighing nearby, as we reconnect to the sacred earth, in sisterhood, and with our herd. We will slow down from our busy lives, move intentionally
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our unique experience :

Join us at Soulstride Sanctuary for an outdoor yoga experience held just beyond the pasture, where the quiet presence of our rescued horses becomes part of the practice. As you move through breath and gentle flow, you’ll be held by open land, fresh air, birdsong, trees, and the soft, grounding energy of the herd nearby.

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This is not just yoga.

it’s a moment to step out of the noise of everyday life

and into something more spacious, more connected, more real.

*

You may find your breath deepening without effort.
Your body softening without force.
Your mind quieting simply because it finally feels safe to.

This is nervous system reclamation!

*

✨ The Experience ✨

  • feminine energy welcome and sacred earth connection

  • 60-minute all-levels yoga practice guided with intention and care

  • I am donating my time as the yoga instructor, so no payment will go to me, only to the horses!

  • a peaceful outdoor setting with our new horse friends just beyond the pasture fence

  • nature therapy to remind us that we are always connected with the natural world

  • sensory scan meditation to shift from our busy mind into presence in our body

  • pranayama breathwork to de-stress from the day + week

  • slow, grounding, intentional movement to support your nervous system, take up space, open fascia, reduce inflammation and pain

  • explore somatic healing techniques to bring awareness to locked trauma patterns repeatedly held in specific spaces in the body

  • move stagnant energy to reduce repeated trauma patterns held in the body

  • Come home to your true self again

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Meet your new friends!

  • Nyx

    Nyx is an approximately 17-year-old Standardbred cross who likely spent much of his life pulling carts within the Amish community.

    He carries himself like a leader — not through aggression, but through quiet presence. In our herd, Nyx is the steady top horse. Others look to him, and he takes that role seriously.

    Because of that strong sense of responsibility, he can become nervous when members of his herd are moved away from him. This is natural herd behavior, and we are intentionally working to build his confidence so he can remain calm and regulated even when others shift around him.

    When he doesn’t feel the weight of leadership, a softer side emerges.

    Nyx loves one-on-one attention. He’ll back himself up to you from across the barn for enthusiastic “booty scratches,” and when he’s in a calm, regulated state, he’ll gently groom you back in return. Beneath his stoic exterior lives a surprisingly goofy and affectionate soul.

    Nyx is expected to be available for adoption in Spring 2026 to the right family — one that appreciates both his strength and his sensitivity.

    His adoption application will be posted here on his profile when the time comes. If you’ve already fallen for this handsome, steady man, keep an eye out.

    Sponsor Nyx

  • Barnaby

    Barnaby is a 2-year-old Belgian gelding and the very first rescue to arrive at Soulstride Sanctuary. When he first came to us, he was extremely cautious — nervous, unsure, and often avoidant. But with time, consistency, and gentle support, Barnaby has blossomed. Now, we can’t step into the herd without him walking straight over for a visit. ​ He adores neck scratches, carries just about any object he can find in his mouth, and loves tapping people’s clothing with his lips to explore the different sounds they make. Curious and playful, he’s discovering the world, and his own confidence, one day at a time. ​ While he is already one of the largest horses at the sanctuary, he is still growing into his big draft body. ​ He is receiving the highest level of thoughtful care — made possible by this community. If you feel connected to Barnaby’s journey, consider becoming one of his guardians and helping support his continued growth, comfort, and confidence.

    Sponsor Barnaby

  • Copper

    Copper is estimated to be 17–18 years old and, according to our veterinarian, is likely a Missouri Fox Trotter. He is truly a people’s horse, deeply drawn to human connection and happiest when he’s receiving attention. ​ He especially loves head scratches and will lean right into you for them. Occasionally, he forgets just how big he is and may enthusiastically rub on his favorite humans with more affection than finesse, a gentle reminder that 1,000+ pounds of love requires awareness on both ends. Within the herd, Copper can be a bit socially awkward at times, still navigating horse relationships with his own unique rhythm. He came to Soulstride through an owner who lovingly recognized it was time to transition his care and management, a decision we deeply respect. ​ Copper requires thoughtful upkeep to support arthritis and general soreness, particularly in his left front leg. With consistent care, he continues to enjoy comfort, connection, and a steady pace of sanctuary life. ​ If you feel called to support Copper’s ongoing care, consider becoming one of his guardians.

    Sponsor Copper

  • Augie

    Click Here

in loving memory of our beautiful friends…

Daisy was our most beloved matriarch of our herd, a beautiful Belgian draft mare, over 20 years old. As a Belgian draft mare, she likely spent her life working as a tool for humans, likely plowing fields and producing multiple foals along the way. At 17.3 hands (71 inches at the withers), she was a towering presence; steady, grounded, and unmistakably strong. Despite a lifetime of labor, Daisy carried herself with quiet grace along with incredible pain in her bones and muscles. Around humans, she was calm, gentle, and deeply sweet. Within the herd, she held a tolerant but firm presence. She took young Barnaby under her wing, a steady, motherly role model. ​She endured pain quietly, as so many working horses do. Daisy had given her life in service, until her rescue in January of 2026, living a life of peace and joy, finally, at Soulstride. Her pain continued and eventually worsened, and she was given a peaceful release in September. She is finally free from pain, and was so fortunate to have known and felt love and comfort the last year of her life. I personally adored Daisy, and had a strong connection with her. She will always be the most beloved mare I’ll ever know and I will cherish her the most. Rest peacefully, sweet Daisy.

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in loving memory of our beautiful friends…

Juniper will be so greatly missed at soulstride sanctuary. Her life was saved in June 2026 at an auction, from further abuse, starvation, and overwork. she was once a racehorse, and mother. for 2 months, her health and spirit improved, and she finally had ample nutrition, freedom to move on her own terms, and saw, felt, and knew love from people, and soul stride’s beautiful herd. she was completely adored & receiving ongoing care. Sadly, with the onset of a week of storms & flooding, she succumbed to illness. rest peacefully, sweet Junie.

  • connection with horses

    We intentionally begin with post-class interaction to create a calm, respectful environment for both guests and horses, allowing presence and safety to lead the experience.

    one on one somatic healing sessions with horses who are also healing from trauma, abuse, overworked past, and or neglect. just as we are releasing tension and trauma patterns in the body, so are our beautiful horse friends.

    intimate connection with horse’s healing nature and soul. Their magnetic field is five times larger than a human’s, so they are able to feel the vibrations of our heart rate, our stress or calm state, and in turn, our heart rate instantly calms when we enter their field.

    at the end of our connection, we’ve shed our armor, the layers that daily life can accumulate on our mind+ body.

    we return home to our truest, purest selves

  • weather alerts

    🌧️ What if it Rains?

    We will hold class rain or shine! If it rains, we will hold class inside the barn area. Please bring closed-toe shoes to enter the barn. if cancellations occur, you will be notified by text or email.

  • soulstride mission

    Every class supports the heart of Soulstride Sanctuary: rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for horses while creating space for human healing and reconnection.

    Your presence here becomes part of something bigger, a shared exchange of care between people, animals, and the land.

    🤍 Your Contribution

    This is a donation-based offering with a suggested minimum contribution of $35. If you feel called to give more, your generosity directly supports the care of the herd and the sanctuary's growth.

  • soulstride sanctuary, nonprofit rescue

    Soulstride Sanctuary is a nonprofit equine rescue and education program devoted to giving draft horses a second chance and creating a place where horses and humans can heal together.

    We rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome draft horses who have been overworked, neglected, or at risk of slaughter, offering them the care, nourishment, and compassion they deserve. Some horses find lifelong sanctuary here, while others are adopted into loving homes that share our values of respect and stewardship.

  • a place for community

    Beyond rescue, Soulstride Sanctuary is also a space for connection and learning. Through equine-assisted learning, community programs, and nature-based education, we invite people of all ages to rediscover empathy, confidence, and peace through their relationships with horses and the land.

    Our mission is rooted in compassion, stewardship, and connection, building a sanctuary that nurtures healing for both humans and animals. Every act of support, every hour volunteered, and every dollar donated helps us take another stride toward a world where kindness leads the way.

  • “Let them be who they are, so that we may be who we are.” ~Carloyn Resnick

  • horses are our primary, non-predatory domesticated companions. because they are herd animals, their nervous systems work just like ours, and crave connection. Horses tune in to others to feel safe. presence = safety.

  • horses have a huge healing energetic field around them, up to 30 ft in fact! simply walking within this distance can create an instant change in our nervous systems states. horses' hearts are 10x larger than ours, between 8-12 lbs, sometimes as big as 22 lbs, while human hearts are 8 to 12 ounces. when hearts align, we find coherence, energies heal.

  • horses epitomize a ventral vagal state. this is safety. When near horses, notice where in your body you feel a release, the jaw softens, our shoulders melt down from the ears, the muscles around the spine relax. horses help lower our cortisol levels, and increase serotonin, dopamine, + endorphins. we begin to feel lighter, releasing everything heavy we've been carrying.

  • horses meet us exactly where we are. they are honest, curious, nonjudgmental, sentient beings who reflect our inner being back to us. they mirror our true selves, who we actually are underneath the masks we wear, the armor & walls we've built for protection. They don't see those, they see us.

  • horses look past our current chaos, our backgrounds, our trauma, everything we've survived, they see our purest self, even when we can't. simply by wanting to be near us, they remind us that we are loveable. Horses speak in energy, from the heart.

  • horses love unconditionally, are loyal, and give safe spaces for us to see everything we've neglected, buried, and built a wall around. this is why we shed tears doing simple acts like stroking or brushing a horse, because our walls are coming down. we are letting go of the past, we are not worried about the future. we are truly present in the moment.

  • we don't want horses to hold our pain, because they have their own. instead we want to create a mutual healing experience, a movement of energy between us, effortless connection without control.

  • horses are embodied essence of respect, peace, and freedom. together, a natural unfolding of love occurs. we learn to trust again, to let go, to love ourselves. when horses love us enough to guide them toward healing themselves too, that is a precious gift.

FAQs

Where is soulstride sanctuary?

4347 S 500 E Middletown, IN, near Anderson

how long is a yoga CLASS ?

our yoga classes are 60 minutes. please arrive 10-15 min early. we will connect with the horses after class for healing time as you wish.

Where will we be practicing yoga?

we will either be out in the pasture in the grass, under a tree with the horses nearby, or inside the barn if raining.

what should i wear?

our yoga class is a gentle, slow flow, and will be outdoors. dress comfortably, allowing for movement, and for the weather, around 10am during the summer months, a hoodie if chilly.

what should i bring?

bring your yoga mat or beach towel, * barefoot or socks on our mats * water bottle, sunscreen, and closed toe shoes for walking inside the barn, and out into the pasture for horse connection time!

Im nervous around horses, do i have to touch a horse?

No, you do not have to touch the horses. We were all nervous around horses at one point in our lives. Horses have a beautiful, large magnetic energy field surrounding them, so you will feel their healing power without physical connection. One day, you might be able to touch one, and be forever changed!

How will horses HELP me?

horses crave connection, so their nervous systems are very similar to ours. they see past our walls and armor we’ve built for protection, and mirror our true selves back to us. they are highly intuitive, and can feel our calm or stressed states. they send their soothing energy to us, and can align with our heart rhythm, leading to feelings of calm and well-being.

I don’t like crowds, Can I schedule a private yoga class?

Yes! Absolutely! Email sasha at Solandlotusyoga@gmail.com and we can SCHEDULE a 1:1 class tailored just for you!