Tucked into the rolling green hills and fertile soils of Tepusquet Canyon lies a horse sanctuary where lucky animals are given a second chance at life.

The Animali Farm has rescued more than 1,200 horses from Canada ranches since 1999 and placed them in loving homes across the country, including nearly 40 foals - most of whom were adopted into new families Dec. 18. If not for the farm's efforts, many of those foals would have been sold for horse meat.

“This is so fun because we've worked so hard to save these babies lives before they were even born,” said Jennifer Johns, who owns the 20-acre farm with her domestic partner Cheryl Forbes.

Crowded around the hay feeding bin as a pack, the wild horses displayed thick and dirty winter coats - a product of the frigid winter temperatures of the Canada ranches they called home for the first six to eight months of their lives, Johns said.

Anza resident Dani Lloyd met her pure black foal L.J. Monday night for the first time and said it was an amazing moment to touch her baby. Although L.J. came into the farm as a wild animal who was fearful of people, in less than a day, Lloyd was able to rub his back and hug him.

“It happened much faster than I though it would,” Lloyd said. “It's such a neat feeling.”

After viewing pictures of L.J.'s father, Lloyd said she was eager to adopt his offspring and the fact that she was able to save him was an added bonus.

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At another pasture, Deanna Drake of Lompoc watched patiently as a red female foal was introduced to her new family. Drake will spend the next three months training the wild animal, with the goal of calming her down enough for doctors to examine her and put on her shoes.

“I'm excited about her,” Drake said, before explaining that there is a good chance the young horse will eventually grow comfortable around people.

These lucky horses come from Canadian ranchers who raised pregnant mares because a chemical in their urine was used to make Premarin, a drug prescribed to women going through menopause. The foals born to the mares are sold at auctions, and while they may go to families as pets, an equal number may also be sold to slaughterhouses.

Unfortunately, the ranchers typically use the money from the sale of the babies to pay for the mothers' hay and don't really care where the funding comes from, Johns said.

Premarin is no longer widely used to treat menopause symptoms because research has linked the drug to cancer, so Johns said they are now working hard to find homes for all of the remaining horses who live on the ranches, before they shut down.

Once that task is complete, Johns said it's time for a much-needed vacation.

“I'd love to take a break,” Johns said. “I'm working 16 hours a day to put myself out of business.”

With only an estimated 18 months left of adopting out horses, Johns said it's her dream to start a riding program to teach people about horses, because of the “amazing connection” between humans and the animals.

In the meantime, the Animali Farm is in need of volunteers to help care for the horses. Also, they desperately are looking for somebody who could donate the use of a tractor to help move manure piles.

Plenty of horses, of all ages and breeds, remain available for adoption, Johns said.

One local group was able to help the farm in a big way in November by raising money and awareness for the horses in need. Ride Nipomo, a community group dedicated to preserving equestrians, raised $1,230 for the Animali Farm, which paid for a significant amount of hay, Johns said.

“Their effort was just amazing,” she said.

Cherie Dodds of Nipomo spearheaded the effort and convinced every teacher at Arroyo Grande High School to donate at least $1 to the cause.

“I'm really happy that good things are happening for these animals,” Dodds said. “That's my thing in life - trying to make a better place for animals. I just feel like that's my purpose.”

For more information about adoption or volunteer opportunities, visit www.theanimali

farm.com or call 938-0174.

Randi Block can be reached at 347-4580 or rblock@santamaria

times.com.

Dec. 23, 2006