STAT Horse Sanctuary looks for property to relocate

Pattie Roberts cares for older horses and other animals at the STAT Horse Sanctuary. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

A horse sanctuary that provides support animals for special needs persons, veterans and seniors is looking for suitable property to relocate in the near future.

Pattie Roberts, the founder and director of STAT Horse Sanctuary, says she has been informed by her landlord that the property she has rented for 10 years will soon be sold, necessitating the move of the animals.

“We’re looking for five-plus acres with a home,” Roberts said. “It would be nice if it was fenced. I don’t want to move out of the area. I’ve got volunteers that this is their sanity. We’re totally staffed by volunteers and supported by donations.”

Roberts said the sanctuary is as therapeutic for her adult volunteers as it is for the many visitors who come to interact with the horses. She also houses pigs, goats and chickens on her farm on Scott Road. It all started 17 years ago when Roberts agreed to take in some endangered Arabian horses. Since then, many older and ailing animals have been donated to the sanctuary.

I’m actually excited about [the move],” Roberts said. “We’re going to look for a property that’s maybe a better facility for us. We’re morphing out of what we’ve been until now. We’ve been a sanctuary, but what we really do is work with special needs, the veterans, senior citizens. It’s not about rescuing the animals. It’s about sharing the animals with the people.

“I’ve got an exciting group of gals around me who have some exciting ideas for making changes. We’re going to try do all that as long as we’re moving.”

Roberts said she belongs to three Chambers of Commerce and has relationships with several realtors, but it’s a challenge to find the kind of property she needs.

“We want to do a lease option,” she said. “If it needs some fixing up, we can take several years to work on it and raise money through a capital funds campaign and pay cash.

“We’re going to back out of the sanctuary and the animal rescue, because I have plenty already, and focus more on what we really do, which is share that unconditional love people and animals have for each other. I’m working with a couple of licensed family therapists in creating a parental team bonding, a six-week class. I’m still going to do everything I do basically for free.”

Most of the horses on the property are too old to be ridden but may have little wrong other than their age. Roberts hosts several special events where visitors come to pet the animals and take pictures with them. Her service is something she simply wants to move, not take away from the public.

Anyone with property available for such a lease option arrangement is asked to contact Roberts via email at stathorsesanctuary@gmail.com.