to the sweet soul reading this: you are loved beyond measure by our father in heaven & your worth is not based on your performance! welcome to agape

Our Backstory

How Agape Equine Sanctuary Began
From the time she was a young girl, Toria dreamed of owning horses. Her best friend had horses, and every moment spent with them felt magical. Although she longed for a horse of her own, her family didn’t have the means, the property, or the inclination to make that dream a reality.

Throughout her teenage years, her family had chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and dogs. She supported several animal rights organization, and even became a vegetarian. She even took a riding class at Michigan State University, as an elective when she went away to college.

Later in life, as a single mom on a limited budget, owning horses or a farm was never a consideration. She often said that if she ever got wealthy, she would start a horse rescue — not to ride them, but simply to be with them, care for them and give them the forever homes they deserved, free from abuse and neglect.

In the spring of 2025, while helping her mom sell a house, Toria started looking at real estate listings. That’s when she found it: a horse farm in Holly, Michigan, priced almost exactly what she could hopefully get for her own home.

The dream that had lived quietly in her heart for decades suddenly felt possible. This time, she didn’t just dream — she took action.
She went to see the farm. As she pulled up, horses were standing outside the barn. The moment she saw them, tears filled her eyes. This could truly be a dream come true.

And it was. She made an offer, and it was accepted.

The very next month, she welcomed her first horse, Denny. Soon after came Doc, then Balaam the donkey, followed by Baran and Twist from New York, Victor and Yankee from Kentucky, then Thunder, and Goldie.

Toria believes deeply that when God presents an opportunity, you don’t hesitate — you jump in with both feet, receive the blessing, and use it to bless others.

That moment of stepping out in faith is how Agape Equine Sanctuary was born. What began as one woman’s lifelong dream has become a place of rescue for equines in need and a haven of hope and healing for trauma survivors.

Our Mission

Agape Equine Sanctuary 501(c)(3) rescues horses, ponies, and donkeys from abuse, neglect, and slaughter, giving them loving forever homes. Everything we do is guided by our motto—worth is not based on performance—and God’s agape love, which is sacrificial love expecting nothing in return.

Our outreach efforts aim to connect veterans, trauma survivors and special needs kids with an opportunity to experience peace, healing and acceptance. by sharing time with the animals and receiving love and prayer from our staff.

We pray that all who visit, volunteer, or donate to our ministry will experience hope, healing, and the unconditional love of our Father in Heaven.

Our Vision

The vision of Agape Equine Sanctuary 501(c)(3) is to become a beacon of rescue, restoration, and redemption.

We are committed to rescuing as many equine souls as possible from the pain of abuse, neglect, and slaughter, providing them with safe, loving forever homes where their worth is not based on performance.

Alongside this rescue work, we are building a strong, faith-centered outreach program that offers peace and healing to trauma survivors and special needs children, and veterans.

Our dream is to acquire additional land where we can construct more barns to house and care for even more rescued horses, ponies, and donkeys. On this expanded property, we will build tiny homes so homeless veterans can find stable housing, rediscover purpose through caring for the horses, and receive the transformative power of equine-assisted therapy.

In every aspect of our work — with the animals and with the people we serve — we seek to demonstrate God’s agape love: unconditional, sacrificial love that expects nothing in return. This is more than a sanctuary for equines; it is a place where broken lives are restored and hope is reborn.

To accomplish this bold vision, we need the generous help of many: financial support, donations of labor and materials, and dedicated volunteers who share our heart for both horses and healing.

Together, we can create a legacy of rescue, healing, and love that honors God and changes lives for generations to come.