A peaceful horse sanctuary for retired champions and the children who visit them

Aura Farm is a nonprofit horse sanctuary in Virginia offering visits, on-farm cottage stays, and donations that together support the lifelong care of rescued horses.

A peaceful horse sanctuary for retired champions and the children who visit them

Aura Farm is a nonprofit horse sanctuary in Virginia offering visits, on-farm cottage stays, and donations that together support the lifelong care of rescued horses.

Our Mission

As a nonprofit, Aura Farm exists to care for horses who can no longer compete or work, and to offer their calm presence as a source of comfort and connection for children in foster care and other vulnerable situations. Income from our breeding program and cottage rental, together with donations and sponsorships, goes directly back into feeding, housing, and caring for the horses.

Honor the Horses

Providing dignified care and peaceful retirement for horses who have given so much.

Create a Place of Peace

Maintaining a sanctuary where tranquility and natural beauty provide healing.

Share Healing Presence

Connecting children with the gentle, grounding spirit of our horses.

Three bay horses with prominent white blazes stand behind a wooden fence in a green pasture at Aura Farm.

About Aura Farm

Aura Farm is a small, nonprofit horse sanctuary located in the heart of Virginia.

We provide a safe, calm home for retired and rescued horses, including a retired champion who now spends his days in gentle, open pastures.

Through horse rescue, foster‑kid farm visits, a selective breeding program, and a small on‑site cottage that sleeps six, we combine daily sanctuary care with experiences that allow children, families, and supporters to connect with our horses.

Three bay horses with prominent white blazes stand behind a wooden fence in a green pasture at Aura Farm.
A full-body photograph of Hella Cool Fella horse with a black mane and tail, wearing a halter, walking from left to right at Aura Farm in a lush green pasture next to a wooden fence. The background shows rolling hills and trees under a blue sky.

Featured Horse: Heza Cool Fella

At the heart of Aura Farm’s herd is our retired champion stallion, Heza Cool Fella.

After a successful career in the show pen, this 16.1‑hand buckskin now enjoys a slower, thoughtful life in our Virginia pastures. His steady presence and soft expression are often the first things visitors notice.

For many children and guests, simply watching Heza Cool Fella graze or walk quietly along the fence line becomes a moment of unexpected calm.

Did You Know?

Horses like Heza Cool Fella give so much of themselves in training and competition. At Aura Farm, their “second career” is simply being themselves—calm, kind, and deeply grounding for the people who spend time with them.

A full-body photograph of Hella Cool Fella horse with a black mane and tail, wearing a halter, walking from left to right at Aura Farm in a lush green pasture next to a wooden fence. The background shows rolling hills and trees under a blue sky.

Featured Horse: Heza Cool Fella

At the heart of Aura Farm’s herd is our retired champion stallion, Heza Cool Fella.

After a successful career in the show pen, this 16.1‑hand buckskin now enjoys a slower, thoughtful life in our Virginia pastures. His steady presence and soft expression are often the first things visitors notice.

For many children and guests, simply watching Heza Cool Fella graze or walk quietly along the fence line becomes a moment of unexpected calm.

Did You Know?

Horses like Heza Cool Fella give so much of themselves in training and competition. At Aura Farm, their “second career” is simply being themselves—calm, kind, and deeply grounding for the people who spend time with them.

The Farm Cottage

Set quietly on the land at Aura Farm, our on-site cottage offers a peaceful place to slow down and experience daily life at the sanctuary.

Surrounded by open pastures and gentle farm rhythms, the cottage invites guests to wake to calm mornings, fresh air, and the quiet presence of the animals nearby.

Staying on the farm offers a simple, meaningful way to connect with nature while directly supporting the care of the horses and animals who live here. Every visit helps sustain the sanctuary, allowing us to continue providing a safe, permanent home rooted in patience, consistency, and care.

Programs & Services

Horse Rescue & Sanctuary Care

We provide lifelong, high‑quality care for retired, rescued, and at‑risk horses. Each horse receives individualized attention, proper nutrition, veterinary and farrier care, and spacious pastures to roam.

Foster Kid Farm Tours

In partnership with foster homes and child‑focused organizations, Aura Farm hosts quiet, small‑group visits. Children can watch the horses, learn basic horsemanship, and experience the calm of open fields and country life.

Selective Breeding (By Consideration Only)

In limited situations, Aura Farm may consider breeding on a case-by-case basis with a focus on health, temperament, and responsible placement. Any related proceeds support long-term sanctuary care and the horses who live here.

Cottage Rental – Sleeps 6

Our cozy 3‑bedroom, 2‑bath cottage on the farm sleeps up to six guests. Visitors wake up to horses in the pasture and peaceful country mornings. Stays directly support our nonprofit mission and the daily care of our horses.

Horse Sponsorships

Support the ongoing care of a specific Aura Farm horse through simple monthly giving. Sponsors receive a digital sponsor packet and periodic updates, and their contribution goes directly to feed, veterinary and farrier care, and daily sanctuary needs.

Pasture Partner

$25/month

Supports a horse’s daily care. Includes a digital sponsor packet and quarterly updates

Care Supporter

$75/month

Provides additional support for a horse’s daily care. Includes digital sponsor packet and monthly updates.

Feed & Farrier Sponsor

$150/month

Provides the highest level of support for a horse’s daily care. Includes digital sponsor packet and monthly updates.

One-Time Gift

Donate any amount

A one-time donation supporting the horses’ daily and ongoing care. Includes a digital sponsor packet and periodic updates.

Our Farm Family

Aura Farm cares for a small herd of horses and other farm animals, each with their own history and personality. Some are retired competitors; others are rescues who needed a quiet, permanent home. All are treated as family.

Heza Cool Fella

The Retired Champion

Once a decorated show horse, now a calm leader in the pasture and a favorite presence for visitors.

Three Generations

Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter

A rare three generation family living together at Aura Farm, sharing a calm bond across generations.

Matilda

The Gentle Heifer

Arrived at Aura Farm when she was just a few hours old, Matilda has been cared for as part of the farm family ever since.

A photograph of three distinct horses—a chestnut with a flaxen mane on the left, a black horse in the center, and a palomino on the right—standing together behind a rustic wooden fence in a dry, golden-brown grassy pasture under a partly cloudy blue sky.

A Safe & Quiet Place for Foster Children

Aura Farm partners with foster homes and community organizations to offer children a rare kind of visit — one that is calm, unhurried, and centered around the simple presence of horses in nature.

Visits to the farm are not about riding lessons or busy activities. They are about:

  • Watching horses graze and interact in the pasture

  • Learning about gentle horsemanship and basic horse care

  • Walking along the fence lines and noticing small details in nature

  • Experiencing a place where everything moves a little more slowly

These visits are made possible by the ongoing support of donors, sponsors, our breeding program, and guests who stay in the farm cottage.

Note: For privacy and safety, Aura Farm is not open to the general public. Visits are scheduled through approved partners and foster-care organizations.

A photograph of three distinct horses—a chestnut with a flaxen mane on the left, a black horse in the center, and a palomino on the right—standing together behind a rustic wooden fence in a dry, golden-brown grassy pasture under a partly cloudy blue sky.

How You Can Help

Aura Farm relies on donations and community support to provide lifelong care

for our horses and to keep our gates open for visiting children.

Make a Donation

Support our daily operations and

provide essential care for our horses.

Sponsor a Horse

Provide ongoing support for the care of a specific horse in our herd and receive occasional updates from the farm.

Partner With Us

Explore partnership opportunities for foster‑care organizations, nonprofits, and community groups.

Visit & Cottage

Aura Farm is located in rural Virginia, within easy driving distance of

surrounding communities. Because we prioritize the privacy of children and the safety of our horses, all visits are scheduled in advance.

In addition to scheduled foster‑group visits, Aura Farm offers limited farm stays in our on‑site cottage (sleeps six). Stays are by reservation only and help support the care of our sanctuary horses.

Aura Farm · Horse Sanctuary · Virginia

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Nonprofit Horse Sanctuary · Virginia

Aura Farm is a registered nonprofit organization. Contributions may be tax-deductible as allowed by law.

© 2026 Aura Farm. All rights reserved.