Nestled on 100 peaceful acres in South Granville, Prince Edward Island, Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary Inc. is more than a haven for horses — it’s a sanctuary for people, too.
Recognized in Prince Edward Island’s Book of Musts as “One of the Places You Must See on the Island,” Handibear Hills is a registered non-profit horse rescue dedicated to giving abandoned and neglected horses a forever home. Here, every horse and pony has a story — and a second chance.
But the sanctuary’s mission extends beyond rescue. The herd plays an essential role in teaching horsemanship, stable management, and life skills to both children and adults. Through hands-on experience, participants learn leadership, empathy, confidence, and responsibility — lessons that reach far beyond the barn.
At Handibear Hills, the connection between horses and humans is transformative. Whether through education, rehabilitation, or quiet companionship, this unique sanctuary offers a space where both people and animals can find healing, purpose, and belonging.
A bit of Sanctuary History and our ties to the Standardbred Industry.
- Our 1st Standardbred adoptee was an unnamed “Mayhew Runabout” she foaled and gave us J. D. Liberty. Then came Anthony Breeze.
- The 1st Standardbred we trained to saddle was Chocolate Supreme.
- Krista Cole donated her two pets H.B. Dandy and H. B. Street Dancer.
- Stavert Heustis donated “Jeannie S” a 3 year old that did not like to train. The story was she would go out to the track and just dawdle. After a glorious riding career at the age of 15 she was bred every 2nd year and gave the Trailblazers Horse Club foals to train. The youth have raised 3 orphan foals that went on to race and trained 27 Standardbreds to saddle in the last 35 years.
- We still have Brilliant Art ( 18 yrs old), Northwinds Bunny (17 yrs old), Obie, (20 yrs old) Fiddler Fred, aka Dawson (21 yrs old) We tell him to be good because Mark MacDonald is his brother. and Honey, the Drop off Mare (18 yrs old) who is off site as a companion.