It is the mission of the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina, Inc. to make the world a better place for horses through education, rescue, and rehabilitation.  HPS provides a sanctuary of last resort for unwanted, neglected, and abused equines.

Founded in 1991 by Joan B. Benson and incorporated in 1999, HPS continues to reach out and to grow.  HPS is a fully incorporated 501(c)3, approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit organization.

The Horse Protection Society maintains the first equine sanctuary in North Carolina to provide permanent retirement care for neglected equines.  The sanctuary is available for people who can no longer afford to care for their equines.  Rocking Horse Ranch has housed as many as 40 horses.  The need is so great that plans have to be made to find a larger facility and funds raised for its purchase.

HPS has trained investigators that perform on-going abuse and neglect investigations with the goal of educating the owners in proper care of their horses.  We only prosecute abuse cases when absolutely necessary.  When the owners are not interested in the humane care of their horse, we offer to take the horse for rehabilitation.