A new horse rescue and sanctuary is bringing hope to vulnerable horses around the Tucson area.
The Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, located just outside Tucson in Three Points, opened in January with a goal to rescue horses in need, irrespective of their circumstances — and it has successfully rescued 20 horses and placed 14 in their forever homes so far.
To continue their efforts, owner and founder Mary Houshiar is looking for volunteers.
The rescue and sanctuary, which spans across 3 acres of land, serves as a refuge for horses in need of rehabilitation and long-term care. It aims to offer not only physical recovery but emotional healing for horses that have suffered trauma. Houshiar works with animal professionals to seek the best care for their horses.
Mary Houshiar is the founder and owner of Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary.
“The horses we take in often come from dire situations — from hoarding cases to neglectful owners who can no longer care for them,” said Houshiar. “Our goal is to offer them a peaceful and loving environment where they can live out their days in safety, surrounded by the care they deserve.”
Rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming
Jewels of the Desert Rescue and Sanctuary is not only focused on rescuing horses, but also on rehabilitating them physically and emotionally — and it all started with one horse, Jewel, who was rescued by Houshiar shortly after the pandemic.
“When the pandemic hit, people were trying to get rid of their horses because the price of hay skyrocketed,” Houshiar said. “So I had someone reach out to me who took a picture of this horse about 15 minutes down the road from me and she was tied to a tree, all skin and bones. I took her in and she got rehabilitated and healthy and that’s what started the rescue.”
Jewel has since passed on but to honor her legacy, Houshiar named the rescue after her.
The rescue and sanctuary, which spans across 3 acres of land, serves as a refuge for horses in need of rehabilitation and long-term care.
Like the first rescue horse, many of the horses that arrive at Jewels of the Desert have suffered from malnutrition, untreated injuries or trauma from poor handling and abuse. Houshiar, along with local veterinarians and volunteers, work together to address each horse’s needs.
For some horses, rehabilitation may involve medical treatments and intensive care. For others, it may include behavioral therapy to help them overcome fear or aggression, Houshiar added.
While some horses may eventually be rehomed through adoption programs, the sanctuary emphasizes that its primary focus is to provide a healthy, loving home for all horses in need of rescue.
“We’re not just about finding new homes for these horses — we want to ensure that each horse has the right environment to thrive,” said Houshiar. “For some, that means they’ll spend the rest of their lives here with us, and that’s perfectly OK.”
Community support
Jewels of the Desert has been able to rescue 20 horses and find 14 horses their forever homes with the help of community veterinarians, volunteers and donations.
The Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, located just outside Tucson in Three Points, opened in January.
Houshiar said she appreciates the community coming together to help her with the everyday tasks like cleaning and grooming and even some of the bigger tasks like helping with horse adoption.
“It’s a different feeling when you have a horse that needs you and you get to nurse them back to health,” Houshiar said. “That sparkle in their eyes returns and that’s priceless.”
Volunteers are always encouraged to reach out via email or through social media. Houshiar needs more volunteers to help in the mornings and evenings with general upkeep and feeding of the horses.
Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary is currently seeking volunteers.
“We have a young horse that’s 2 or 3 years old, and if anyone wants to donate their time to help him learn his ground manners, he needs the help,” Houshiar added.
Houshiar encourages those who have a passion for helping those in need, specifically our animal friends, to volunteer because the need to rescue horses is there. She said that the horse rescue and sanctuary is only empty for about a week after the last horse gets adopted before the rescue and sanctuary fills up again.
A bright future ahead
As Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary finishes its first year, Houshiar remains optimistic about the future. They’ve already rescued a number of horses and have raised money to help the ones they currently house, yet still need help from the community.
“The need for a place like this has never been greater,” said Houshiar. “With so many horses in need, we’re just getting started, and we’re incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community.”
Sugar’s obsession with horses is the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. Yair Ben-Dor has more
For more information about Jewels of the Desert Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, including how to adopt, volunteer or donate, email Houshiar at JewelsOfTheDesertHorseRescueAndSanctuary@outlook.com or follow them on Facebook at tucne.ws/1rgy.
