We are an Australian horse welfare charity which endorses and actively supports the three Fs – friends, freedom and forage – and inculcates the five domains of animal welfare – nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental health – into everything we do.
Our mission is to rescue horses, prevent horse cruelty and promote horse welfare, horse-fair practice and a better understanding of horse ethology.
Our existence is driven by one purpose: to stamp out horse suffering in Australia. We work with horses, horse owners, communities, organisations and governments to help improve welfare standards and promote horse welfare across Australia.
The Naturaliste Sanctuary is an evidence-led organisation. This means it strives to ensure that all decisions are based on sound evidence and science in our approach to ethology, neuroscience, biomechanics and medical treatment.
Our mission is to rescue horses, prevent horse cruelty and promote horse welfare, horse-fair practice and a better understanding of horse ethology.
Our vision is to be Australia’s most respected and influential horse welfare organisation.
In everyday moments, our principles are fundamental, observable truths which define who we are as a charity and what is expected of us.
Our group of entities is designed to operate as one — a single organisation united by a strong set of values. We are equally committed to all sides of our mission: rescue and care, advocacy, welfare and volunteer programs which create meaningful and lasting change for horses all over Australia.
We act with integrity and apply ethical principles to decisions to build credibility and trust with donors, sponsors and the broader community.
Volunteering is essential to the ongoing operation and success of the Naturaliste Group. Our volunteers play a critical role in delivering the Naturaliste Group’s charitable objectives.
Our existence is driven by one purpose: to stamp out horse suffering in Australia. We work with horses, horse owners, communities, organisations and governments to help improve welfare standards and promote horse welfare across Australia.
Our commitment to ethics and integrity. When it comes to ethics and integrity, we aim for the highest bar. Our conduct and accountability means we build trust by always acting on our commitments. Maintaining that trust is our single most important responsibility.
Taking the future into our own hands. We not only take care of our people, both staff and volunteers, we take care of our planet and act on the change we want to see. Our vision connects commercial viability of the Naturaliste Sanctuary charity to sustainable development, with goals which strengthen both the commercial aspects of the charity and horse practice, both of which are focussed on ensuring a fairer world for horses.
Deliver lasting results. We are united by a common purpose which translates to leadership that shows direction and encourages action. Connection, collaboration and innovation, the value in exceeding expectations and delivering results which stand the test of time are the mechanisms we employ to promote a thriving charity and a horse fair world.
Efficient and effective execution. We employ a highly effective operating model and culture which operates in fast decision and execution (sprint) cycles. Through the strict adherence to our principles and operating protocols, we attract new supporters and diversify and rationalise our revenue streams.
Be evidence-led. We use objectivity, scientific validity and repeatability to make assessments about horse health and welfare and employ evidence-based, standard protocols for assessment of horse welfare as it relates to rescue, triage, recovery, rehabilitation and re-homing. In the Sanctuary, all staff are trained on evidence-based Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) manuals and checklists which assist rescue practitioners to efficiently deliver triage, recovery, rehabilitation and re-herding therapies to at-risk horses.
Promote a horse-fair world. Working with leading universities and horse welfare organisations, we develop the free-to-the-world Sanctuary app and website to deliver EBP protocols to horse welfare and rescue groups around the world.
Improve understanding of horse ethology. Establish a world-class ethology program and study centre operated on evidence-based principles. Create the preferred site for veterinary university and agricultural college internships and volunteering and build a global online hub for rescue and ethology principles and practice which promote a horse fair world.
Be a leader in horse welfare advocacy. We work to increase awareness of horse dumping, neglect and cruelty and to affect the reasons why horses enter rescues and slaughter yards. We also support efforts to improve compulsory, enforceable standards for the welfare and protection of all sport horses, including racehorses, and minimise or preferably eliminate the ‘wastage’ of racing horses.
Our mission is to rescue horses, prevent horse cruelty and promote horse welfare, horse-fair practice and a better understanding of horse ethology.
Our vision is to be Australia’s most respected and influential horse welfare organisation.
We are honest and trustworthy. We do what’s right.
Naturaliste Sanctuary will initially be an unknown brand. As a number of Australian charities have suffered reputational loss in the past 5 years, it’s essential to build credibility and trust with volunteers, donors, sponsors and the broader community.
We actively participate in the national Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register to ensure we act with integrity and apply ethical principles to decisions and actions which help achieve the Sanctuary’s objectives.
We give-to-receive and appeal to people’s principles and ideals:
Volunteering is essential to the ongoing operation and success of the Naturaliste Group. Our volunteers play a critical role in delivering the Naturaliste Group’s charitable objectives.
They volunteer in the Garden, the Habitat Corridor, at the Ethology Program, in the Naturaliste Shed, on Harvest Days and, most importantly, in the Sanctuary.
The Margaret River area abounds with successful, retired professionals with a plethora of skills attractive to the Naturaliste Group’s ambitions, and we encourage them to contribute through ongoing effort, one-off engagements and large-scale initiatives.
Our commitment to volunteers means our programs are rewarding, outcome-focussed, well-run and interesting.
Volunteers programs:
Our volunteers programs provide advancement opportunities for both paid and volunteer staff across the Naturaliste Group.
We encourage members of the community to:
The Naturaliste Group rescues at-risk horses and conducts horse welfare advocacy. We work to promote and protect horses across the full spectrum of the equine world, including horses in need from sport and leisure endeavours and horses used in the racing industry.
We contribute to helping solve the unwanted and abandoned animal issue within Australia through education and advocacy, strengthening the horse-human relationship using care, research, education and influence.
Located on the Naturaliste Coast, 250 km south of Perth, horses are rescued, rehabilitated and released into natural herds where they are used for ethological (behavioural) research.
All horse rescue, welfare and advocacy work are funded from profits generated by all Naturaliste Group entities:
Worried about a horse? If you’re concerned about a horse’s welfare, you can report this to us online. We’ll get back to you immediately.
