The sanctuary is a permanent home for the rescues, with a 12-stable barn and 68 acres of pasture in Chattahoochee Hills, a city southwest of Atlanta.
These horses have primarily been tossed aside by racing ventures or are in another crisis state. Some were saved moments before being traded to the horse meat industry.
During the weekdays, Astrop is an interior designer with client projects that include celebrity homes, residential model homes and hospitality design. She co-founded Buckhead’s Minotti by HA Modern mono-brand showroom in the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.
At her horse sanctuary, Astrop is amazed at how often her South Fulton community shows up to help.
A fireman and his son, who has autism, come to repair fences. A veterinarian visits on her days off to check the equines for free. A therapist shows up to groom and pet the horses and soak in the farm’s beauty.
“It’s so beautiful to witness. People are so drawn to these horses,” said Astrop. “When you’re in their presence, they’re so big and strong yet so gentle.”
Trauma therapist Elizabeth Davis lives near Zorro’s Crossing and visits often. She said the horses are kind and have a genuine curiosity about humans. They want to interact.
“When they see you coming, they run to the fence,” Davis said. “They want to be loved on, petted, groomed and interacted with.
“There are many times I’ve gone out there and laid my head on one of their shoulders, soaked up the sun with them, and had moments of reflection that were so peaceful and relaxing.”
The sanctuary was named after Zorro, a hippotherapy horse the Astrop family came to love during therapy sessions to help their son, who has special needs.
When the horse was going to be retired, the Astrop family adopted Zorro and realized many more horses needed a sanctuary to live out their senior and retired years in harmony among rolling pastures.
“We were getting back into nature, and it was changing our lives,” Astrop said. “All of a…
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