A "Hospice for Horses"

Jasper was found at an online auction in Texas, advertised as a "kid-safe" horse and still being ridden despite his condition. When founder Bri Graf placed the winning bid of just $25, no kill buyers were interested—they knew he'd never survive the grueling 22-hour transport to slaughter facilities in Mexico.

A veterinary evaluation revealed the heartbreaking truth: Jasper should have been humanely euthanized six months earlier. Years of malnutrition, lameness, and severe neglect had taken their toll. In that moment, The Jasper Project was born—dedicated to ensuring no horse suffers as Jasper did.

Every week across America, horses like Jasper arrive at auctions with no veterinary care, no farrier services, and only the most basic needs met. Many die from prolonged suffering, left on the ground until rendering services collect enough bodies to make a pickup worthwhile.

Since horse slaughter was banned in the United States in 2009, an estimated 90% of unwanted horses end up sold to kill buyers who transport them on horrific journeys to Mexico or Canada. Unlike domestic animals, horses cannot be surrendered to local shelters, and legitimate rescues are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of need and the astronomical costs of equine care.

Traditional rescues struggle to fund cases like Jasper's because there's no adoption fee to recover costs and no "happy ending" to share with donors. Yet these horses deserve compassion in their final moments.

The Jasper Project monitors auctions nationwide to identify horses in the most desperate condition. When we place a winning bid, each horse receives:

• Professional veterinary evaluation to determine if rehabilitation is possible
• Compassionate end-of-life care including abundant food, clean water, treats, and most importantly—love
• Dignified, humane euthanasia when suffering cannot be relieved
• A peaceful final chapter after a lifetime of neglect

We're also building a proactive program to keep horses out of the slaughter pipeline entirely. Through partnerships with local rescues and sale barns, we provide:

• Owner education on the true costs and responsibilities of horse ownership
• Proper care and nutrition guidance
• Horsemanship and riding instruction

Every horse deserves what Jasper couldn't have—a peaceful end surrounded by kindness rather than fear. While we cannot save every horse from this system, we can ensure that those in our care know comfort, dignity, and love in their final days.

The Jasper Project exists because no sentient being should suffer alone, forgotten, or afraid. We are their voice, their sanctuary, and their final gift of compassion.