Today we’re excited to spend some quality time with four-legged friends who have found a new lease on life. We’re at The Missed Path Sanctuary – exploring a place where second chances are their first order of business.

This horsey oasis in Candler, North Carolina got its start in 2020 when founders Marc DiFrancia and Mike Cooper began providing a safe haven for horses, offering transformative experiences for humans, and developing programs that foster connection, leadership, and healing.

When you’re here it’s a chance to meet the herd, wander the property, enjoy refreshments, and spend some quiet time with the horses and nature. There’s no agenda and no pressure — just an easy way to experience The Sanctuary and the work that happens here.

That work involves caring for these beautiful animals – and helping to restore the bond that has existed for a really long time between humans and horses. They’ve worked alongside us, carried us into battle, helped us to farm, and provided transportation, all in a relationship that has spanned millennia.

There’s a reason why equine interactions are so powerful – horses possess an innate ability to mirror our emotions and respond to our unspoken cues. Kids can come here for Reading with Rescues for a day of crafts, snacks, and quiet magic with these gentle beings.

Other events include regular yoga classes, art meetups, and more. They also welcome volunteers to come and help out with horse care – so if you’re a former farm kid looking to reconnect with some childhood memories and a pleasing sense of purpose – this might be a place for you as well.

From educational workshops that teach team building and leadership, to wellness sessions that use horses to help individuals heal, all of the programs have a lasting impact.

Each initiative is built with intention, ensuring that every person who walks through the gates finds something meaningful to engage with… and leaves with something valuable – whether it’s a new perspective, a renewed sense of purpose, or simply the joy of spending time with these incredible animals.