LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville couple is inviting people to hug the horses at their animal sanctuary, rather than watching horses race at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Becki and Greg Streif say their Hug a Horse Day event is all about showing people a different perspective with the Kentucky Derby.
The couple runs Tribe Animal Sanctuary in Louisville. It looks like a large farm with every farm animal imaginable, however the cows aren’t being milked, the chickens aren’t laying eggs for breakfast and the pigs won’t be used for their meat. They’ve all been saved from that fate.
After learning what happens to many animals like those on their property, the Streifs quit eating meat a decade ago. Eventually, they went full vegan, then embarked on a journey to rescue as many animals as they could and teach others.
“If we invite them out and they have bonds with these animals and they understand that they are sentient beings that experience fear and love and joy and sadness, that they are here for another reason other than food… we can’t take them all, but for the ones we take, we make a difference,” Becki said.
Right now, the couple has 107 animals at the sanctuary. Many of them have health issues. When they come to the vegan farm young or very sick, they stay inside the Streifs’ home.
“The dogs, the cats, the house pigs, the house ducks, the house rabbits and a house lamb—we have 42 in the house,” Greg said.
Some animals, however, just can’t be fit in a house, so their horses, Butters and Clyde, stay outside. Clyde is a Tennessee walking horse and Butters is a thoroughbred and retired racehorse.
On Saturday, the Streifs are inviting people to interact closely with the horses.
“A lot of times, the thing is, is I grew up in Kentucky. The closest I’d ever come to a horse was at the Derby, but you’re so far away,” Becki said. “You see them in the paddock, but we want to invite people out, and you can actually get up front, get close and personal, and you can feed them—so, just to give an alternative to horse racing, which I think is a man’s sport, and I know I’m standing in Kentucky saying this, but it’s not a kind sport.”
The couple also has two huggable mini horses that love kids, lending to the Hug a Horse event’s name.
“Not that we think we’re ever going to get the crowd the Derby gets, nor could we handle the crowd the Derby gets,” Becki laughed. “But, for those who come, this year we’re inviting those who come if you want to wear a fancy hat, wear a fancy hat.”
Visitors will meet other animals like pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, cows and chickens. Becki says, “So that they can see for themselves how amazing these animals are and how we don’t have to eat them, walking away knowing that they had a very compassionate afternoon.”
The Hug a Horse event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tribe Animal Sanctuary will host two tours through the property that day—one at 11 a.m. and another at 1 p.m..
Tribe Animal Sanctuary is at 2604 Flat Rock Road in Louisville.