BEYOND the bustle of Suva, a quiet gravel road winds through dalo plantations, whispering bamboo and ancient baka trees—leading to the peaceful heart of The Horse Sanctuary Fiji in Navua.
Here, horses once neglected or forgotten now graze peacefully beneath the trees. It’s not a clinic, nor a formal therapy centre, but for many who visit, especially those carrying unspoken grief, anxiety or physical hardship, it offers something deeply healing.
“They’re not trained therapists,” said founder Morika Hunter.
“But somehow, they know exactly what you need.”
The sanctuary began quite simply — with compassion. In 2021, Morika and her daughter Nylla Hunter found themselves drawn again and again to troubling scenes: horses tied tightly by the roadside, standing in the scorching sun, ribs showing, eyes dull. No one seemed to be coming for them.
“We didn’t set out to build a sanctuary,” Morika said.
“We just couldn’t keep turning away.”
What started as a single rescue soon grew, both in size and in spirit. Today, the sanctuary is home to a growing herd of horses, each with its own story of survival. Some arrived with open wounds or old fractures. Others carried deeper scars: fear of humans, flinching at every movement, eyes that avoided connection. Slowly, gently, they were given space to heal — and in doing so, they began offering something back.
Children, including those with sensory challenges, began brushing the horses, their anxious energy settling with each gentle stroke. Teenagers came to walk alongside them, to listen rather than speak. Adults grappling with stress found quiet companionship in the paddocks, where expectations seemed to fall away.
“They don’t ask anything of you.They just meet you where you are.”
Among the sanctuary’s visitors is Elijah, a young boy whose journey with the horses has become a quiet triumph. Diagnosed with a condition affecting his motor skills, Elijah began coming for weekly sessions of hippotherapy — an equine-assisted therapy that uses the horse’s natural movement to support coordination, balance and posture.
“When he started, Elijah needed help just to sit upright,” Morika recalled. “Now, he’s learning to steer and balance on his own.”
In a recent session, Elijah guided Chief — one of the sanctuary’s tallest and gentlest horses — through a slow, independent walk. It was a small, but powerful step forward.
“We don’t just see the muscle changes.We see a boy who’s proud of himself. That’s the real transformation,” Morika said.
Elijah’s story is one of many that reflect the sanctuary’s quiet magic — healing that happens in the space between horse and human.
While equine-assisted therapy is still relatively new to Fiji, it is growing in popularity across the globe. From Australia and New Zealand to the US and Europe, horses are increasingly recognised not just as working animals, but as therapeutic partners.
These programs — some clinical, others community-based — help improve emotional regulation, motor skills, trauma recovery and self-confidence, especially in children and adults living with autism, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or physical disabilities.
The science is compelling. The natural rhythm of horseback movement mimics the human walking gait, stimulating the brain and body to strengthen muscles and improve balance. Emotionally, horses are highly attuned to body language and presence, offering a form of connection that goes beyond words.
“A horse knows if you’re anxious, angry, unsure or calm. They reflect that back to you — and that can be transformative.”
Even simple activities like grooming or walking alongside a horse have been shown to lower blood pressure and ease stress.
Among the sanctuary’s herd are five miniature horses, including Paris — who now offers gentle, grounding companionship for younger or more nervous visitors. Once fearful of humans, Paris calmly allows children to brush him and sit beside him in stillness.
Vanua, a quiet gelding who arrived underweight and anxious, now stands calmly with visitors as they talk or move around him, his gentle presence often soothing those feeling overwhelmed.
Then there’s Chief, the sanctuary’s gentle giant. A striking paintbrush-patterned horse, Chief was once distant and withdrawn. Through years of patient care, he has become one of the sanctuary’s most trusted therapy partners.
“We say we’re rescuing horses, but really, they rescue us right back,” Morika said.
Beyond the horses, there’s the land itself. The fresh air, the trees, the all-encompassing green of the Navua countryside — all become part of the healing.
Spending time outdoors has been shown to ease anxiety, improve mood and support better sleep. For children like Elijah, it means therapy doesn’t feel clinical — it feels free.
Though not a formal therapy centre, the sanctuary has become a place where emotional growth happens naturally. And as interest in equine-assisted therapy grows around the world, places like this may hold the key to more accessible, community-based approaches in Fiji and the Pacific.
The sanctuary has also become a hub for education and outreach. Over the past year, it has hosted students from International School Suva, International School Nadi and other organisations for Horse Awareness and Education Days — offering hands-on learning about animal care, body language and empathy.
It also conducts rural outreach, distributing tack and promoting humane animal handling in partnership with donors such as Fiji Horse Care NZ.
“Horses aren’t just animals that respond to commands. They feel emotions, have personalities and can form bonds. The more people understand that, the more compassion we build.”
Still, running the sanctuary isn’t easy. It takes daily commitment, funds for feed and veterinary care, and a growing network of volunteers. What keeps them going, Morika says, is the quiet trust that builds between horses and humans.
“It’s not magic. It’s just presence.It’s that moment when a child’s hand rests on a horse’s shoulder — and the horse doesn’t flinch. That’s enough.”
How you can support Horse Sanctuary Fiji
The sanctuary welcomes donations — feed, tack, or funds — along with volunteers and visitors. You can follow their work, attend a fundraiser, or sponsor a horse for healing.
Follow them online:
Instagram: @horsesanctuaryfiji
Facebook: facebook.com/horsesanctuaryfiji
- Leanne Hunter is a Fijian story teller who is passionate about Fijian history and Fijian enterprise.
