Check Out Selma Botvinik’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Selma Botvinik.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi! I’m Selma, and I’m the 17-year-old founder of LUNA Farm and Sanctuary. I started LUNA when I was just 12 years old with a simple goal: help animals that had nowhere else to go. What began as small-scale rescue work from just inside my home has grown into a multi-species rescue group and rehabilitation effort. Over the past five years, I’ve personally rescued and rehomed 261 animals. I began rescuing horses at 14, taking in local surrenders and neglected horses, rehabbing and retraining them, and then placing them into carefully matched, forever homes.

In 2022, my non-horsey family relocated from Long Island, New York to Tennessee. Growing up, horses were not accessible to me and I only got to take riding lessons on and off. It was there in TN that I got my first horse, Ringo, who I still have today and is the best horse a girl could ask for. I had the space, and the time, so I decided it was time to do more. From there, I began taking on more horses, developing them over time and rehoming them successfully, reinvesting every dollar back into rescue work. My first success story was a donkey foal named Noah, and I vividly remember that every single moment of that experience I was over the moon!

I worked multiple jobs throughout that time while continuing rescue work, with the long-term goal of securing a facility for LUNA. At 16, I achieved that milestone and began leasing a 4.7-acre property in Powder Springs, allowing LUNA Farm and Sanctuary to operate as a dedicated in-person property and rehabilitation space for the first time.

Today, I focus primarily on equine and rabbit rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming, while continuing to help dogs and cats when possible. We also offer low-cost and affordable equine experiences to the public! We teach free pony and rabbit education sessions and help people make horse ownership within reach. My long-term vision is to expand LUNA into a large-scale wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center and am going to college in 2027!

Everything I do is deeply personal to me, and I grew up with a strong awareness of resilience, responsibility, and building something meaningful from very little. LUNA is the result of that mindset, starting small, working relentlessly, and growing step by step into something real that helps both animals and people.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course not!! Starting and running something like this at a young age has meant facing a lot of skepticism and resistance. I’ve dealt with people dismissing me because of my age, not taking me seriously, taking advantage or assuming I didn’t know what I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, there is always more to learn, but I do know a little bit!

I’ve also encountered some really difficult situations with people, especially in the past year like dishonesty, broken agreements, and moments where trust and good nature was taken advantage of. Those experiences were hard, especially when I was younger and still learning how to set boundaries and protect myself. I’m constantly facing challenges in this line of work.

On a personal level, there have been challenges too. I’ve navigated significant mental health struggles and instability within my family, and there were periods where things felt overwhelming while I was still trying to keep going. Balancing that with the emotional weight and responsibility of having animals has not always been easy. But those experiences have also shaped me. They forced me to grow up quickly, become more resilient, and learn how to advocate for myself and for the animals in my care. They also clarified why I do this work in the first place. When you’ve seen instability and hardship up close, creating something safe, consistent, and ethical becomes deeply meaningful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize primarily in equine and rabbit rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming. Most of the animals that come to me are surrenders or situations where owners are overwhelmed, under-resourced, or the animal simply isn’t safe or wanted anymore. My work focuses on stabilization, training or behavior work when needed, and then placing each animal into a carefully matched, permanent home.

With horses in particular, I’m known for bringing them back into safe, usable, and understood partners. That process can take months, and it’s very hands-on. My goal is always long-term success for both horse and adopter, not quick placement.

I’m also deeply focused on rabbits, which are one of the most overlooked and frequently abandoned domestic animals. I do as much as I can for them, but my favorite thing is educating the public about proper rabbit care because so much misinformation still exists.

One of the things that sets me apart is that we operate at a very personal scale. I personally know every animal’s story, temperament, history, and needs. Adopters work directly with me, and placements are made based on true compatibility not just availability. Because of that, our rehoming success rate and long-term placement stability are very high. To date, I have had ONE animal returned to me.

Another passion of mine to making horses more accessible, focused towards those compassionate and loving of the animal, rather than just those who have the dollar. I want the next generation of horse people to be those who truly care. I want people, especially kids, to feel like animals and horsemanship are something they can learn and belong in, regardless of background.

What I’m most proud of is that LUNA has grown entirely from the ground up, from rescuing animals inside my home to operating on a dedicated property, while maintaining a consistent standard of care and ethics. Every animal that leaves here leaves safer, healthier, and understood. That’s always been the measure of success for me.

What makes you happy?
Deep genuine connection and making new relationships. Not just with animals! Especially people. So much in life is built on trust. I think I’m happiest when I’m at the barn, working with some of my students. I like making people feel seen and like they matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Lunafarmandsanctuary.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunafarmandsanctuary?igsh=MXZmMjZpNTRsamZwbw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DNmtGRvEa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
Mckynzie Anderson – The Arrow Photography