Zoos
HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary
📍 8005 Racetrack Rd, Tampa, FL 33635🕐 Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 10 AM–2 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–2 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–5 PM |
About HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary
Outdoor petting zoo with pony rides. Nonprofit farm providing interaction with goats, guinea pigs & other animals, plus horseback riding. HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary operates as a nonprofit farm sanctuary that has rescued numerous animals, including exotic species like zebras, camels, llamas, and monkeys, making animal rescue a core mission. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 1,685 visitors.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Outdoor Animal Sanctuary & Family Farm
- Best For
- All ages
- Highlights
- Animal petting, pony rides, Western town, playgrounds, capybara encounters
- Admission
- $14 general admission, $7 community day (1st Thursday)
- Hours
- Thu-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (closed Mon-Wed, July-August)
💡 Did You Know?
- HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary operates as a nonprofit farm sanctuary that has rescued numerous animals, including exotic species like zebras, camels, llamas, and monkeys, making animal rescue a core mission
- The facility features a zorse (zebra-horse hybrid) among its animal collection, which is mentioned in 20 visitor reviews and represents an unusual animal not typically found in standard petting zoos
- HorsePower offers capybara encounters available by reservation, providing specialized interactive experiences with exotic rodents that are rarely featured at typical petting zoos
- The sanctuary maintains a highly affordable community access model with Community Day admission at $7 per person (50% discount) on the 1st Thursday of each month, demonstrating commitment to educational accessibility
💬 What Visitors Say
- Complete your release form before arriving to speed up check-in and maximize your time with the animals, especially important on busy days.
- Visit on weekday mornings to enjoy the smaller crowds and get more personal interaction with staff volunteers who share animal rescue stories.
- Plan for 2-3 hours and wear comfortable shoes—the sanctuary has plenty of open space for running around, multiple playgrounds, and shaded areas, making it ideal for young children to explore at their own pace.
- Attend Community Day on the first Thursday of each month for a special experience (note: closed July-August), and consider the reasonably priced Summer Camp (June-July) if you have kids ages 6-10.
- For toddlers and very young children, this compact sanctuary is perfect—it's small enough to navigate easily but packed with diverse animals (zebras, camels, llamas, guinea pigs, and more), clean restrooms, and safe play areas all in one manageable visit.
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