“There will never be a time that horse slaughter does not exist unless we educate each other and stop over-producing. If we bring a life into this world there needs to be a plan for that life—a plan for your old show or lesson horse who, after years of service, is too tired to work anymore.”
— Phyllis Elliott
I come from a lifetime of horses, handed down through the generations of my family, from my grandfather to my father, from my father to his children. Although I was a city girl, as a small child I loved horses. I used to pretend that I was riding as I watched western movies on TV from the armrest of our couch.
When I was seven years old, my father took my brother Frank and me to a Welsh Pony auction at Suffolk Downs. We drove my father crazy, screaming and asking to buy every pony that came into the sale ring. We left that auction with a $75 yearling pony, 3/4 blind in one eye. His name was Edge Hill Agate, from the famed Edgewood Farm in North Andover, MA. It was at that point that my love for horses became my life’s work. My husband Bill Elliott also comes from many generations of horse people, and we have shared our love for horses with our two daughters and their children. At our farm in Brentwood, NH, we’ve hosted summer riding camps and 4-H, and have become “barn parents” to many local youngsters.
Our love and commitment to our horses has always been for their entire lives, not simply until they can no longer perform. We very rarely sell one of our own horses, and when we have, more often than not they ended up right back at home.
About five years ago, I became acutely aware of the horses out there that are less fortunate. The economy took a dive and suddenly there were a lot of horses that people could no longer afford to keep. There are also racehorses who can no longer run, camp horses that no one wants to support over the winter months, ponies that kids have outgrown, and more. They all can end up in the slaughter pipeline, and many do.
We started by rescuing some horses for ourselves: a talented racehorse fresh off the track that needed knee surgery, an unbroken pony, and a few others that have become excellent school horses for my daughter Jessica’s riding program.
Bill, Jessica, and I have made horses our life’s work. My focus has taken a turn from the show ring and is now aimed at the livestock auction ring. Our goal is to help as many horses as possible, especially those most in danger of slaughter. We rescue and rehabilitate them, and find them new homes, one day and one horse at a time.
Horse rescue is now my passion. I have been blessed with a lifetime of horses, and it is time for me to give back to these animals that have given us all so much joy. I hope that you will help us help them.Thank you for your support.
–Phyllis Elliott, Founder and President
Brentwood, NH
