Our mission at Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue is to rescue horses in need, rehabilitate them, and find them permanent homes. We take in horses from all kinds of situations, including owner surrender, cases of neglect, auctions and dealer barns. 70% of our costs go to horse care. Thanks to our team of committed volunteers, we are able to keep overhead costs to a minimum. In addition to rescuing and caring for the horses, we also host events and activities to educate visitors, volunteers, donors, and prospective adopters about how horses—even family pets—can wind up in the slaughter pipeline, and how to avoid such a tragedy.

Once the horses arrive at the Rescue, we give them time to decompress, rest, and recover. Some of the mares have served as broodmares for several years. As the horses return to health, we assess what they will be best suited for in their new lives and post profiles of available horses on our website. Prospective adopters are expected to come for multiple visits with the horses they’re interested in, which gives everyone a chance to assess whether they’re a good match. On the rare occasion that an adoption doesn’t work out, the horse is returned to the Rescue.

Many of the Thoroughbreds we’ve rescued have had racing careers that ended either in injury or diminishing performance. Sometimes we don’t know what happened to them after the end of their racing career. Wynn’s Whim was such a rescue. She raced in Florida and Massachusetts from 2004-2007. She disappeared from public view until September 2023 when we found her at a dealer’s barn in New York. When she arrived in quarantine, she needed a lot of rest and rehabilitation. Susan Walsh, who served as the track steward at Suffolk Downs, remembers seeing Wynn race there. When Susan learned that Wynn was with Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue, she decided to adopt her. Wynn now enjoys being pampered in her forever home where she has lived since August 2024.