Four years after launching its horse rescue efforts, Slaughter 2 Success is expanding its mission beyond rehabilitation and adoption by developing a new program designed to prevent horses from entering the slaughter pipeline altogether.

The volunteer-run rescue recently saved three horses from a livestock auction, including a young colt with a severe head injury that may require surgery.

“If there is a foreign body in that head wound, we’re looking at between $7,000 and $10,000 for surgery,” founder Andria Pooley said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have those funds at the moment, so that’s going to be a fundraising effort.”

The colt is one of approximately ten horses the organization has helped during the past year. While some rescues require rehabilitation and eventually become adoptable, others highlight a growing issue Pooley says many horse owners face: knowing when and how to make end-of-life decisions.

One of the three new horses, a mare suffering from a severe hernia and other medical complications, was humanely euthanized after multiple veterinarians determined her condition could not be treated. Pooley said the case highlights the difficult decisions many horse owners face and the importance of providing horses with a humane end of life.

According to Pooley, the mare had been dropped off at a loose pen (at an auction) rather than euthanized by her owner. While the rescue hoped she could be saved, veterinarians agreed that euthanasia was the kindest option.

“It was traumatic. It was awful,” Pooley said. “But it was the kindest thing for the horse.”

As a result, Slaughter 2 Success is developing a pilot program aimed at helping owners navigate euthanasia and body removal services, which Pooley says are often significant barriers that lead horses to end up at livestock auctions.

“We just want people to make that last kind decision for their horse instead of doing the easy thing, honestly, which is dropping their horse off in the loose pen,” Pooley said.

The proposed program would connect owners with volunteers who can assist with transportation and removal after euthanasia. Pooley hopes the model could eventually be replicated by horse rescues across the country.

According to Pooley, many horses entering auction systems have significant medical or behavioral issues and are unlikely to find suitable homes. Rather than rescuing horses with high market value, Slaughter 2 Success focuses on animals in distress that have few other options.

“We take the ones that are in significant distress,” Pooley said. “Then we use those as an example to educate the public.”

The organization has helped approximately ten horses during the past year and hopes to continue rescuing more throughout the fall. Winter rescues become more challenging because of quarantine requirements and weather-related limitations.

The third recent rescue, a roan mare, has already attracted interest from potential adopters. Another success story involves Posh, a rescue horse that will soon begin a new role in an equine-assisted therapy program.

While Posh has physical limitations that may have reduced her appeal in traditional markets, she will help children and adults participating in therapy sessions through grooming, interaction, and emotional support activities.

“It’s not just horses that we’re saving,” Pooley said. “We’re also trying to help people.”

The organization is also launching an internship program designed to educate more community members about horse welfare, rescue operations and volunteer opportunities.

“We want to help people understand what we do and how they can help,” Pooley said.

As Slaughter 2 Success continues its work, fundraising remains one of the organization’s biggest challenges. In addition to donations, the rescue is seeking volunteers willing to haul trailers and assist with the future euthanasia support program.

Pooley said education remains the group’s most important tool in reducing the number of horses entering the slaughter pipeline.

“We can’t save every horse,” she said. “But we can educate people, and we can help prevent horses from ending up in that situation in the first place.”

For more information about Slaughter 2 Success including how to make a donation, go to www.s2sequinerescue.com.