Pony Up Rescue Collective
What we do:
One horse, one team. Pony Up Rescue seeks to rescue, rehabilitate, train, and rehome horses caught in the slaughter pipeline in a collective fashion, one by one. We know that many people wish they could rescue horses,but aren’t equipped to do so alone. Pony Up Rescue offers personalized, team-style horse rescue, one horse at a time, while providing the logistical and training support.
How it works:
1. We identify a horse or pony in dire need of rescue and estimate the cost of bail, transport, supplies, and veterinary/farrier/dental care for the first year of rehabilitation.
2. Collective members (donors) choose their own level of participation, from assisting with handling, to visiting, to following along online. Involvement can be tailored to level of interest and experience. Rescuers jointly name our rescue horse and are encouraged to visit and spend time with him/her. Members receive weekly updates with all the details, including photos and video.
4. Pony Up Rescue founder Kelsey Merrow donates logistical support, professional rehabilitation and training, and oversees group member engagement. A network of kindred farm and facility owners provide low-cost board, and veterinarians, farriers, and fellow horse professionals are engaged to support the effort.
5. The goal is to rehabilitate and train each rescue such that they can be adopted out to a loving forever home, and Pony Up Rescue can save another horse in need. Collective members have the first option to adopt.
Pony Up Rescue got its start by saving Sweet Potato, a nearly blind, former Amish cart pony from his trip to a Canadian slaughterhouse in November of 2022. Adopted by the founder, Potato is currently in training to be a therapy and lesson pony.
Pony Up’s current project is the rehabilitation and training of Pearl, a severely neglected, unhandled chestnut pony mare, en route to slaughter, who was not only emaciated but sick, terrified, and recently blinded in one eye from a blunt force injury. Unlikely to be saved due to the intense care and training she required, Pony Up Rescue Collective interceded in early March of this year. Pearl’s rehabilitation is underway in Tivoli, NY, and she is making great progress. We welcome you to join Pearl’s team and be part of her transformation!
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