Rising Starr Horse Rescue

In 2025, we rescued 45 horses, homed 35, and volunteers logged 10,192 hours, 16 junior board members, and 800 StandFast Equine hours. (On average, we have 13 Thoroughbreds off the track from the continental US and Puerto Rico)

 RSHR rescued in partnership with Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, 4 horses in Puerto Rico, bringing them to CT for retraining and re-homing. We continued to grow our Thoroughbred aftercare in 2026.   2025 saw the development of the StandFast Equine program, in partnership with StandFast Alliance, which offers equine-assisted services to Veterans, First Responders, active military, and special teams, helping them grow in our community. We are very excited to give back to the population that protects us and to provide horses in need with a career and a chance to shine. Not only do we use 12 horses in our own program, but we have horses that we have rescued, rehabilitated, and retrained in many programs on the East Coast. In 2025, our team was honored to welcome the UDT Navy Seals over the finish line at Ground Zero for the NYC UDT Seal race. We brought our team to the NYC Veterans Homeless Shelter, as well as to remember 911 with the FDNY, NYPD, US Army Rangers, and families of 911 on September 11, 2025, in NYC.  We will be back in NYC in on September 11, 2026, 25 years later.

On September 11, 2025, we were honored to have student Debbie St.John be able to ride a horse. Debbie was a victim of 9/11; she has worked hard for the last 2 years to be able to go from wheelchair to horse. Layla, a Texas kill pen cast-off (rescued in 2019 by RSHR), was her partner. Truly a special day, Debbie said, It's my best September 11 in 24 years”. Debbie now rides weekly. 

Many of our current programs, including lessons, Junior board, Stand Fast Equine serving free, Veterans, First Responders and active military, IEA, and AEL teams, are wonderful avenues to educate the public and the community about the needs of America's at-risk horses, aftercare, and good daily practices. These programs allow us not only to educate the public, but also to find homes for horses, bring in much-needed donations, and help owners keep their horses. These programs produce leaders and give our leaders and heroes a community. 

In 2025, Rising Starr Horse Rescues' show team was double National Champions of the Athletic Equestrian League in both juniors and adults; in 2026, we were again AEL National Champions, all further bringing together the community and horses, giving access to those who could not previously reach these programs. We are also a USEF outreach program and a USHJA-approved riding facility. Our 2026 show team qualified a student for the IEA Nationals already this year, and this student also assists with our mustangs and owns one of her own.

2026, our main focus will be on the 5 domains of horsemanship and incorporating them into our current programs.

 One of our most exciting plans for 2026 has been the addition of a volunteer coordinator and event planner. We have revamped our volunteer program not only to educate and add more training to the community, but to be able to help more at-risk horses. 

We are also doing capital improvements on both farms. The Wilton farm will have 26 stalls in the main barn repaired and add grills in stalls, so the horses have more socialization, re-fencing our turnouts, and constructing an obstacle course for both humans and horses to encourage enrichment. 

 Every day, we strive to honor the 5 domains of horsemanship:

Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behavior, Mental State.

Our Virginia facility is awaiting a new well to be dug so we can continue to build our sanctuary.

Understanding EAS, Equine Assisted Services: StandFast Equine Program at Rising Starr.

Here are five key BENEFITS OF Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL): 

• Enhances Emotional Resilience – Helps service members and their families regulate stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges through calming interactions with horses.
• Strengthens Communication & Relationships – Encourages teamwork, trust, and non-verbal communication, improving family and unit cohesion.
• Develops Leadership & Problem-Solving Skills – Horses respond to clear direction and confidence, reinforcing leadership qualities. Increases self-awareness, encourages self regulation, resulting in better decision-making skills.
• Promotes Mental Well-being – Provides a non-judgmental environment that aids in emotional processing and healing.
• Creates a Supportive Community – Brings together military families, corporate teams or youth groups by fostering connection, mutual support, and a sense of belonging and Team Building.