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A secondhand horse sanctuary

Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009 3:32 PM by Sarika Dani
Filed Under:

From TODAY correspondent Jill Rappaport

In the luxurious land of the Hamptons in eastern Long Island is a private sanctuary dedicated to taking care of horses left at death's door. The Sagaponack, N.Y., farm is called Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue. It's run by a local woman named Christine Distefano, who has loved horses her whole life and wanted to make a difference in their lives.

And boy has she ever! In just four short years, she has rescued 88 horses, and has gotten 44 of them adopted. Many are retired racehorses, some former show horses, or lesson horses with one thing in common: Once they were no longer money makers, they were given up to die! That is, until Christine was notified and literally pulled them off the truck when they were on their way to slaughter. Her farm survives solely on donations and the kindness of others who have opened up their hearts and wallets to help this wonderful place.

As a horse lover/owner I am so fortunate to know firsthand what wonderful majestic creatures they are, and just because their careers may be over, that should not mean their lives are! Thanks to Amaryllis Farm, they're not.

Find out more about Amaryllis Equine Rescue and how to help the horses here.

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wonderful message

Leslie Johnston, Reisterstown, Maryland (Sent Monday, June 15, 2009 10:33 PM)

There is also Habitat for Horses out of Texas!  What incredible organizations!  This country was BUILT using HORSE POWER before steam engines and automobiles - and how we repay them?  You go girl!  Your efforts are appreciated!

Ravyn, Tallahassee, FL (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 8:27 AM)

I watched Jill's segment on the horse sanctuary and went to the website.  I cruised around the site looking at the horses and facitily.  Then I decided that I want to look further into how the actual slaughter was done.  What I saw was the most horrible thing I have ever seen in my life.  I knew that it happened but I did not know how it happened.  I have never owned a horse but I am a horse lover  and have been my whole life.  I wish I had a place to board a horse but I don't.  So in return I will go back to the site and donate what ever I can to help this wonderful women help the horses who need it.  

Andrea Schultz, Bradford, PA (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:02 AM)

Saw your item on saving the horses and I was so glad someone is trying to protect these magnificent creatures. Good work. I'm not able to donate to your cause but I can give words of praise for the efforts. God Bless you and all involved.

L. Phillips, Middleburg, Fla. (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:02 AM)

What a heartwarming story regarding the Amaryllis Equine Rescue.
It's wonderful that someone is out there to help them.
All animals need to know and have the opportunity to have a loving hand touch them and have a good home.
Congratulations of the good job they and all people who rescue animals are doing.

Linda Pace, Bethel, CT (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:16 AM)

I am Joe Nagy, Jr. in Lima, OH.  I feel 4 the horses but I got this 1 question: the report says theres generally places 2 take stray dogs & cats.  We have tried in vain 2 take a stray cat to 1 of the area shelters & none will take them- too crowded.  What 2 do?  Any feedback will be appreciated.

Joe Nagy, Jr. in Lima, OH (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:08 AM)

To Christine, you are such a brave and wonderful young woman. THANK you for saving horses that would end up in slaughter houses. People in our country don't understand that all of our horses are "at risk" for this tragic end of life, including wild horses.
I have never owned a horse, but like you, have always loved them and understand their rightful place as beautiful creatures and service companions to us all.
Thank you again.

ann, mill valley, ca (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:22 AM)

I Love Horses & all aminamals But I can't believe of all plases the Hamptons & U need help. I make 100 or less a week. so I wish I could help. Have U tryed a web site or a bake off or anything to help to rase money for the horses! I wish I would win the lotto so I could. good luck & give the horses a kiss for me!

Suzi Moechel webster texas (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:56 AM)

This rescue sent a horse back to a facility that has starved 1 and killed 2 others.  Then made that facility part of her operation.  Might think twice about supporting a facility such as this one.  

Lorraine Boughman (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:08 PM)

I have always been fond of animals, but in the last couple of years, my appreciation love and respect for
them is beyond what I ever knew I was capable of.
Thank you for airing this piece, and God bless Ms.
Distefano for all her efforts. I will be contacting
Amaryllis Rescue to find out what I can do in any small way to help them help horses.

Diane Brown (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:17 PM)

To Joe in Lima, OH _ I did a search on google.com for "animal rescue Lima, OH" and got quite a lot of links that appear to be folks who will take in strays. Please do not give up looking for someone who cares and can take in your pet.

Linda, Chantilly, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:10 PM)

Please, write your Congress person and tell them we must Stop the Slaughtering of the horses in our Country. Chistine is an Angel but we must help her and the horses by telling our Government to stop this barbaric practice now!

melissa, troy, mi (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:35 PM)

When Christine says that she does this for the horses with all her heart and soul, BELIEVE IT.  I have seen first hand the amazing tasks that she has taken on, and the wonderful horses and people whose lives are better because she cared unselfishly, wholeheartedly, 100% for them.  Thank you Amaryllis!.      

Barb, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:31 AM)

Grateful that you did this story. I am sorry you made it so local. This problem hit catastrophic proportions when well intentioned & badly drafted legislation, passed about 6 years ago...introduce a bad economy. At Icssoma Farm, one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, we have been rescuing 1-3 horses a year. Last year we rescued 23, and nearly put ourselves  underwater. We are climbing out, having retrained and rehomed 11 of them in "for life homes". We coordinate with other rescues, educated the public, and facillitated 11 rescues working with horse friends and other rescue groups. To learn more about horrors of horse slaughter, please visit our website http://welltrainedhorses.com. I was proud to know how cost effective we are. We would love to hear from people in the Western U.S., or those who want to see a coordinated effort to this horrendous slaughter.
Many horse rescues are doing "humane euthanasia clinics", not an acceptable solution for a healthy horse, we have not resorted to that, but certainly better than the Auschwitz like conditions of Mexico. The travel is brutal, the method killing is illegal in the US--horses are often not brain dead before being dismembered.
If you can help, or want to know more, we would love to hear from you.

Susan Jan Hornstein, Sebastopol, California (Sent Wednesday, June 17, 2009 2:56 PM)

The large horse breeders like quarter horses and TB farms should be taxed on every single foal they produce. Those large farms breed way to many horses , the rescues are stuck cleaning up the horse farms over production mess. The BLM sells for almost no fee at all, thousands of our wild horses to the meatman! acording to AP reports the BLM employees are making lots of money selling mustangs to slaughter.
 almost 50,000 horses each year are stolen and many never seen again. Some are recoved in the kill pens.
 Slaughter is not humane for horses. Horses are companion animals, they are NOT meat animals!

SunTzu Public lands, Nevada (Sent Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:55 PM)

The horse is a beautiful animal, I have several of my own. Being a horse owner I can tell you I'm with Melissa of Michigan- Please write your Congress person to let them know to Stop the Horse Slaughter in the U.S. and the transporting of them to Canada and Mexico.Currently we in the U.S., all of our plants have closed. My great state of Tennessee wants to put a horse slaughter plant here!For food for zoo's or some foreign country dinner plate??? I was Horrified and mad as ----...I had been researching the slaughter of horses in general and just ran across this happening in our state. I have wrote to several of our state's people, they have until 2010 to vote on this.I will keep writing them.This is not a humane way for them to die. Most of the horses that go to slaughter aren't sick, they are healthly. Christine is a angel!!!Please check your state's stand on this, you might be surprised like I was....

Sandy tennessee (Sent Thursday, June 18, 2009 1:20 PM)



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