Out to pasture after running a successful business?

Imagine for a moment that your business contributes more than $70 million to the local economy, not to mention other support businesses that grow and reap the rewards in the entire CSRA. When you are ready to hang up the reins, what happens next?

Aiken is horse country, and the real estate investments for horse farms, the events and visitors they attract, the trainers, farriers, veterinarians, and feed suppliers are all part of the economic equation.

What happens to the retired thoroughbreds that provided years of excitement for the Aiken Steeplechase and other horse shows? Some end up at a place with lots of love and attention, the Aiken Equine Rescue (AER).

It’s 80 acres of land, which includes eight pastures, thirteen paddocks, an office, and a maintenance barn located at 532 Glenwood Drive in Aiken. Like us humans when retired and get a part-time gig or even start a new career, the retired race horses sometimes take on another occupation, becoming the mount for barrel racers, trick riders, fox hunters, dressage, and even as patrol horses.

Lost and Found

Nine years ago, Pam Patron and her husband were driving around Aiken County and got lost. They stumbled upon Aiken Equine Rescue, and the rest became part of the organization and her history.

“I had a degree in Equine Management and had also worked in sales and marketing. I now use all those skills as the Marketing Coordinator for Aiken Equine Rescue,” said Patron.

It is a volunteer position, but make no mistake, it is a job. Volunteers are unpaid, not because they are worthless but because they are priceless. Most of the volunteers have never been around horses. Many are over 60 years old.

“They are there to support the mission, rain or shine. Whether it’s 98 degrees or 30 degrees to bust ice from the watering troughs, they show up. They are witnessing miracles, and they are a part of making them. Volunteers are the engine that runs Aiken Equine Rescue.”

A mixture of happiness and sadness

Aside from providing a next home for retired thoroughbreds, their mission also involves helping horses at risk. Those are the truly heartbreaking stories of the ones who have suffered abuse and neglect.

Most recently, a pony and a goat were found walking down Briar Patch Road. Aiken Rescue Mission took her and the goat named Biscuit in for care. Despite their best efforts, the pony didn’t survive. Biscuit is thriving.

Then there is the story of nine severely neglected horses seized by Animal Control in Edgefield County and placed in their care. They were dubbed the “Edgefield Nine.” They arrive, starved, broken, and in critical need, as you can see from the pictures below. Despite their condition, their owner refused to surrender them until now.

For almost 3 years, these horses have lived at Aiken Equine Rescue while they carried the full financial burden of the recovery of more than $200,000 in feed, surgeries, and vet care.

No money, no mission

Recently, Aiken Rescue Mission has caught flak on social media for asking for donations. This was Patron’s response:

“We’ve seen a few FB comments suggesting that all we do is ask for money. We want to take a moment to speak honestly. We understand – it’s not easy to be reminded of suffering. But the truth is, caring for neglected animals takes resources, and we ask because we must – for them. We must ask because the animals who come to us are often in crisis, with no one else to care for them. They arrived starving, sick, abandoned… and we do everything we can to provide comfort, relief, and dignity – no matter how long or short their time with us may be.

We want to be fully transparent. We are not an organization with big pockets or big sponsors. We are a rescue built on compassion, community, and the belief that animal lives do matter. We do not receive city, county, state, or federal funding. What keeps this Rescue going – what allows us to step in at moments like this – is you.”

For some perspective on annual operating costs:

• 4,200 Bales of Hay
• 3,032 Bags of Feed
• 380 Tons of Manure Mucked
• Fencing Repair: 4,000 Board Feet
• Fuel Used: 2,120 Gallons
• Total:$635,000 each year

There are businesses, including Aiken Saddlery, Aiken Horse Realty, Performance Equine Vets, and others, who are connected in some way to the horse business, and then there are some who just want to help make life better for our four-legged friends.

AER also partners with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) for the aftercare, rehabilitation, and rehoming of racehorses.

Rising from the ashes

In 2021, the rehab barn at AER burned down from an electrical fire. The scene was gut-wrenching for Patron and everyone else at the Mission. What happened next after salvaging what they could was heartwarming.

“As the sun was breaking, there was a long line of cars and trucks as volunteers arrived with buckets of lead lines and halters and bags of feed.”

That moment reiterated AER’s mission statement of lives being changed, both for people and horses.

Construction on the new rehab barn is almost complete, and an official ribbon cutting will be held soon.

Ways to help

Aiken Equine Rescue has become the largest horse rescue farm in the southeastern United States. They have placed over 1,800 horses into adopted homes and rescued hundreds of horses, donkeys, and mules.  At any given time, between 40-60 horses reside there.

If you’ve never had a horse and always wanted one, you can adopt one. If you want to give some love to a horse that may not have had much attention in its life, you can visit AER anytime between Tuesday and Saturday from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

If you like to eat and want to learn more, the Mission is hosting their annual Mane and Shell Oyster Roast on October 2, catered by JC’s Seafood. Click here for more event info.

To learn more about Aiken Equine Rescue, follow them on Facebook here.

Support for their mission, also supports the business that makes Aiken and the CSRA the horse colony. It’s People Helping Horses and Horses Helping People.