National Nonprofit Day: Celebrating 138 Years of Care at Ryerss Farm

Why Does National Nonprofit Day Matter at Ryerss Farm?

National Nonprofit Day, celebrated on August 17, honors the organizations that strengthen communities, protect vulnerable populations, and create lasting change. For Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, the oldest nonprofit horse sanctuary in the United States, this day is a powerful reminder of how one family’s compassion sparked a movement that has provided generations of horses a place to call home.

For 138 years, people who believe in the humane treatment of horses have helped make the farm’s work possible. National Nonprofit Day offers an opportunity to celebrate that history and the community that continues to stand behind it.

How Did Ryerss Farm Begin?

The story of what would become Ryerss Farm began in the late 19th century, during what has been called the “Golden Age of the Horse.” Horses were essential to everyday life, providing power for transportation, farm work, firefighting, and industries ranging from mills and foundries to breweries. They also played a central role in recreation, including racing, hunting, and driving.

For many horses, however, this era was far from golden. With few laws protecting animals, working horses were often subjected to overwork, malnutrition, and abuse. Many suffered injuries and exhaustion from pulling heavy loads, while some overworked urban horses collapsed in the streets.

In Philadelphia, Anne Waln-Ryerss became a determined advocate for horses in need. Following a family tradition of animal welfare, she would intervene when she saw a horse being mistreated and encourage the owner to let the animal recover at her family’s farm in Burholme. Some horses never recovered enough to return to their former work and remained at the farm for the rest of their lives.

When Anne passed away in 1888, she left $30,000 to establish a hospital for “ill, aged and injured animals,” along with an additional $40,000 in endowment funds to maintain the farm. Her stepson, Robert Waln-Ryerss, fulfilled the terms of her will by purchasing an 80-acre farm in Philadelphia. On September 17, 1888, Ryerss Infirmary for Dumb Animals was incorporated as a charitable institution, and the first horse, described as “old, blind and weak,” arrived on June 11, 1889.

From those beginnings, Ryerss Farm grew into an organization dedicated to providing horses with a safe place to live out their golden years.

How Has Ryerss Farm Grown Through the Decades?

As the organization grew, Ryerss Farm moved to several properties over the decades. The horses relocated from the original Philadelphia farm to Chesterbrook in 1927, returned to the Bustleton location in 1933, and moved to a 108-acre property in West Whiteland Township in 1956.

In 1987, Ryerss Farm moved to its current location in Chester County. The property, originally known as Soleil Farm, consisted of three farms totaling 363 acres. An additional 20 acres was acquired in 2000, and approximately 330 acres were later placed into the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

In 1991, the Board of Directors changed the organization's name from Ryerss Infirmary for Dumb Animals to Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, more accurately reflecting its purpose and the horses in its care.

Today, Ryerss Farm is:

• The largest horse rescue and retirement farm in Pennsylvania and on the East Coast

• Provides lifelong care for over 75 horses across 300+ acres of pastures and facilities

• A nationally recognized organization with a Board Certified Veterinary Nurse on-site 24/7

• Supported by a fully volunteer Board of Directors

How Can You Support Ryerss Farm on National Nonprofit Day?

There are many ways to contribute to Ryerss Farm:

• Visit: Spend time with our residents at no cost. During our Main Barn renovation, we’re open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM.

• Donate: Provide food, medical care, and daily support for the horses.

• Volunteer: Share your time and compassion at the farm. Training will resume after the Main Barn renovation this fall.

• Fulfill a Wish List Item: Purchase essential supplies from our Amazon or Chewy lists.

• Donate to the Sharing Library: Contribute gently used fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, or horse care guides. Donations may be dropped off at the Gift Shop.

• Attend Upcoming Events: Join community events throughout the year that help support the farm.

How Can a Planned Gift Help Ryerss Farm’s Future?

August is also National Make-A-Will Month, making it an ideal time to consider how your estate plans can support the organizations and causes that matter to you.

Through the Ryerss Legacy Society, individuals can designate a gift to the Board Designated Endowment Fund as part of their long-term plans. Planned gifts can be arranged through a will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or another designated giving arrangement.

Every gift, regardless of size, can help provide ongoing care for the horses who call Ryerss home. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, contributions may also be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Anonymous recognition is available.

What Can National Nonprofit Day Inspire Us to Do?

National Nonprofit Day is an opportunity to learn more about the organizations working to make a difference and consider how you can contribute to causes that matter to you.

Whether you visit Ryerss Farm, volunteer, donate, attend an event, or share its story with others, your involvement helps make a difference for the horses who call the Farm home.