Our Journey Together has come to an end - a job well done.

By Jane Kelly, co-founder of Oregon Horse Rescue

After much thought, calculation, and projections, we are announcing that Oregon Horse Rescue will cease to be an operating rescue on January 1st, 2026. We announce this today with a sense of accomplishment and of sadness. We want to thank everyone who helped make this all possible over the years – from donors to volunteers to workers to our fabulous vets and farriers.

Here are some of the reasons that we feel that it’s time to retire:

My body can’t take it anymore. The rescue and the 70 acres have beaten the crap out of me over 13 years. I have suffered broken fingers, broken toes, a broken ankle, rotator cuff injury, torn meniscus, and I now need another back operation. Don’t get me wrong – I wouldn’t trade those years of helping horses for anything. David has also had his fair share of injuries, including a bicep tendon severed, and a blood clot from being kicked by a horse.

I suffer from multiple auto-immune diseases, which I’ve been fighting the symptoms of for many years. I’m tired.

Studies show that animal rescue workers burn out after a couple of years; we at OHR has been saving horses for 13 years. I am personally past burned out.

Doctors, vets, and rescue workers almost all find that euthanizing an animal gets easier as time goes by, but I found each one to be harder than the last.

We also have aging out-of-state family members who we need to spend more time with.

Our remaining horses have or will be placed with vetted responsible owners, stables, rescues, or sanctuaries. If you have donated recently, let us assure you that you continue to help horses in several ways.  We have ongoing financial responsibility for a number of horses for the rest of their lives, and your donations will help us take care of that responsibility. For example, that may include vet care, farrier, and feed – the same expenses we would have if they were on-property. We also must pay for various repairs to fix the property after 13 years of intensive use by the rescue.

Finally, both legally and morally, any funds left after all other rescue expenses are taken care of (which means until the last horse passes, which could be years) will be donated to other horse-related 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the region. We will keep our website and Facebook page updated as these horses pass, and when those final donations are made.

I would like to mention one person in particular who made sure this place was running for about 10 years. We really couldn’t have done it without him. A big thanks to Steve for building, fixing, and streamlining so very much.

In summation, David and I are both ready to retire. To gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes 24/7, if we so choose. Or, to travel the world like we’ve talked about for the last 13 years. We are riding off into the sunset with a new plan, a new direction, a new purpose – to just enjoy life, and each other