For 138 years, Ryerss Farm has provided a peaceful retirement home for aging horses, first in Philadelphia, and since 1987 on 388 acres of Chester County pasture, writes Art Petrosemolo for Lancaster Farming. 

The farm stands as a living legacy of Ann Wain-Ryerss, a Philadelphia native, humanitarian, and early advocate for horse welfare before organizations like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals existed.

Described by newspapers as petite but feisty, she single-handedly rescued abused and overworked horses from neglectful owners and the streets, often providing them with a place to retire. 

She died in 1886, leaving a significant gift to establish the Ryerss Infirmary for Dumb Animals, the first facility in the nation to provide a retirement home for aging or neglected horses. Her stepson opened the farm in Bustleton in 1888, where it remained for nearly a century before moving to the North Coventry area. 

Today, the farm is home to 80 senior horses that spend their later years on expansive green space protected by a conservation easement.

It also offers agricultural internships and horsemanship programs for high school seniors, along with other activities. 

Read more about Ryerss Farm providing a safe and relaxing place for horses to live out their days in Lancaster Farming. 

______