We are delighted to report some very happy news about Philip Seymour! This handsome Thoroughbred has officially joined his new herd and is turned out full-time. Watch the moment Philip (wearing the halter) met his new friends below.
Last October, our founder, Susan Wagner, received an urgent call about a young Thoroughbred who was in desperate need of rescue and immediate medical attention. He was located over 300 miles from the sanctuary, and from the photos we saw of him, he appeared to be malnourished and suffering from varying degrees of neglect, not the least of which was a massive, untreated, open wound on his right front leg.
Philip was born in Kentucky in 2019 and raced eleven times under the name “Garitoff.” We have no idea how he sustained that very serious leg injury. Given the urgency of the situation, we arranged for a hauler to rush him to Cornell University Hospital for Animals in Ithaca, NY. Once under our care, we renamed him “Philip Seymour.”
Philip’s injury required skin graft surgery, which entailed taking many small pieces of skin from his neck and transplanting them directly into the leg wound. After 22 days in the hospital, Philip arrived at our sanctuary. His recovery was long and hard, especially for a young horse with boundless energy. In the beginning, he had to remain on stall rest with daily hand-walking for several months until it was safe enough for him to be turned out in a small paddock on dry footing only.
His wound required frequent bandage changes. There were complications during the healing process, which our equine staff successfully handled thanks to guidance from his vets at Cornell. He also had regular follow-up exams by our local equine veterinarian from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga.
Finally, after nearly seven long months of recovery time, the moment of truth arrived! On May 22, 2026, Philip Seymour was walked to a large pasture we named “The Heartbreakers,” and introduced him to his future pasture mates, four other Thoroughbred Geldings named Tom Petty, Monty, Joey, and Arnold. They were separated by a long fence while they got to know each other. A few days later, we opened the gates, and Philip officially became the newest Heartbreaker!
It was a day of great joy and celebration for everyone here, but especially for Philip Seymour! Philip (7) and Tom Petty (5) are the youngest horses in the herd and became fast friends. They play and hang out all day long together. It’s really something to see!
Philip’s injury could have ended his life. Instead, he survived and is thriving in his new herd. Your support made Philip’s happy ending possible. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation toward our rescue and sanctuary efforts so we can help more horses get their happy endings.