Sarah LesslerOLIVIA WEEKS’S STOREYBROOK FARM SANCTUARY
Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary, INC is an intimate non-profit organization dedicated to providing refuge to horses saved from slaughter. Founder Olivia Weeks is a lifelong horse lover, having grown up riding and caring for horses on her family’s farm.
According to Olivia, “It all started with an empty stall. I just had a baby and was living on this farm in Vermont at the height of COVID-19. I had a five-stall barn with only three retired show jumpers in it.” Having rescued her “heart dog,” she wondered if there might be a horse in the area that she could help. She was aware of horses in need but had no real sense of how dire the situation could be for many of them. She admits that she had never seen many neglected horses before and that the kill-pen industry practices took place behind closed doors. However, once that door opened, Olivia saw the behind-the-scenes world of the black market and the industry. “Just behind that door was another door and another and another. It seemed like an endless supply of horrific doors,” Olivia says bleakly.
Abe was her first rescue horse. Olivia had begun following the Facebook page of a large horse rescue organization that visited kill pens and posted horses they couldn’t save to see if anyone else could help. Immediately drawn to Abe, the emaciated and scarred horse with one shoe, she brought him to live in her empty stall. This modest beginning for Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary unfolded into a facility that quickly earned the coveted certification of the Equus Foundation.
Beyond her wildest expectations, Olivia outgrew her original 18-acre property. Recently, she moved to a new 135-acre farm in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where she continues expanding all that Storeybrook Farm can offer. Not only can she take in more animals in need, but she’s also finding unique ways to support her mission and involve donors in the experience. In June 2024, the first Airbnb accommodations on the property were completed and are now open for reservations. Proceeds from all Storeybrook Farm Stays and tours go directly to the sanctuary.
Social media has been crucial for Olivia in sharing her story and advocating for animals in need. With so many creators competing for attention and funding, she’s had to hone her media skills to secure the necessary support. While she had some prior experience, it was nothing compared to the level required to meet the demands of her mission.
“Luckily, I’ve always had an artistic eye, which helps, but I have definitely had to learn a lot,” she says. In the rescue world, the easiest time to get donations is when you are saving the animal. Seeing posts of the horses in deplorable conditions with horrendous injuries always makes people stop, sympathize, and want to help. Olivia’s biggest challenge in this realm is cultivating continued support for horses she has already rescued, who are now thriving.
“Pictures of fat and shiny horses don’t have the same effect on people’s hearts the way a photo of a horse at an auction or kill pen does, but the horses’ continued healthcare and longevity are equally important,” Olivia explains.
Recently, Olivia made the journey to an Oklahoma kill pen with an empty trailer and the determination to save as many horses as possible. She frequently posted footage of horses in dire conditions requiring funding to save on her social media page. With support coming in, Olivia was able to fill her trailer with six horses to take back to Storeybook Farm. Among them was a mare and her foal with horrific wounds on her legs. The foal was immediately treated by a vet in Vermont and admitted into the veterinary clinic the next day. Olivia posts daily updates on the foal, the other recently rescued horses, and the home herd, allowing donors to see the benefits of their contributions and garner continued support.
Reflecting on her work, Olivia shares, “Sadly, some of our rescues don’t end with a happily-ever-after story. When we lose them, I comfort myself by knowing their last days were spent with loving care. I love this rescue life. It is constant hard work, yet I’m grateful for it all. The horses saved, the ones lost, the pain, the hard work, the lifestyle for my daughter, the growth…all of it.”
To read the digital magazine version of this story and the other equestrian philanthropists featured in the November/December 2024 issue, click here. To read about more of EQ Living’s favorite ‘Giving Back’ stories, click here.