Road Trip Close to Home: Horse rescue in Wilton offers healing for animals and people

Founded in 2015, they rescue on average about 35 horses a year.

Lori Golias

Oct 30, 2025, 11:41 AM

Updated 3 hr ago

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It's a magical place where good things happen. Rising Starr Horse Rescue in Wilton rescues, rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes America's at risk horses. Founded in 2015, they rescue on average about 35 horses a year.
They are open to the public. Founder Kelly Stackpole says if you are interested in owning a horse, "they'll teach you everything you need to know."
There's an open invitation, "Come see some horses. One of our volunteers, junior board or staff members are happy to take you out a tour — see us working on training horses — get to meet the horses and find out why horses in America at risk and what you can do to help them."
Kelly says, " Horses have a lot of patience Horses work on your energy — your emotions — you're feelings, and they are very calming.
It's a proven fact that they help lower your heart rate."
They have some miniature horses. They help with the equine assisted services program. They were in New York City at 9/11.
They were both rescued and now they help rescue people.
Kelly says, "I wish I could say we could save them all, we can't. That goes back to all of our programs and our education.
The more people we can educate, and then they can educate, we're hoping to make a difference that way."