Unlike commercial stables, the farm’s purpose was not profit or performance — it was compassion and care. Each horse accepted into the sanctuary was promised lifelong residency. No animal would ever be sold, ridden, or exploited. The Gregorys believed that animals who had already given their lives in service deserved a place of rest, not more labor.
A New Philosophy in Animal Welfare
Mill Creek Farm represented a shift in how society viewed the lives of working animals. For centuries, horses had been tools of labor, transportation, and entertainment. When they aged or became injured, many were abandoned or sent to slaughterhouses. The Gregorys challenged this norm by establishing a philosophy based on retirement with dignity.
They envisioned a sanctuary where horses could simply be horses — free to roam, graze, and socialize without human demands. This idea was revolutionary for its time and helped spark a broader conversation about animal ethics in the United States. Over the years, their farm became a model for equine sanctuaries worldwide shutdown123