Elysium Acres - Home for Retired & Rescue Horses

Elysium Acres Horse Sanctuary ("Elysium Acres") is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chester, New Hampshire. We are a private, female-operated equine sanctuary dedicated to providing a loving and compassionate forever home for horses rescued by recognized organizations and retired mounted police horses. Run by Director of Operations and Programming Patti Lessard, the sanctuary encompasses more than twenty-six acres of conservation land and numerous buildings, including a private home, a workshop, a barn, and several paddocks. Built in the 1790s, the main house on the property holds historic significance.

Since opening our doors in early 2024, we’ve provided a loving forever home to horses in need, including horses with histories of trauma, neglect, or abuse. This includes retired mounted police horses and those whose owners can no longer care for them due to unforeseen circumstances. The average cost of caring for a horse is approximately $6,000 or more annually, in addition to medical needs.

By opening our doors to these horses, we offer them a second chance at life and ensure they receive the love, care, and support they deserve. Through our horse sanctuary program, Elysium Acres offers volunteer opportunities that may aid the mental and emotional recovery of individuals facing challenges, especially active-duty military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families.

Mission - The mission of Elysium Acres is to offer a safe, respectful, and peaceful environment for retired mounted police and rescue horses to live out their days with purpose, activity, and productivity.

Simultaneously, our volunteers enjoy a mutually beneficial experience by developing relationships with our horses through hands-on activities, improving their emotional health while building social connections.

Goals - The primary goal of Elysium Acres is to provide a loving and supportive safe haven for horses who otherwise would be subjected to abuse, injury, starvation, or slaughter. A secondary goal of Elysium Acres is to encourage volunteers to utilize their transferable skills to help retired mounted police and rescue horses in a friendly, pastoral atmosphere, promoting a rewarding and positive emotional experience for the volunteer.

Working with our horses provides an excellent model for teaching boundaries, building self-awareness, and developing effective communication tools in a fun and inspiring context that benefits both the horses and the volunteers. The program fosters the human-equine bond, teaching participants how to care for and respect another living being while promoting emotional and behavioral rehabilitation. Elysium Acres strongly emphasizes safety and responsible animal care, equipping our volunteers with valuable skills that will benefit them beyond their volunteer work.