Nestled on approximately 7.5 acres in Cecil County, JCSS gives equines like Jet what they deserve: time, dignity, and a safe place to land when their usefulness to the world has been questioned.
At JCSS, our mission is to improve the lives of equines with compassion, consistency, and a firm belief in their potential. This mission is anchored in three core values: fairness, transparency, and courage.
After extensive vet bills, multiple trainers, bruised ribs and tears, I almost gave up on Jet. One farrier suggested I trade him. Another person told me to put him down.
I couldn’t do either, but I also couldn’t keep going the way we were.
I felt so insecure and unsure of how to help Jet, so I took a step back and regrouped. I also made the first real decision for Jet: I let his trainer and farrier go. They didn’t have his best interests at heart.
I studied Jet. I watched his facial expressions as I talked to him. I sang to him while I brushed him. I learned about groundwork, not just to earn his trust, but to build a true relationship. And somewhere in all of that, I realized that Jet was scared. In his eyes, I saw the same insecurity I felt in myself.
Instead of forcing progress with Jet, I stepped away from the pressure to ride. I took lessons on another horse and invested in my own growth, working with a coach, Joanne, who helped me become a more confident, capable rider.
We spent hours together — working through obstacles, introducing new objects, and sometimes doing nothing at all but walking side by side in the pasture, just enjoying each other’s company.
A year later, we took our first ride. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t forced. It was earned. We went on to have a full year of riding together with a new goal in mind: to take a trail ride at Fair Hill.
We never made it. Unfortunately, a pasture accident left Jet with severe muscle and ligament damage. After months of rehab, he was retired.
I started hearing the words “lawn ornament” and “money pit” more times than I could count.
Every time, it felt like a punch to the gut because I knew the horse they were talking about. I knew his story and how hard he had fought to trust again.
Jet still had value. Not because of what he could do, but because of who he was. And if that was true for Jet, it was true for every horse like him.
We’re a small but mighty team united by the belief that every equine deserves a second chance.
As a teenager, Kerry worked on a local horse farm in exchange for pay and lessons. Mucking stalls wasn’t sexy, but she enjoyed being around the horses. Watching them graze and listening to their nickers was soul-healing to an angry teenager. As an adult, marriage and raising young children became her priority, along with pursuing a career in nursing. In 2020, Kerry realized she needed some self-care and a healthy way to cope with the stress of COVID at home and in healthcare. She began volunteering at a local horse facility, where Jet entered her life.
Thankfully, Kerry has an amazing husband who grew up around horses and puts up with her shenanigans; she came home one evening and informed Brian that she had adopted a horse and had two days to find a boarding facility. A natural horseman, Brian took it in stride.
As Kerry and Brian got to know Jet and worked with him, they quickly realized they needed to consult with experts and get some training for themselves. They didn’t have the know-how or tools to properly train and heal their sweet boy. Along the way, their eyes were opened to the needs and abuse of horses in the community, leading them to open their own rescue with a variety of breeds and needs.
Kerry and Brian are obsessed with Buck Brannaman and Pat Parreli, and they love their natural horsemanship approach and the connections they make with horses. Kerry is actively taking lessons through Pat Parreli’s program and hopes to reach Level 4 within the year. Both she and Brian have clinics scheduled with Buck Brannaman and are very much looking forward to learning from him. They love their horses and donkeys and want the best for them spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
Raised on a farm in Oxford, PA, Billy rode his first horse at three years old. A natural at horsemanship, Billy became the lead animal trainer for the largest Christian theatre in the country. He spent 25 years training a variety of animals, specializing in horses, donkeys, and camels. In addition to training animals for theater, Billy worked as a stunt rider in films and theatre. With over 35 years of experience, Billy has completed two levels of the Parrelli Program and studied under other top equine trainers in the US. Billy joined JCSS in December of 2024.
With 34 years’ experience of farrier work, Sam came to JCSS in August of 2025. Sam has a passion for rescued horses and donkeys.
Every brushstroke and every gentle nudge toward trust is made possible by the community that stands beside us.
