Lauren Campbell
Reporter
One year ago, senior Isabella Carillo’s horse, Polo, was stolen by a horse trader, leading Isa to found the Polo Foundation last summer. The foundation aims at preventing the slaughter of horses and ponies.
Isa was fourteen when Polo came home to her, and they instantly formed a strong relationship. “I can’t explain the bond between a girl and her horse, especially at that age. …When we bought [Polo], my world began to change,” Isa said. “Through transition and life experiences, he taught me to love, appreciate, and live life to my fullest potential. It sounds extremely corny, but he was my best friend and teacher.”
Isa’s peers at the New Canaan Mounted Troop also loved grooming Polo and showering him with treats. Isa will always remember walking into the barn one day and watching Polo pass a mouth full of hay to his horse buddy, Oscar. “It was a big deal considering he was obsessed with his food,” Isa said. “Polo was special. I know I’m biased but it was pretty evident with anyone who ever met him. [Polo] was loved by all.”
Then, in Oct. 2008, Polo took a bad step and went lame. Eventually, Polo’s leg became infected, to a point where he couldn’t stand up. Choices needed to be made as soon as possible. It came down to humane euthanization or an attempt at recovery with surgery. “Polo was part of the family, so we chose the option that any parent would choose for a child,” Isa said.
Polo spent the next year in a rehabilitation center in Hartford, Connecticut, where he tried to regain his strength. However, it was clear he wouldn’t be able to compete at his former level, and it was decided that Polo would find a new home. A woman who was reputable with Isa’s veterinarian told Isa that she would house Polo temporarily.
“She told us he went up to Vermont for the winter, [and]I wanted to send him his Christmas stocking. She lost the address. She didn’t want us to harass the owners. She lost the phone number. She stopped responding to calls,” Isa said.
During the past summer, Isa founded the Polo Foundation, for the prevention of horse slaughter. According to the USDA, 92% of the horses that are bought for slaughter are 5-12 years old. They are sent to Canadian or Mexican Slaughter Plants, where they are killed inhumanely, and their meat is sold for human consumption.
Isa, as well as other foundation leaders, have held fundraisers so that they can bail out horses being sent for slaughter.
On Oct. 9, student protestors spread the word about preventing horse slaughter outside of the Ferguson Library in Stamford. Isa wrote on her website, “The Polo Rescue Foundation is based upon the principle that education and awareness of the public, pressure on our legislators, and determination to continue in this movement will bring an end to the brutal slaughtering of our American Horses.”
For more information on the Polo Foundation, please visit http://polofoundation.webs.com/.
