Title: Scrutiny Surrounds Above the Stars Equine Rescue Amid Claims of Horse Neglect and Charity Misrepresentation

Stephanie Redlick says she champions saving horses from sale for slaughter through Above the Stars, but few details could be verified.

BRADFORD – We’ve all heard ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,’ but what about when a horse rescue starts asking for gifts?

Earlier this month, Stephanie Redlick reached out to BradfordToday and other Village Media publications, asking for promotion of her “charity” Above the Stars Equine Rescue, which she claimed to have been operating since 2013 and expanded to the Bradford area about six years ago, around the same time she moved to town.

“I rescue horses because it makes a difference,” she said. “I’m a horse lover, so I’ve always loved horses.”

Along with help from her father Sam, Redlick estimates they’ve saved about 150 horses from being sold to slaughter for horse meat, by acquiring them from auctions in both Canada and the U.S., where mostly old horses are sold off after they’re no longer considered useful.

Though many of those horses are in their 20s, Redlick explained they also accept some younger horses which are surrendered to the rescue if people can no longer care for them.

While Above the Stars’ website asks for donations, claims the “charity organization” is “government approved,” and lists their registration number as 764052569RR0001, neither the name nor number return any results in Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) online database of qualified charities/donees nor Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s business registries.

Redlick said that’s a result of a delay in filing some paperwork, but claimed CRA staff told her she is still able to issue tax receipts for donations.

However, Nina Ioussoupova, a representative of the CRA, said that according to their records Above the Stars is not currently — nor has it previously been — registered as a charity, and only Canadian registered charities and/or qualified donees can issue official donation receipts that qualify for charitable tax credits.

Ioussoupova did not answer if Above the Stars has a valid business registration.

“Given that the organization has never been a registered charity, the disclosure provisions of the (Income Tax) Act prevent us from providing any further information about it,” she said.

The Google listing for Above the Stars is tied to 212 Melbourne Dr. in Bradford, but Redlick said she has recently moved from that location and is in the process of getting the listing changed.

The Facebook page for Above the Stars is listed as only being created in March this year, and Redlick explained that because Facebook’s policies prohibit “the buying, selling, or trading of animals or animal products,” pages such as hers are sometimes flagged and removed.

A person claiming to be a well-known veterinarian emailed BradfordToday to say he cares for the horses at Above the Stars and can confirm it is a legitimate rescue, but did not provide his licence number for verification and voicemail messages left for him by phone were not returned in time for publication.

A representative from another charity that the veterinarian is known to help said the email address used to contact BradfordToday did not match the one the veterinarian normally uses.

Operator maintains position

Despite difficulty verifying the operation, Redlick stood by her efforts, and said the rescue operates at multiple locations in both countries, thanks to local farmers — including some in Bradford — who donate space in stalls or paddocks to house the animals. Redlick also owns a property in Oro-Medonte where she explained horses and people with disabilities are sometimes paired for a sort of mutual therapy.

“It’s awesome,” Redlick said.

At all locations, she noted the animals are provided care and room to play while they’re rehabilitated.

“They’re like huge dogs,” Redlick said. “They’re all different. I’ve never met a horse who has the same personality.”

Once healthy, the horses are adopted out to new homes, according to Redlick, but not before she interviews the potential adopter and reviews their facilities to ensure the horses will have a good life — even requiring a criminal record check just to be safe.

As an added measure, the horses are not permitted to be re-homed, and if an adopter can’t continue to care for them, the animals are to be returned to Above the Stars.

Depending on the condition of the horses when they arrive, Redlick estimated it can take anywhere from one to six months, and cost from $5,000 to $20,000 to rehabilitate them, as supplies for horses are “extremely expensive.”

It also requires patience and perseverance.

“It’s all day every day. I don’t go to sleep until three in the morning,” Redlick said. “It’s a 24/7 job basically.”

Privacy concerns and ongoing investigation

While they’re considering bringing on volunteers to help in future, for now, Redlick said they’re keeping it to just her and her father due to privacy concerns, which is also why they declined BradfordToday’s request to visit or take photos on the properties.

Those concerns stem from an incident on their farm at 248 Line 6 North in Oro-Medonte on Feb. 4, in which Redlick claims people trespassed, broke into a building, stole items and injured one of the horses, leaving it with a “massive stab wound” and leading to more than $12,000 in medical bills.

“It’s absolutely disgusting and stressful that there’s people out there that are ready to tarnish your business, that will come into your barn and stab one of your horses,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents have claimed horses on Redlick’s property are being neglected and left without food or water, but Redlick has denied the allegations, calling them “bogus.”

A representative for the Ministry of the Solicitor General confirmed the province’s Animal Welfare Services — responsible for enforcing the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act — attended the property on Feb. 5 and are still conducting an active investigation.

"Animal Welfare Services (AWS) was first made aware of this matter on Feb. 4, 2025, and attended the property on Feb. 5," said an emailed statement from AWS.

"Orders were made related to the animals present. Following subsequent visits, which determined non-compliance with the orders, several horses were removed from a second property to which the owner had moved them," noted the statement.

"AWS relocated the horses in order to provide required care. AWS continues to investigate and, as such, cannot provide further comment."

Redlick said she reported the incident to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), but as they are not investigating, she explained they’ve begun litigation against the group of trespassers.

“We retained a top lawyer in the Toronto area, and he’s taking care of stuff for us and it’s looking very bright,” she said.

For more information about Above the Stars visit its website, email [email protected], or call 613-970-0862.

— With files from Tyler Evans