Meet Susan Peirce | Founder and President of Red Bucket Equine Rescue and Sanctuary

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Peirce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I simply could not turn my back. Previously, I was unaware of how much suffering and unspeakable abuse existed within the Equine industry. Once I knew, I felt compelled to make a difference. While I have a full-time job as a partner and consultant at.DoorTwo, I started Red Bucket from scratch in January 2009. By March of that year we had already received 74 horses from slaughter, abuse, and starvation. I realized the urgency need and started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We have been in business for over 15 years now, and has have saved thousands of Equine’s (horses, mules, donkeys, mini’s). so to answer the question briefly, I would say my thought process was, I couldn’t turn my back. I am fortunate to have the background in business and leadership and use my knowledge to differentiate the Red Bucket brand and set up a sustainable organizations that we can continue to save and serve high risk Equine‘s for many years to come. I’m still working on the sustainable part, and therefore platforms like this set, allow us to get our story out and introduce our story and life-saving work to others is incredibly valuable. Also, the mindset of Rescue in our industry is unacceptable to me, and that it is often that of a dog and cat model which doesn’t work for horses. We have set Red Bucket up to uniquely care for horses, and ensure that they never enter the slaughter or abuse pipeline once they’re rescued.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career is that of a behaviorist, partner, and consultant at DoorTwo… I often laugh and call this my day job (which I love and I’m very grateful for). My role at Red Bucket is what I frequently call my real job. And I feel extremely grateful to be able to blend my business and leadership skills into my work at Red Bucket. There’ have been a number of studies about equine rescues that identify that a great many of them will close within the first three years. in addition to a very meaningful vision and mission, and a lot of determination and fantastic support from people who want to see our life-saving or continue, I definitely credit utilizing a business model that will help us establish credibility and confidence of those who support us either in a volunteer capacity or a much needed donor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spot is definitely Red Bucket. I would invite my friend for a special tour… and make it a behind the scenes tour. In 2016 Sony made a movie about Red Bucket in titled Emma‘s Chance. The movie was filmed at Red Bucket and our horses were actually the actors, and my team and I were instrumental in both in front of and behind the camera.. So I would definitely start with Very special tour and show how many of the scenes were shot. After the tour, I would invite my friends to take a hike on the eucalyptus Loop in Chino Hills, which is a phenomenal hiking trail with beautiful California landscape. And some of my other favorite places that I would recommend would be Laguna Beach, and maybe a trip to the Santa Monica pier followed by a delicious dinner at the Water Grill to enjoy some of the freshest and best seafood available!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The success of Red Bucket is because of the generosity of a great many people who want to see our life-saving work continue. We are a volunteer organization and our work is not possible without like-minded hearts and hands joining together to make the world a better place for the horses that we serve today, and the horses that we will serve in the many years to come. Red Bucket is a nonprofit we are reliant upon the generosity of others, there is no magical pot of money that exists.

Website: https://redbucketrescue.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbucketrescue

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redbucketrescue/

Image Credits
M.R. Photography