Big John is a 22+ year old Belgian Draft who works for the owners of Charleston Carriage Works. He is considered a senior, yet still pulls carts day in and day out for visitors of downtown Charleston. As most are aware, Big John was filmed lying flat out on the pavement about a week ago. Evidence points to exhaustion but the owners are saying he tripped and fell. The summer is approaching and this is the roughest time of year for these carriage horses.



Rancho Relaxo is a 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue in New Jersey who focuses on saving slaughterbound horses as well as helping with the retirement of work horses. This is one of many causes that Rancho Relaxo is passionate about.



Today, Rancho Relaxo has opened their hearts and barn doors to Big John. They are offering a beautiful and safe place for him to retire.



It is up to all of you to make this happen. Please urge Charleston Carriage Works to allow Big John to retire at Rancho Relaxo.

You can learn more about Rancho Relaxo here: RanchoRelaxoNJ.com

(Please be reminded that this is not a hate-filled petition, nor is it an attack in any way, shape or form. Rancho Relaxo believes that a 22 year old horse is a senior and deserves retirement during the last quarter of his/her life. Rancho Relaxo is open to retiring Big John at their facility but if he does not end up at Rancho Relaxo, that is fine. The main goal is simply to allow this horse to retire. If that means staying where he is with no more hooves on hard pavement, then great! The motive behind this petition has nothing to do with the care that this particular horse receives outside of his work hours. He could be treated like a king. That is not the focus of this mission. A representative from Rancho Relaxo spoke to the owner of Charleston Carriage Works and he was not interested in retiring Big John at this time.)