Susan Kayne

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & DISTINCTIONS

WRITING & STORYTELLING

  • Author of more than 100 published weekly newspaper columns, distributed across eight regional newspapers, exploring equine ethics, animal consciousness, and the human relationship with horses.
  • Writer of essays, poetry, and literary nonfiction, including the Coming Home book series in development.
  • Writer and storyteller whose work draws upon more than two decades of firsthand experience in equine protection, rescue, and advocacy.


TELEVISION & MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Creator, Writer, Producer & Host | UNBRIDLED TV (2003–2013) — Nationally broadcast equestrian television series, with the international spin-off Ireland Unbridled.
  • Multiple Telly Awards — Recognizing excellence in television production.
  • United States Equestrian Federation Pegasus Award — Broadcast Media Excellence.
  • Creator, Writer, Producer & Host | Real Horse Rescues (2015) — A 13-episode television series broadcast on ABC-10, documenting equine rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary.
  • Documentary Film | Our Dark Horse (2026) — Featured participant in the documentary directed by Grace Barry, filmed over three years at Unbridled Sanctuary. Sold-out world premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival.


ANIMAL ETHICS, PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY

  • Founder & CEO | Unbridled Sanctuary (2004–Present) — Established and leads a nationally recognized equine protection, sanctuary, and humane education organization.
  • Presenter | Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, University of Oxford — Summer School for Animal Ethics, with presentations spanning 2019–2024.
  • Speaker | New York State Senate & Assembly Public Hearings (2019–2021) — Testimony addressing Thoroughbred welfare, horse slaughter, and legislative protections.
  • Equine Protection Legislation — Advocacy contributing to landmark New York State legislation strengthening protections for horses.
  • The Stable Classroom — Creator of an educational initiative integrating literacy, empathy, critical thinking, and animal ethics through the true stories of rescued horses.


HONORS & RECOGNITION

  • 2025 A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award — American Association of Equine Practitioners, recognizing exceptional contributions to equine protection and welfare through Unbridled Sanctuary.
  • ​2026 Changemaker Award — Presented by New York Independent Media in recognition of outstanding contributions to the community through equine advocacy, education, and animal protection.
  • 2026 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics — Organizational recognition for Unbridled Sanctuary.
  • Multiple Telly Awards — Television production excellence.
  • USEF Pegasus Award — Broadcast Media Excellence.


VOICE NARRATION

  • Preparing You and Your Horse for the First Off-the-Property Ride by Nanette Levin.


EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Certified Humane Education Specialist — Academy of Prosocial Learning, 2017.
  • More than four decades of professional experience in Thoroughbred racing, breeding, and equestrian sport.
  • International equestrian experience in competitive show jumping and Thoroughbred racing.

Writer | Animal Ethicist | Founder & CEO, Unbridled Sanctuary

I write from where animal ethics meets lived experience.

My life with horses has taken me from the worlds of equestrian sport and Thoroughbred racing to slaughter auctions, rescue operations, public policy, documentary filmmaking, and the Sanctuary I founded in 2004.

For more than two decades, I have worked to challenge the assumptions that govern how horses are valued, used, and understood. My advocacy has contributed to landmark equine protection legislation in New York State, and I have presented my work at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics Summer School held at Merton College. 

Before founding Unbridled Sanctuary, I created and hosted award-winning equestrian television programming, including UNBRIDLED TV. Today, my work encompasses writing, film, humane education, and public discourse. I have published more than 100 weekly newspaper columns exploring the lives of horses and our ethical responsibilities toward them.

I am featured in Our Dark Horse, a documentary filmed over three years at Unbridled Sanctuary, making its sold-out world premiere at the 2026 Woodstock Film Festival. My current literary work includes the Coming Home series, and I continue developing The Stable Classroom, an educational initiative rooted in the true stories of rescued horses.

In 2025, Unbridled Sanctuary received the American Association of Equine Practitioners' A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to equine protection and welfare.

A horse's life matters to the horse who is living it.

That conviction is the foundation of my work. I am interested in moving our understanding beyond what horses can do for us toward a deeper consideration of who they are: individuals with memory, agency, relationships, preferences, and lives that matter to them.

It is what I call the who-ness of horses.