The Final Owner

The wonder of the Thoroughbred racehorse, and the quality that draws us to them, is their genetic need to run as far and as fast as they can. Added to the traditional training they receive, the effort they put out in any race surpasses the heights achieved by human athletes during Championship encounters in basketball, football or even marathon racing. Like all great athletes, they are prone to injury - in fact, especially prone: when they are competing, over 1,000 pounds of muscle and bone land jarringly on spindly front legs 120 times every quarter of a mile. They tell us about their injuries by the manner in which they eat, walk, canter and respond to human handling.

So the vigilant owner must be a consistent monitor of the horse's condition. Once the physical signs of deterioration begin to show up, decisive action must be taken. The question the owner must now face when, sadly, the horse's career is threatened by serious injury is, what do we do? It is particularly difficult when the horse is unfit for breeding. Experienced owners often have people willing to give the horse a home, where it may be used as a riding or "pleasure" horse after six or so months of recuperation and retraining.

For those who own farms as well as thoroughbreds, the question of maintaining an injured horse is the decision to provide food and pasture. A large majority of owners do not have the luxury available. A minimum fee for care at a boarding farm is between $3 and $8 a day. Given a life expectancy of 15 to 20 more years (after its brief racing career), a retired horse becomes a major non-returnable investment.

It's hard to pull your heart away from a horse you own. They do become something more than an investment, no matter how tough-minded you are. But there is an investment you can make that insures a workable future for horses who can no longer race and cannot or should not be consigned for breeding. The NTRA's Racehorse Adoption Referral Program serves as a clearinghouse to facilitate the adoption of Thoroughbreds with no future in racing or breeding. One toll-free call to 877-576-NTRA (6872) gives a Thoroughbred owner access to a database of nearby organizations that place ex-racehorses in good homes.

Equine Adoption Agencies

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)'s Charities serves as a clearinghouse of information for people interested in adopting racehorses throughout the country. They have provided us with the following list of organizations that provide equine adoption, retirement, rescue, and rehabilitation services.

For additional information, contact the NTRA Racehorse Adoption Referral Program at 877-576-NTRA (6872), or the Thoroughbred Adoption and Retirement Association, Inc. (TARA) at (859) 865-4577.

ALASKA

Alaska Equine Rescue
888-LUV-HORS
P.O. Box 61334
Fairbanks, AK 99706

CALIFORNIA

California Equine Retirement Foundation (CERF)
909-926-4190
34033 Kooden Road,
Winchester, CA 92593
www.cerfhorses.org cerf@pe.net
Contact: Grace Belcour

Equus Sanctuary
818-768-3469
P.O. Box 3273,
Glendale, CA 91221
www.equus.org linda@equus.org
Contact: Linda Moss

Exceller Fund, Inc.
(TARA associate member)
818-368-2871
Contact: Bonnie Mizrahi
17172 Armstead St.,
Granada Hills, CA 91344
www.excellerfund.org
E-mail: mail@excellerfund.org

HorseAid
310-719-9094
P.O. Box 6778 - Dept. AHC
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90734
Contact: Stacy Layne Wilson

Tranquility Farm
P.O. Box 210
Tehachapi, CA 93581
www.tranquilityfarmtbs.org
Email: info@tranquilityfarmtbs.org
Contact: Priscilla Clark

COLORADO

Colorado Horse Rescue
720-494-1414
10386 N. 65th Street,
Longmont, CO 80505
www.chr.org
chr@privatei.com
Contact: Karen Wheeler

Horse Protection League
303-216-0141
P.O. Box 741089,
Arvada, CO 80006
www.cohpl.org
info@cohpl.org

CONNECTICUT

H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, Inc.
860-868-1960
43 Wilbur Road, Washington, CT 06777
www.horseofct.org
Contact: Patty Wahlers

DELAWARE

Horse Lovers United, Inc.
410-749-3599
www.horseloversunited.com
horse@shore.intercom.net
Contact: Lorraine Truitt

New York Horse Rescue Corp.
877-874-9420
P.O. Box 435

www.nyhr.org
Contact: Mona Kanciper

FLORIDA

Horse Protection Association of Florida, Inc.
305-245-2909
P.O. Box 700010,
Miami, FL 33170
www.hpaf.org
director@hpaf.org
Contact: Morgan Silver

Humane Organization for Retired Standardbred Equines
863-357-7805
P.O. Box 2948,
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Horsefl@hotmail.com
Contact: Maureen Kleiman

GEORGIA

Georgia Equine Rescue League, Ltd.
770-464-0138
P.O. Box 88549,
Atlanta, Georgia 30356-8549
www.gerlltd.org
info@gerlltd.org
Contact: Marty Paulk

ILLINOIS

Hooved Animal Humane Society
815-337-5563
10804 McConnell Road,
Woodstock, IL 60098
www.hahs.org
Contact: Lydia Miller, DVM

Canter
630-830-5548
www.horses-canter.net
canter@jumpinghorse.net
Contact: Denise Fillo

Donatemyhorse.com
Kickapoo Farms
847-844-9070
31W952 Penny Road
Barrington, IL 60010
Fax 847-844-9073
Contact: Meggan Hill-McQueeney

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

ReRun, Inc.
P.O. Box 113, Helmetta, NJ 08828
Phone: 732-521-1370
www.rerun.org
jerryshon@bellsouth.net
Contact: Shon Wylie, Founder, Chapter Director

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
www.trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

MARYLAND

Days End Farm Horse Rescue
301-854-5037
15856 Frederick Road / P.O. Box 309
Lisbon, MD 21765
www.defhr.org
defhr@erols.com
Contact: Kathleen Schwartz

Equine Rescue League
703-771-1240
www.equinerescueleague.org
Contact: Pat Rogers

Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc.
410-343-2142
16724 Miller Lane,
Parkton, MD 21120
www.horserescue.com
Contact: Deborah Rollins Frank

Forgotten Thoroughbreds, Inc.
15094 Frederick Road
Woodbine, MD 21797
443-324-7140
Tina Scheuch, President/Founder
Judie Furie, Executive Vice-President/Co-Founder
forgottenthoroughbreds@gmail.com
www.forgottenthoroughbreds.com

Greener Pastures, Inc.
National Humane Education Society
410-885-2000
P.O. Box 636,
Chesapeake City, MD 21915
Contact: William Kropp

Horse Lovers United, Inc.
410-749-3599
P.O. Box 2744,
Salisbury, MD 21802
www.horseloversunited.com
horse@shore.intercom.net
Contact: Lorraine Truitt

Lost & Found Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
www.lfhr.org
lostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

MASSACHUSETTS

Kings Bridge Equine Rescue, Inc.
413-283-7419
7 Kings Bridge Road,
Brimfield, MA 01010
rescue@amicon.net
http://www.equineresq.org/

MICHIGAN

CANTER
734-455-0639
10801 Last Dr.,
Plymouth, MI 48170
www.horses-canter.net
canter@jumpinghorse.net
Contact: Jo Anne Normile

Second Career Racehorses
616-913-2700
25 South Division
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
scr@cybernet-usa.com
Contact: Krista Kotlarz-Watson

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

NEW JERSEY

Lost & Found Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
www.lfhr.org
horserescuelostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

ReRun, Inc.
P.O. Box 113, Helmetta, NJ 08828
Phone: 732-521-1370
www.rerun.org
rerunnj@comcast.net
Contact: Laurie Condurso-Lane, President & Adoption Coordinator

Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF)
732-462-8773
P.O. Box 763,
Freehold, NJ 07728
www.adoptahorse.org
srfmail@bellatlantic.net
Contact: Judith Bokman

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
450 Shrewsbury Plaza, Ste. 351
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
www.trfinc.org
www.trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

NEW YORK

New York Horse Rescue Corp.
877-874-9420
P.O. Box 435,
Manorville, NY 11949
www.nyhr.org
Contact: Mona Kanciper

Lost and Found Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
www.lfhr.org
www.lostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

ReRun, Inc.
P.O. Box 113, Helmetta, NJ 08828
Phone: 315-440-6823
www.rerun.org
reruntb@yahoo.com
Contact: Sue Swart, Treasurer, Chapter Director

Western NY Equine Sanctuary
716-438-0182
6781 Ridge Road,
Lockport, NY 14094
Contact: Carol Ann Piazza

OHIO

CANTER
330-659-2039
www.canterusa.org
canter@jumpinghorse.net
Contact: Nancy Scott

H.O.R.S.E. of Ohio
740-867-5905
979 County Road 115
Chesapeake, OH 45619
NancyRN@aol.com
Contact: Nancy Reich

Last Chance Corral
740-594-4336
5350 Pomeroy Road
Athens, OH 45701
www.frognet.net/~lccorral
lccorral@frognet.net
Contact: Victoria Goss

New Vocations Racehorse
937-947-4020
Adoption Program
3293 Wright Road
Laura, OH 45337
www.horseadoption.com
info@horseadoption.com
Contact: Dot Morgan

PENNSYLVANIA

Bright Futures Farm
814-827-8270
44793 Harrison Road
Spartansburg, PA 16434
bdee@brightfuturesfarm.org
Contact: Beverlee Dee

Double D Equine Rescue
717-933-4648
9312 Old Route 22
Bethel, PA 19507
Contact: Debbie Polasek

Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc.
410-343-2142
www.horserescue.com
Contact: Deborah Rollins Frank

Harness Horse Retirement & Youth Association, Inc.
570-725-7979
RD 1, Box 81
Loganton, PA 17747
Contact: Anne McCloskey

Lost & Found Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
852 Valley Road
York, PA 17403
www.lfhr.org
horserescuelostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

New York Horse Rescue Corporation
877-874-9420
P.O. Box 435
Manorville, NY 11949
www.nyhr.org
Contact: Mona Kanciper

Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines
610-469-0533
1710 Ridge Road
Pottstown, PA 19465
www.ryerss.com
ryerss@aol.com
Contact: Joseph Donahue

Wind Ridge Farm Equine Sanctuary
717-432-2959
1981 Ridge Road
Wellsville, PA 17365
Contact: Gary Barnes

TEXAS

Sam Houston Race Park
281-807-8700, ext. 8144
7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W.,
Houston, TX 77064
www.shrp.com
Contact: Adopt-A-Horse Program Coordinator

VIRGINIA

Equine Rescue League
703-771-1240
P.O. Box 4366
Leesburg, VA 22712
www.equinerescueleague.org
Contact: Pat Rogers

Horse Lovers United, Inc.
410-749-3599
www.horseloversunited.com
horse@shore.intercom.net
Contact: Lorraine Truitt

Lost & Found Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
www.lfhr.org
horserescuelostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

New York Horse Rescue Corporation
877-874-9420
P.O. Box 435
Manorville, NY 11949
www.nyhr.org
Contact: Mona Kanciper

ReRun, Inc.
804-369-5433
www.rerun.org
rerunhorse@kih.net
Contact: Paul Linn

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

VERMONT

H.O.R.S.E. of Vermont
802-644-2759
525 VT Rt. 109
Jeffersonville, VT 05264
HORSEVT@sover.net
Contact: Terry Holden

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
www.trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

WEST VIRGINIA

CANTER
703-426-2507
www.canterusa.org
canter@jumpinghorse.net
Contact: Krista Bracken

Equine Rescue League
703-771-1240
www.equinerescueleague.org
Contact: Pat Rogers

Lost & Round Horse Rescue
717-428-9701
www.lfhr.org
horserescuelostandfound@blazenet.net
Contact: Kelly Young

WISCONSIN

American Standardbred Adoption Program
608-637-8045
Rt. 1, Box 82
DeSoto, WI 54624
Contact: Susan Wellman

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
800-728-1660
www.trfinc.org
trfinc@msn.com
Contact: Diana Pikulski

WYOMING

Horse Protection League
303-216-0141
www.scohpl.org
www.silverwood@nmWeb.com
Contact: Claudia Wilson

CANADA

ONTARIO

LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society
416-675-3993, ext. 3440
555 Rexdale Blvd.
P.O. Box 156, Rexdale, Ontario M9W5L2
Contact: Vicki Pappas, Chairperson