Retiring horses from the track - how to go about it

Leon,

Would that be to smoke or eat?

Doesn't the National Throughbred Trust look after abandoned, retired racehorses?
I'm not sure if I'mbarking up the wrong tree here, but I thought there was an organisation who tries to help where they can?

Considering the millions spent on horses at advertised sales it is sad that there is no retirement options for the HORSE.
Nobody involved in racing feels we have a responsibility to these magnificent beasts.It takes time to rehabilitate and school horses from racing,TBs are not childrens horses they are highly strung ultra intelligent horses.Steroid and drug abuse during their training also put show and jumping people off them because it is impossible to put weight on them and they cant perform and a lot of them have liver prolems and psychological problems.

What about all the TBs that land up at Krugersdorp abattoir is this what these horses deserve yet at the sales they are all touted as the next superstars.

I feel that EVERYBODY involved in racing Breeders,Owners,Trainers,Punters,PHUMELELA and the VETS should contribute to a fund to finance a retirement and rehabilitation centre for TBs.
THis in turn could serve as a trainers training school,a jockey and workrider school.

I love racing but i love the horses more.

Thanks Superstar!

Hey sugahorse... I am the person who has Tommy Hotspur I've had the old man since his retirement in 1999, and he will be with me till then end! He is much loved, and the Alexanders still are very much part of his life!

The rehoming of Tb's has always been a bug bear of mine... But I try my best to rehome as many as I can (from the last yard I worked at) with people that I know personally, although it is not always possible. I keep in contact with many of the new owners, and I encourage them to post photos of the stable alumni on a facebook fan page. I like to think that by doing this I am playing my little part... The downside is that I have ended up with so many horses that I own, and lease out to other people on "care agreements", where they agree to a certain level of care, and return the horses to me should they be unable to care for them anymore. It has worked wonders through the years!

I like the Ferraris solution - all retirees go to the Highveld Horsescare Unit (incorporationg the National Horses Trust), and are re-homed in monitored homes. unfortunately it all comes down to the money issue... *sigh*

You're fast Tommy_Hotspur!

I think my class record down the Gosforth park straight still stands to this day.....I think



Rubyclipper....Great work with Tommy and with all the other horses you take care of. You are a SUPERSTAR!!!

Tommy looks great. He is, was and always will be my favourite racehorse. He was simple and uncomplicated. Go like hell and run them of their feet!!

Thanks again, for what its worth!!!

Ruby we need a pic

Well here is my precious friend, who is affectionately known as Thomas in his twilight years (he turned 17 this year)... the pic was taken in May this year, and he was having a bit of a gallop, which is still what he loves best in life!!!

Attached files [img]/wp-content/uploads/attachments/123591=353-Tommy Hotspur.bmp[/img]

It is quite amazing that he looks even better with some nice condition on him.
He really looks superb!!!

Great job Ruby!!!!

Thank you Tommy!!!

he certainly does look well, fantastic stuff ruby!

Let's take a leaf out of California's book:

The California Horse Racing Board has taken a lot of heat in the last several years for some of their actions, but they deserve a great deal of credit for approving a unique program in December 2007 allowing horse owners to give a small portion of the purse money they earn to the California Retirement Management Account (or CARMA), a fund-raising organization that contributes to retirement, adoption and retraining operations for retired California Thoroughbreds.
It’s doubtful the program would have gotten off the ground were it not for the efforts of Madeline Auerbach, who is passionate about many facets of the Thoroughbred industry, particularly animal welfare issues. “This is an idea whose time had come,” she said
CARMA is unique in that it is an opt-out program, meaning that CARMA will receive three-tenths of one percent from purses unless the owner instructs the racetrack paymaster that he does not want to participate. Some other programs that have raised money for retirement homes have done it on an opt-in basis, meaning you have to try and recruit people to contribute.
As a result, Auerbach said CARMA has roughly 80% participation from California owners. “It’s staggering,” she said.
“A lot of people were pushing to make this opt-in,” said Auerbach. “I knew people wouldn’t participate. I said it’s either opt out or we won’t do it.”
With a $200,000 endowment contribution from the Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel Foundation, CARMA was off and running in 2008. A fund-raiser made $150,000, and the owner’s contributions could be right around $200,000 annually. CARMA made its first group of grants of $150,000 last year.
Auerbach, who chairs the 501(c)3 organization, said CARMA will be focusing more on programs that place ex-racehorses with new owners or retrain them for second careers.
“We have a great process,” she said. “We look at the financials and fundraising efforts of the organizations applying for grants. We also go look at the facilities.”
CARMA relies on volunteers for many of those duties. Lucinda Mandella, who shares her time working for Thoroughbred Owners of California, is CARMA’s only paid staffer.
The program is making a difference, Auerbach believes. “We make surprise visits to the farms,” she said. “We’re seeing improvements in the condition of the horses. Their teeth are getting floated and they are receiving more veterinary care.”
For more information on CARMA, go to www.carma4horses.org