 
Unfortunately, upon retiring, some of the very finest athletes are abused, neglected, and even slaughtered. These athletes, of course, are racehorses. A Thoroughbred no longer able to race is a financial burden that many owners cannot bear. Each year, thousands of racehorses are auctioned off for fractions of their net worth, often only to be purchased by "killer-buyers," middlemen who immediately resell the animals to slaughterhouses, which in turn export horsemeat to countries such as France, Belgium, and Japan. While many oppose this practice and are seeking to pass a federal bill preventing horse slaughter in the U.S., one organization in particular, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, is making great strides to save these magnificent athletes. Established in 1982, the TRF works to provide homes and lifelong support for racehorses no longer able to compete. The nonprofit program was founded by an advertising agency owner, Monique S. Koehler, whose curious nature led her to learn about the bleak future awaiting racehorses. In a quest for land to house the horses, Koehler stumbled upon the perfect complement to the TRF: state prisons. While initially the main attraction was the surplus land surrounding state correctional facilities, it soon became clear that a partnership between state prisons and the TRF could be much more rewarding. The first TRF farm was created in partnership with the Wallkill Correctional Facility in Upstate New York, where inmates received enough training in equine care to properly tend to the horses. Eventually, similar programs were established at facilities in Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, and Oklahoma, expanding to include facilities for female and juvenile inmates. At each prison farm, twenty-five to thirty-five inmates participate in the program, working to clean the stables and groom the horses, change horseshoes, and nurse the sick and injured back to health. The program's benefits are widespread. The inmates regain a sense of responsibility and self-worth, form unconditional bonds with the horses, and leave the facilities with a new set of skills and often a certificate in stable management. The horses have the privilege of living out their retirement — and their lives — in peace and safety. The TRF has helped thousands of retired horses and is currently caring for more than 1,300. Most of them enjoy their days as "pasture pets," comfortably relaxing at one of the foundation’s farms, cared for by private farm owners themselves with a stipend from the TRF. There are currently twenty-odd satellite farms in fourteen states, including Kentucky, South Carolina, and Virginia. Some Thoroughbreds are strong enough to undergo training, and eventually go on to have second careers as show horses, playing polo, or doing police work. Others are rehabilitated and adopted into caring homes. While the TRF is cautious in its adoption process, it is thrilled to find suitable and loving owners. For every horse adopted there is an opening for another retiree — and another chance at a happy ending for a deserving athlete. GET INVOLVED For more information on adopting TRF horses or others ways to get involved, visit the foundation’s website at: www.trfinc.org Learn More |
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