By JOE DRAPE Published: October 28, 2011

Under pressure from the charities bureau of the New York State attorney general’s office, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation conceded it was short of money on Thursday and put out an “urgent plea” for horse lovers across the nation to adopt one of its herd of former racehorses.

Rob Hinkle, president of the foundation, said it was looking for 100 horse owners or farms to take two to five horses for a minimum of a year in the hopes of reducing its herd of 1,100 by up to half.

“Like thousands of other nonprofit organizations throughout the country, T.R.F. has been adversely affected by the downturn in the economy,” Hinkle said in a statement. “Drought and flood conditions have contributed to the rising costs and shortages of hay and feed, and we are coming into winter.”

The plea comes in the midst of a seven-month investigation by the attorney general’s office into complaints about fiscal irresponsibility and improper care given to former racehorses by the foundation, one of the largest private organizations in the world dedicated to retired thoroughbreds.

The investigation was opened in March after articles in The New York Times about how, despite receiving millions in donations, the T.R.F. has been operating at a deficit for the past two years, owing money to many of its more than 30 satellite farms, and how horses had been neglected and malnourished to the point some had either died or were euthanized.

John C. Moore, chairman of the foundation’s executive committee, said the organization was providing financial documents to investigators and making board and staff members available for interviews. He said the T.R.F. had virtually depleted a $1 million line of credit that it took out to stay current with the farms it contracts with to shelter its horses.

He acknowledged that the foundation, based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., was in poor financial shape. From 2001 to 2005, it took in more than 1,000 horses, straining its thin resources.

“We’ve had a hand-to-mouth existence ever since,” he said.

Moore said the T.R.F. met with representatives of the attorney general’s charities bureau on Oct. 18 and was told the foundation had three weeks to demonstrate it had the financial wherewithal and will to carry out its mission to provide for retired racehorses.

“We were told we need to come back with several six-figure gifts from donors as well as beef up our board,” Moore said. “We are not filled with Rockefellers or Mellons.”

Over the years, the foundation’s board has included some of horse racing’s most influential owners, and the farms it contracts with have been homes to many of the horses those owners have bred and campaigned. Tom Ludt, the current chairman of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, for example, was chairman of the foundation until August and remains on its board.

Moore also said that the organization was told it must reduce its herd size. That, he said, was why it went public with its plea. The foundation pledges to pick up veterinarian and farrier costs if the adoptive farms request it, but it will not pay the $3 to $3.50 per day per horse it currently pays the farms that stable its horses.

“We have 55 horses in foster care today, and we need to get up to 200 or 250 horses,” Moore said.

Lauren Passalacqua, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, declined to comment on the investigation into the foundation because it is continuing.

Last December, the estate of the breeder and owner Paul Mellon, which in 2001 established a $5 million endowment for the foundation and later contributed $2 million more, hired a veterinarian to evaluate the health of the herd after years of concern about the foundation.

When the doctor, Stacey Huntington, reported that many of the horses required urgent care and were in various states of neglect, and that the foundation’s education of the caretakers and its oversight of their farms were poor, she was fired by the board.

Beverly Carter, another co-executor, is skeptical that the foundation can meet the attorney general’s demands at all — let alone in the face of a looming deadline.

She said, “We are concerned about how they are going to do in three weeks what they haven’t been able to do in seven years.”

• Curb appeal. Before taking pictures, take the time to clip and groom your horse. A little extra spit shine can make all the difference. A  clean polished look makes a horse sparkle and stand out from the crowd. Grooming to his disciple (i.e. braids for a hunter horse) will help him look the part.
• Action shots. Get pictures of your horse doing what he does best. Buyers want to see him at work. Action shots help provide a complete picture of who is and what he can do.
• Clutter-free. Pick a back drop that is clean and clutter-free. Buildings, fences, and other horses distract from what’s really important, your horse. Be sure that your horse is at the forefront of the picture.
• Professional. Don’t be afraid to call in a professional to help you get great pictures. A professional will know just what to do to get your horse at his best. If you can’t afford a special barn call, the right show or event photo could do the trick.

Does

Don’ts

• Advertising. Getting the word out is your best bet for finding a potential buyer. Flyers and for sale signs can only reach a small audience. Magazines or newspapers can help you reach a more targeted or local audience. Equine auctions provide a larger audience with a quick turn around. Internet advertising offers the opportunity to attract national or even international buyers.
• Price. Be realistic and competitive when deciding on a price. Research the market place and compare other horses of similar type,  training, age, conformation, skill, personality, color, breeding, etc. Seeking the advice of a professional (equine appraiser, trainer, vet) may be helpful to ensure you offer a fair and competitive selling price.
• Ad Write up. Tell potential buyers as much about your horse as possible. Include information about his or her training, pedigree, and experience level. Make sure your text information follows your pictures and video. Information such as why you’re selling it, age, conformation, injuries, vet records, shoes, de-worming, if it loads, clips, and ties helps the potential make the decision of which one is worth calling about.
• Curb Appeal. Keep your horse is properly groomed, clipped and shod. Keep your horse fit for his job. Muscle sells better than fat and you don’t want your horse to not behave or be gasping for air when the potential buyer comes to see him. Potential buyers like to look at a horse when you least expect it so its important to keep you horse looking and feeling his best at all times.
• NEXT WEEK: Tips for talking to potential buyers

For Immediate Release:

The final Championship of the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and Show went Debbie Honeycutt, who piloted her horse A Bueno Chic to the Championship of the National Reining Horse Association Limited Non Pro.

Honeycutt won $139, a Montana Silversmiths buckle, and an NRHA trophy.

The Crossett, Arkansas, Non Pro purchased A Bueno Chic, nicknamed Scooter, only a month ago through Casey Deary, after her other horse was sidelined for an injury. “I was actually driving to pick him up from the vet, and I was almost there when they called and said he wasn’t ready to come home. It’s an eight hour trip, so I didn’t know what to do,” she said. Her next call was to Deary, who had coached her at Rookie Day, to see if he had any horses for sale. “This horse was a gift from God. He was not even for sale before I got there. That day his previous owner called Casey and said she had to sell him. I got there and tried him and fell in love. He was the most wonderful thing I had ever ridden.”

Honeycutt thanked her husband Beacher Ferrell, Deary, and Jesus.

Elaine Latimer of Marietta, Oklahoma, won the Limited Non Pro Reserve Championship with a 70 on Electric Getaway. Along with a check for $95, she received a Kyle Tack saddle pad. Electric Getaway is by Jacs Electric Spark out of Getaway Lark.

Complete results can be found on www.swrha.com.

Built in 1937, the historic Hardy Murphy Coliseum has been a mainstay as an Ardmore tourist attraction. Primarily designed to host horse and livestock shows, recent renovations to the facility have given it the flexibility to host even more events. Along with the space upgrades that allow the facility to stall 500 horses, the addition of air conditioning provides Hardy Murphy with the competitive ability to attract national and regional events. The renovations have resulted in a premier competitive equine facility.

For more information on the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, or to inquire about the SWRHA, please call 580-759-2929, or visit www.swrha.com.

The National Equine Resource Network’s (NERN) low-cost gelding clinic program launched earlier this year in California has already reduced the future equine population in the state by as many as 395

horses. To date, NERN has held seven low cost gelding clinics in partnership with local veterinarians and other non profit equine welfare organizations, in the horse-rich communities of Salinas, Cottonwood, and Oakdale, among others.

Shirley Puga, NERN Founder, said her organization initiated the gelding program as an effective and proactive tool to reduce the neglect, abandonment and sale for slaughter of horses across the country who are suffering from the economy, right along with their owners.

Since the average privately owned stallion will sire approximately 5 foals in its lifetime, the 79 horses gelded by the low cost NERN clinics has potentially reduced the burden of 395 new horses on the market.

NERN has several more clinics planned for the Fall in horse communities such as Ramona and Norco. By year-end, NERN should exceed its 2011 goal of creating 100 new geldings and reducing future population by 500 new horses.

“We are creating a template that can be used by local equine veterinarians, equine rescuers and other advocates,” Puga said. She commented that the program in California is designed as a model that can easily be used anywhere in the country. NERN wants to make the low cost gelding clinic model available to all interested parties, along with the necessary seed money to implement local programs.

A leading equine sanctuary in Washington state has already committed to holding one of the first out of state clinics next year, and it is hoped that many more will follow suit as the final model becomes available.

“Although the so-called ‘backyard breeders’ contribute only a small part to our country’s excess horses, it is hoped by showing a major reduction in this area, commercial breeders will also take more responsibility for the over population by practicing more responsible breeding and not depending upon equine slaughter to deal with their living by-product,” Puga said.

An interesting additional benefit of these clinics is that they have provided valuable hands-on experience for numerous vet students and interns.  Shirley extends her gratitude to the veterinary community for contributing their expert services at greatly reduced rates, to responsible, yet financially challenged horse owners.

NERN brings horse owners, equine welfare organizations, and veterinary professionals together to make them all part of the solution to the excess horse problem.

To help NERN continue to expand the gelding clinics and other proactive programs, please visit the website at nationalequine.org to make a tax deductible donation.

Contact: Shirley Puga, Executive Director, 760-419-2462 nationalequine@gmail.com

For the second time in her career, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected Rochelle “Shelly” Temple and her Morgan, LR Ami B-Line, to represent the United States at the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia, September 21-25, 2011.

Making the United States team has been a year-long process for “Cooper,” Shelly, and her navigator/husband, Fran Doto. They and other members of the long listed drivers have been competing and training under the tutelage of U.S. driving coach, Michael Freund. For the past couple of months, several long listed drivers have trained and competed in Europe. In August, Shelly was fifth at the German National Championship in Minden, Germany, where she won the dressage and cones classes for single ponies.

Shelly acknowledges the team aspect of combined driving: “I am thankful for the USEF’s support and the training and instruction from Michael Freund over the past year,” she said. “Michael’s coaching has been instrumental at improving all aspects of my driving. I also appreciate the support of the individual donors and corporate sponsors whose products keep Cooper health, fit, and in top form: Kentucky Equine Research, Kombat Boots, Purina Feeds, Omega Fields, ThinLine, Leather Therapy, and Charles Owens. This is truly a team sport and I couldn’t be competing next week in the World Championships without the generosity of sponsors and all the great people who have donated to Team Catalyst.”

Other members of the USEF World Pony Driving Team are Miranda Cadwell, Jennifer Matheson, Wendy O’Brien, Laurie Astegiano, and Allison Stroud. Suzy Stafford will compete as an individual.

Chester Weber will serve as the Chef d’Equipe and Michael Freund will serve as coach.

U.S. coverage will be available here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/coverage/archives.aspx

To follow Shelly and Team Catalyst World Championship efforts visit: http://catalystdriving.blogspot.com.

by: Pat Raia
September 08 2011, Article # 18787

Thanks to record summer temperatures and persistent drought, several wildfires have flared in Texas this year, according to information contained on the Texas Forest Service website. Since Sept. 1 the Texas Forest Service has responded to 181 fires covering a total of 118,413 acres. On Sept. 5 the agency responded to 22 new fires affecting 7,544 acres, including 10 new large fires, according to the website. As of Sept. 6, firefighters continued the struggle to control the blazes.

Throughout the Labor Day weekend, Texas horse owners used Facebook and other Internet avenues to share news about available resources including transportation, feed, and shelter beyond the fire zone. But veteran firefighter Gina Gonzales, of the Loveland Fire Rescue in Loveland, Colo., and an assistant instructor for The Large Animal Emergency Rescue Inc. (TLAER), said evacuation is not an option for some owners. When that’s the case, owners should take these “shelter in place” steps before the fire advances:

• Stock water: Fill every available bucket, trough, and other container with enough water to accommodate animals for between five and seven days.
• Stock feed: Horses sheltered in place should have enough feed to accommodate them for between five and seven days.
• Gather hand tools: Have metal shovels and heavy-duty metal rakes on hand to extinguish cinders that might fall onto your property. “Wind can carry cinders as far as a quarter mile,” Gonzales said. “Hand tools are the best way to extinguish them.”
• Gather equine identification information: Owners will need definitive identification to reclaim animals displaced during a wildfire event or other disaster from animal control or welfare authorities.
• Mark your animals: Animals should also be marked with the owner’s name and contact information. Gonzales recommends owners use indelible markers to write this information on horses’ hooves, or on duct tape placed on the horses’ neck or buttocks.
• Mark your property: Place placards on property fence gates informing firefighters that animals are being sheltered in place there. Owners should also include their names and contact information.
• Remove horses from barns: Horses should be relocated from barns even if those structures are equipped with sprinkler systems. Paddocks or metal-construction areas provide safer shelter. Close up the barn to prevent scared horses from running back inside and becoming trapped.
• Be alert to signs of smoke inhalation: Along with risk of lacerations and other injuries, horses sheltered in place run the risk of smoke inhalation. Owners should be able to recognize signs that their horses have inhaled smoke. “If you see soot around your horse’s eyes or coming out of its nose, that horse has been breathing smoke,” Gonzales said.

Keith Taraba, DVM, of the Northeast Texas Equine Services in Pittsburg, said risk of smoke inhalation could last up to 30 days after fires have been extinguished. Left untreated, smoke inhalation can have long-term consequences including lung cancer in horses. Veterinarians treat smoke inhalation with antibiotics, as well as drugs that dilate airways and steroid drugs that reduce tissue inflammation.

“If owners find their horses coughing, sneezing, or breathing more heavily than usual, they should seek treatment as soon as possible,” Taraba said.

Finally, Gonzales recommends that owners residing in wildfire-prone areas reduce fire-damage risks by creating so-called “defensible spaces” around their properties.

Defensible spaces are 100-foot perimeters that surround barns, paddocks, homes, and other structures. These spaces are devoid of overgrown brush, flammable chemicals, or trees that could fuel cinders emanating from wildfires.

“If you have a defensible space, be sure your horses are placed within it if you have to shelter in place,” Gonzales said.

The American Horse Council reports that the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2012.  This bill provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 2012 fiscal year (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012) and contains several provisions of interest to the horse industry.

The Senate bill authorized different levels of funding for various USDA programs than the House bill (H.R. 2112) passed on June 1, 2011.  The AHC reported on the House Appropriations Committee approval of the USDA funding bill for 2012 fiscal year.

USDA Funding

The Senate bill sets overall funding for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inpsection Service (APHIS) at $820.1 million.  APHIS is the agency responsible for responding to disease outbreaks.  This is approximately $36 million more than the House-approved funding level of $783.4 million.

The Senate bill is $43 million less than FY2011 levels and $12 million less than the President’s FY2012 budget request.  By comparison, the House bill was $80 million less than FY2011 levels and $49 million below the President’s request for FY2012.  However, the Senate bill maintained funding for equine, cervid, and small ruminant health at $22 million in accordance with the President’s request and the House bill.

The Senate bill funds the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at $1.01 billion.  ARS is USDA’s chief scientific research agency and has played a critical role in mitigating the health and economic impacts equine infectious diseases, such as Equine Piroplasmosis, have had on the horse industry.  The Senate bill is approximately $100 million more than the House bill authorized.

The Senate bill is $40 million less than FY2011 levels and the President’s FY2012 budget request; however, the House bill was $146 million less than FY2011 levels and $150 million below the President’s FY2012 request.

The Senate also provided $7 million for the new animal disease traceability system, which USDA published a proposed rule on in August 2011.  You can view the AHC’s information on the new animal disease traceability program.

Horse Protection Act

The Senate bill approved funding for enforcement of the Horse Protection Act at $891,000 which is the same amount as the President’s FY2012 budget request and $400,000 more than the House bill authorized.

Equine Transport

The Senate bill also included committee report language expressing concern with the lack of progress on USDA’s 2007 proposed rule changes under the Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter Act.  The Senate Committee directed USDA to finalize the rule before October 1, 2011.  USDA published the final rule yesterday, September 7, 2011.

Status

This bill must now be approved by the full Senate, and go through a conference committee with representatives from both the Senate and the House to resolve any differences between the two bills.

If you have any questions regarding this bill please call the AHC.

Saturday, October 1,2011 – Start at 8:00 am
Royse/Redlands Arena, El Reno, Oklahoma – 9304 N. Hwy 81
Judge: John Abrams

Okla. Appaloosa Horse Club Fun Fall & Open Horse Show

Current Negative Coggins must accompany all horses bought on show grounds and be shown at office. No Exceptions..State Law

No tennis shoes or bare feet or sandals for those exhibiting horses, please.

ApHC rules apply to all ApHC classes.
For more information
Charlie Hall 405-787-9870

Class Fee (No ApHC point fees)        $8 each
Office Fee (per horse)                        $10
Day Stall-Sat. only (first come basis) $30 each