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Nominations Open For The Right Horse Initiative’s Good People For Good Horses Awards

The Right Horse Initiative strongly believes that great work deserves to be recognized and celebrated. From the veterinarians, farriers, volunteers and trainers to the incredible storytellers who help spread the word about equine adoption, it takes a network of support to help each horse find a wonderful home. The second annual Good People for Good Horses Awards will recognize these hardworking members of the equine community who dedicate their time and talents to helping horses in transition.

“The Good People for Good Horses Awards is an opportunity to acknowledge those working tirelessly to care for horses in need and help them find loving homes,” said Christie Schulte Kappert, Program Director of The Right Horse Initiative. “We look forward to celebrating the unwavering dedication of these individuals across the country who, despite a challenging year, continue to step up for horses in transition.”

The Right Horse Initiative invites all members of the horse community to nominate one or more U.S.-based individuals or organizations in the following six categories for a Good People for Good Horses Award:

Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician*
Trainer
Volunteer
Farrier
Community Partner (such as a riding club, event center, boarding barn, etc.)
Wild Card (anyone else—such as member of the media, photographer, advocate, social media influencer, fundraiser or staff member)

*A total of three awards will be given in the Veterinarian/Veterinary Technician category based on geographical location in Western, Central and Eastern regions of the United States.

A committee of reviewers from The Right Horse Initiative will review submissions and recommend winners based on subjective criteria. Awards will be given based upon the nominee's contributions to equine adoption efforts and the success and impact of the organization they serve. Nominations are due no later than December 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST with winners announced the week of January 25, 2021.

earn more and submit your nominations here.

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Dr. Richard Bowman: Guardian Of Minnesota Racehorses

Prior to the intervention of Dr. Richard Bowman, the bulk of racehorses retiring from Minnesota racetracks were sent to slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada, reports the Star Tribune.

A vet with the Minnesota Racing Commission, Bowman was first asked to help find a retiring racehorse a home in the late 1990s. Now, he gets asked for help several times each week. When he learned of how many horses needed assistance in finding homes when they could no longer race, he opened his 4,000-acre cattle ranch in North Dakota to Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses that are too injured, old, lame or slow to continue their careers as racehorses at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN.

At the ranch, which is nine hours from Canterbury Park, he focuses on rehabilitating and adopting out as many horses as he can (nearly 600 so far). The horses that are too unsound remain in his care at the ranch indefinitely—there are 35 such horses on the ranch currently. Now a 501(c)3 charity called Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption, the program is famous for welcoming every horse in any condition, taking in the horses many others will not.

Each horse that enters Bowman's program is assessed for personality, temperament and ability. Once rehabilitated, the horses that are adoptable are paired with an adopter. Bowman's horses have been adopted out all over the United States; they do everything from hunters, jumpers, eventing, cattle work, polo ponies, dressage and other disciplines.

Bowman is one of three Minnesota Racing Commission veterinarians, along with Dr. Christy Klatt and Dr. Lynn Hovda. The trio are tasked with ensuring the horses racing at the state's tracks are sound and healthy to race; they also assist with rehoming nearly 60 racehorses each year.

Some of the horses are adopted directly from the track; those in need of temporary shelter go to Hovda's farm. Most of the horses head West to the Bowman ranch, where they settle into a less-pampered lifestyle before they are prepared for adoption. In addition to horses retiring from racing finding homes, the veterinarians team with Canterbury Park officials to pull two to three horses with ties to the state's tracks from kill pens each year. They are able to prevent these horses from being shipped to slaughterhouses outside the U.S.

Learn more about Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption here.

Relationship Building Key To Second Stride Success

Kim Smith founded Second Stride, Inc., in 2005 to assist horses and people involved in Thoroughbred racing by capitalizing on her vast network of people involved in the industry. The program, which adopts out retired racehorses into second careers, is based out of Moserwood Farm in Crestwood, KY. The program typically has between 15 and 20 horses in its care at one time, reports the Daily Racing Form.

Smith works diligently to make placing horses in the program as easy as possible. Owners retiring horses to the program need not complete the transfer paperwork themselves; the program also takes horses in on very short notice and there is no mandatory monetary donation for horses entering the program, though most owners and trainers will offer one, Smith says.

The goal is to make it easy for those in the industry to do the right thing—and to help as many horses as possible. Smith is very focused on relationship building, knowing that if she takes on a horse that requires extensive rehabilitation, down the road, that same owner may also offer her a sound horse that is retiring that needs no rehab.

Horses accepted into Second Stride need not be recently retired, either; the program accepts broodmares as well as stallions, which are gelded upon entering the program. Assisted by many volunteers, horses are typically adopted quickly; the program has rehomed over 1,000 horses since its inception, placing them in homes all over the country and in a variety of disciplines.

With the increase in Thoroughbred-specific shows and events like the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, many horses retiring sound are being sold privately. Smith said she wishes more owners and trainers would consider donating their sound horses to nonprofit aftercare organizations. Sound horses can be adopted out for a higher fee than those horses with limited second career options, helping fund the horses that need longer-term care or more rehabilitation before they are rideable and able to be adopted out, she notes,

For more information about Second Stride, Inc., click here.

Shelley Mann Named Executive Director Of Secretariat Center

The Secretariat Center is pleased to welcome the appointment of Shelley Mann as its new Executive Director. With a lifetime of equine experience and more than 18 years in nonprofit leadership driving the advancement of strategic goals, Shelley will take the Secretariat Center's reins beginning September 14.

A long time Bluegrass resident, Shelley most recently served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. In that role, she promoted equine education with a focus on safety, health and management by putting educational and leadership resource in homes, schools and barns.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Secretariat Center team,” says Shelley. “The care and placement of retired racehorses and providing these equine athletes a second career is something I am deeply passionate about. I look forward to utilizing my background in marketing, education and resource development to expand community outreach and share the Center's mission with equine enthusiasts across the United States.”

“We are very excited to have Shelley join the Secretariat Center team, and I look forward to seeing her promote our mission and new strategic plan going forward,” said Secretariat Center President Dr. Holly Schmitt. “She has dedicated much of her professional career to understanding equine health and to supporting community programs. Her experience and skills will be crucial to promoting this organization as the gold standard in Thoroughbred retraining.”

The Secretariat Center was founded in 2004 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization to prepare off-track Thoroughbreds for happy, healthy, and successful post-track careers through rehabilitation and by giving them a broad-based foundation of skills to ensure a harmonious match with their adopters. While advocating for the athleticism and versatility of the American Thoroughbred, The Secretariat Center also seeks to provide educational opportunities for human development through horsemanship. Located in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the Secretariat Center showcases adoptable Thoroughbreds and uses its illustrious location to herald the athleticism of this amazing breed by teaching new skill sets to horses of all levels of ability. Visit www.secretariatcenter.org to find your next partner, make a donation or get involved today.

For more information contact Secretariat Center at 859-246-3080 or info@secretariatcenter.org.

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