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Tag: aftercare
PHBA Focuses on SAFE Act, Aftercare
Edited press release
Continuing to demonstrate its commitment to the health and welfare of Thoroughbreds, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) announced its endorsement of the John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act.
The SAFE Act, named for the late South Carolina philanthropist and former director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), is legislation that would permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in the United States and abroad.
It also amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code by making it illegal to “possess, ship, transport, purchase, sell, deliver, or receive…any horse with the intent that it is to be slaughtered for human consumption,” with penalties that include fines and imprisonment.
Introduced in 2019 by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, the SAFE Act has also garnered the endorsement of several prominent animal welfare groups. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the United States Trotting Association (USTA), and the Maryland Horse Council (MHC) are among those supporting its passage.
“Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide,” said Sen. Menendez when the bill was introduced.
Aftercare is also a top priority of the PHBA, according to president Greg Newell.
“We are doing everything we can to help place horses who reach the end of their first or second career, whether they have finished racing or breeding,” said Newell. “Our Anti-Slaughter Committee, chaired by Kate Goldenberg, has done a wonderful job addressing what can be done to help our equine athletes.”
PHBA Board member Hank Nothhaft, also a member of the Anti-Slaughter Committee, said that endorsement of the SAFE Act was something the organization wanted to do to be a positive force toward improving the industry. The fact that many unwanted Thoroughbred broodmares are found in slaughter pens proved to be a call to action.
“There was unanimous support from the PHBA Board to mitigate the slaughter of broodmares,” said Nothhaft. “Older broodmares, especially, are not attractive candidates for equestrian activities, and thus they are not as easy to rehome as younger horses. This has really pushed us from sitting on the bench toward getting into the fray.”
“Our hope is to form a non-profit within our organization, to assist our breeders when the time comes,” said Jennifer Poorman of the PHBA. “We'll be looking to build a network of partner farms willing to assist with retirement from breeding, whether it's a second career or permanent retirement due to physical limitations.
“We're also creating a campaign to educate our breeders about responsible aftercare, along with providing a network of resources for our breeders to turn to at any point they find themselves in need of assistance,” she said.
Nothhaft said one reason why the SAFE Act hasn't gained traction toward passage since 2019 in Congress is because large agricultural interests fear that anti-slaughter legislation would bring undue attention to their industries, which involve large-scale slaughter of animals for food.
“The SAFE Act is one of three items we are working on,” said Brian Sanfratello, executive secretary of the PHBA. “The others are Pennsylvania-specific anti-slaughter legislation, similar to the SAFE Act, that would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who causes or transports a horse into the slaughter pipeline, as well as a PHBA code of ethics, with sanctions for anyone who is a member or registers horses with our organization and is found to be in violation of the Pennsylvania anti-slaughter measures.”
For additional information, contact Brian Sanfratello at 610-444-1050 or brians@pabred.com.
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Buck Davidson, Neil Agate, Jodie Vella-Gregory Elected To Retired Racehorse Project’s Board
The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is pleased to announce the election of three new members to the board of directors: Neil Agate, Buck Davidson, and Jodie Vella-Gregory. Each has agreed to serve for a three-year term and is eligible to serve up to two terms concurrently. They replace board members Christy Clagett, Rosie Napravnik and Steuart Pittman, whose terms have expired.
Neil Agate is the founder of Four Gates, LLC, a business and technology services firm; he also serves as the President of the Maryland Horse Council and guided the organization through two major initiatives: the acquisition and management of the Equiery publication, and the formation of a safety net program for horses and owners called Maryland Equine Transition Service (METS). Neil is an avid polo player, and in 2015 was the top amateur in the Thoroughbred Makeover's polo discipline.
Buck Davidson is an international event rider and coach, having competed at the highest level all over the world and ranked in the top 10 eventing riders globally (he was ranked #1 in 2012). He has coached numerous riders to the Olympic Games and the 5* level. Buck has enjoyed success a the top levels with numerous Thoroughbreds, including one of his current mounts Jak My Style. He is the co-presenter of the RRP's annual charity golf event in Ocala, Florida and served as a clinician in an RRP Master Class.
Jodie Vella-Gregory currently works in the Office of Innovation for 1/ST Racing (formerly The Stronach Group), working in member services and hospitality, marketing, new business, community relations, and more. Previously, she worked for Breeders' Cup Limited and still contracts with them to assist in the annual event. Jodie has been instrumental in helping to expand the RRP's reach to the West Coast, which in a non-pandemic year would have included several Master Class events. She grew up riding off-track Thoroughbreds in eventing.
Agate, Davidson and Vella-Gregory join current RRP board members Carolyn Carlson (president), Sue Smith (vice president), Amanda Dabruzzo (treasurer), Carrie Brogden, Richard Lamb, Graham and Anita Motion, Pavla Nygaard, and Jen Roytz (who serves as the RRP's executive director and non-voting member of the board).
The RRP board also voted to extend the title of board member emeritus to Steuart Pittman, the organization's founder, past executive director and past board chair. Pittman, who stepped down from the executive director role within the organization in 2018 to run for political office in Anne Arundel County in Maryland, where he is currently serving his first term as County Executive. As a lifelong equestrian and skilled community organizer, Pittman created the Retired Racehorse Project in response to the growing need to reinvigorate the demand for Thoroughbreds after racing in equestrian sports. Over the past decade, Pittman has served in a variety of roles with distinction for the Retired Racehorse Project and his wealth of knowledge and experience will remain valuable to the organization.
“We're thrilled to welcome Neil Agate, Buck Davidson, and Jodie Vella-Gregory to the RRP Board,” says board chair Carolyn Karlson. “They each bring a unique background and professional experience in various parts of the racing and equestrian industries to the table, which positions the RRP to continue to meet the challenges facing Thoroughbred aftercare. I'm equally pleased to retain Steuart Pittman's involvement for the RRP's next chapter.”
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Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Team Up To Provide Vaccines
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation announced today that it has received more than 500 essential equine vaccines from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. These vaccines will be used on retired Thoroughbred racehorses in the care of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), the oldest and largest aftercare organization for retired Thoroughbreds in the United States.
“Helping organizations like the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is at the core of what we do at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health,” said Steve Boren, Vice President of the U.S. Livestock and Equine businesses at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. “We are honored to support an organization that makes a difference in the lives of horses.”
As a global leader in equine health, Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to equine research and giving back to help communities understand, diagnose and prevent disease
“Equine veterinarians are one-of-a-kind caregivers who put the health and welfare of the horse above everything else,” Boren said. “We wanted to thank them for their passion and devotion both today and every day.”
“As soon as the TRF Team connected with the Boehringer Ingelheim equine team and realized the impact that their generous gift could make on our herd of TRF horses, we began connecting the team at Boehringer Ingelheim with our colleagues in the world of equine therapy and Thoroughbred aftercare,” said Anita Motion, TRF Board Member. “Our goal was to ensure that as many horses as possible benefit from this donation. We are so pleased to have played a part in extending Boehringer Ingelheim's gesture beyond our herd of 500 to thousands of other deserving horses in the care of charities across the United States.”
About the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national organization devoted to saving Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete at the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter. As the oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, the TRF provides sanctuary to retired Thoroughbreds throughout their lifetime.
Best known for its pioneering TRF Second Chances program, the organization provides incarcerated individuals with vocational training through its accredited equine care and stable management program. At seven correctional facilities and one new juvenile justice facility, this nationwide program offers second careers to its horses and a second chance at life for individuals upon release from these correctional programs. TRF cares for 500 rescued and retired Thoroughbreds at Second Chances prison farms and Sanctuary Farms across the country. The organization is funded entirely by private donations. The TRF is accredited by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and has a Platinum rating with Guide Star.
For more information visit: http://www.trfinc.org/
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