Tag: Horse Care

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Donna Brothers has pledged to match all donations up to $2,500 made to the TAA on Dec. 9, 2022. Born with racing in her blood, Donna's professional resume doesn't stop at the track; she continues to shine a light on Thoroughbred aftercare.

“At the end of the day, our industry will be judged by how well we take care of our athletes,” said former jockey, author, and reporter for NBC Sports, Donna Brothers. “Not only while they are racing and 'useful' to us, but especially when they are most vulnerable: at the end of their racing careers. Many of these horses make thousands of dollars at the track, some make millions, but the reality is, they don't really get a dime. Let's make sure they're taken care of.

“The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the only organization that both accredits aftercare organizations and raises money to fund them. Please join me in supporting our athletes.”

“Donna is unceasing in her efforts to support the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is always ready to participate in new fundraisers,” said TAA Operations Consultant, Stacie Clark Rogers. “We are so excited that Donna is pledging to match all donations today and to help the TAA not only raise funds for our accredited groups but raise awareness for the outstanding work they do.”

In addition to her $2,500 match donation, Brothers also donates 100% of the proceeds from her book “Inside Track: Inside Guide to Horse Racing” to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign commenced November 29^th and is scheduled to conclude New Year's Eve. Those wishing to support the TAA, its 81 accredited organizations, and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA's website or text DONATE to 56651. During the Holiday Giving Campaign, TAA is also offering donors the benefit of sending digital holiday cards to colleagues, friends, and loved ones.

Throughout the end of the year, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will continue to host special one-day only donation matches with some of horse racing's biggest names. For more chances to double your donation, watch the TAA's social media, website, and industry advertisements for the next Holiday Giving match day announcement.

To learn more and donate to the TAA's Holiday Giving campaign, visit: ThoroughbredAftercare.org/HolidayCampaign.

About Donna Brothers

Donna Barton Brothers was born with racing in her blood. In 1969 her mother, Patti Barton, was one of the first half-dozen women to be licensed as a jockey in the United States and she went on to become the leading female jockey in the U.S. throughout all of the years of her career. As Donna's brother and sister had done before her, Donna went on to become a jockey as well, retiring in 1998 as the second leading female rider in the nation by money earned.

In 1998 she moved into the television side of horse racing and in 2000 started covering horse racing for NBC Sports. Since then, she has covered the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Breeders' Cup among many other Thoroughbred horse racing events and races and for NBC Sports. She has also covered the Hambletonian Stakes, the Kentucky Three Day Event, the World Equestrian Games, the AQHA World Championship Show, and Professional Bull Riding (PBR) for that network.

In 2001 she published Inside Track: Inside Guide to Horse Racing in an effort to help people understand (and, hopefully, love) the sports she loves so much.

She is also passionate about Thoroughbred aftercare and has been on the advisory board of the TAA since its inception. Brothers is a former executive board member for the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs and currently serves on the executive board of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation and advisory boards of the Boy's & Girl's Haven's Independence Readiness Program in Louisville, Ky., and the University of Kentucky's Jockey Equestrian Initiative.

To learn more about Donna Brothers, visit DonnaBrothers.com.

The post Donna Brothers Pledges $2,500 One-Day Match Donation To TAA Holiday Giving Campaign appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In January of 2006, a plain bay named Strummer made his connections proud as he crossed the finish line first in the $65,000 Jimmy Winkfield to score his first stakes victory.

Nearly 17 years after posting his biggest accomplishment on the racetrack, Strummer is still putting smiles on the faces of those around him as one of 16 retired racehorses who have found a home at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, N.Y.

“Strummer is one of the quietest and sweetest horses I've ever known,” said JoAnn Pepper, who owns and manages Old Friends at Cabin Creek with her husband, Mark Pepper. “If you ever need to just hug a horse, he's the one.”

Strummer has found the perfect place to spend his golden years thanks to his last owner, Nat Krohn, who cared deeply for the kind-hearted son of Phone Trick. Strummer's journey to his current home spanned 10 years, and began as a juvenile in the care of conditioner Tom Bush.

A New York homebred son of Phone Trick for original owners Edward C. Behringer and Thomas P. Murphy, Strummer made his first outing in August 2005 at Saratoga Race Course in a state-bred maiden, finishing a close third behind What's Your Edge, who became a stakes winner one start later.

After a distant fourth-place finish as a maiden in the New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes Racetrack, Strummer graduated in memorable fashion under Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey with a dead-heat win alongside Building New Era that September at Belmont Park.

It was onwards and upwards for Strummer after securing his first victory, besting state-bred allowance company two months later at Aqueduct Racetrack and dominating the field of six by 4 1/2 lengths. He followed with the biggest win of his career to kick off his sophomore campaign in the Jimmy Winkfield at the Big A.

The six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield was Strummer's first time racing outside of state-bred company, facing five rivals that included undefeated stakes-winner One Way Flight, who would go on to earn a graded placing in that year's Grade 3 Bay Shore two starts later. With One Way Flight sent to post as the heavy favorite, the public shied from Strummer and sent him away as the 7-1 third choice.

Strummer did not give his opponents much chance to pressure him, breaking sharply under Norberto Arroyo, Jr. and claiming a 1 1/2-length lead through the first quarter-mile in 23.51 seconds over the fast inner dirt surface. He maintained the same margin through a half-mile in 47.29 with Mid Town and Johnny Utah battling for second position. Approaching the turn, Arroyo, Jr. turned Strummer loose and coasted to a 5 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call after three-quarters in 59.09. Strummer faced few anxious moments from his pursuers down the stretch, crossing the wire 4 1/2 lengths the best in a final time of 1:11.04. He returned $16.20 for a $2 win wager and provided Bush with his 15th career stakes victory.

Strummer went on score eight more victories in his seven-season career, and earned an additional pair of stakes placings when finishing second in the Ontario County at Finger Lakes and third in the Fred Cappy Capossela behind subsequent Grade 3 Gotham winner Like Now, who is also a resident of Old Friends at Cabin Creek. In June 2009, he was claimed for $10,000 by owner Nat Krohn and trainer Gary Sciacca, who campaigned Strummer for his final eight starts and celebrated a determined optional-claiming victory with the veteran gelding in January 2010 at the Big A.

After 56 starts, which all came at the four New York racetracks, and tenures with 10 different conditioners, Strummer retired from racing in 2011 to an upstate New York farm where he lived until he was moved to Old Friends at Cabin Creek in 2015.

In his retirement, the now 19-year-old Strummer shares a paddock with 17-year-old Doc N Roll, who won the 2008 NYSSS Cab Calloway at Saratoga for owner Sackatoga Stables and trainer Barclay Tagg. The two became fast friends after being paired in 2018 and are star attractions on the farm's public tours, often playing and throwing around their toys in the back corner of their paddock.

Among the dozens of volunteers at the sanctuary is Christine Barnes, who has spent the past six years helping with everything from gardening to general equine husbandry. Barnes has developed a strong bond with Strummer, who she said is a perfect teacher for volunteers like herself who do not come from an equine background.

“Strummer was my first teacher,” said Barnes. “I had very little experience with horses, so I was at a loss how to build a relationship with a horse based on trust, respect, and acceptance. Strummer is a patient, calm and even-tempered teacher.”

Old Friends at Cabin Creek, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which distributes funds to its 81 accredited facilities. The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and its horsemen are dedicated to the efforts of the TAA, with each owner who participates at NYRA racetracks donating $10 per start to thoroughbred aftercare.

Additionally, New York's horsemen donate 1.5 percent of the purchase price of horses claimed on the circuit to TAA and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's TAKE THE LEAD, a program that provides veterinary exams and the funds for transportation and retraining costs for horses at NYRA racetracks.

Strummer's life has come full circle on the tranquil 40-acre farm, living just steps away from his old rival, Like Now, and the 14 other retirees who all raced at least once at NYRA tracks. Barnes said the seasoned gelding could not be a better educator to the public on the care of retired racehorses.

“He makes the perfect ambassador for aftercare by exuding peace, confidence and the patience to everyone he meets,” said Barnes. “I believe he is enjoying his retirement at Old Friends at Cabin Creek because he knows he is safe, secure, loved and part of a wonderful herd.”

Strummer's days are now highlighted by the droves of volunteers and visitors alike who come to feed him and the other retirees peppermints and carrots, and to dedicate time out of their day to appreciating and honoring their efforts on the racetrack.

Pepper said Strummer is as happy as any horse could be.

“When visitors meet him, his kindness is the first thing they notice,” said Pepper. “He's earned the respect of his rambunctious paddock mate, Doc N Roll. His eyes are always soft and we who care for him fell in love immediately. He's a great horse, living a peaceful life and enjoying his treats.”

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The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) has made it the group's mission to increase education and encourage awareness for the Indiana horse racing industry. As the nonprofit group prepares to host its third annual Stallions and Services Auction in mid-December, it reflects on the efforts of the board members in support of that mission.

Educational pursuits including free webinars on nutrition and an eye-opening seminar on barn fires were offered to not only members of the horse racing community, but horse owners in the Midwest region looking to continue their education. The seminar focused on not only prevention of barn fires, but how owners can best prepare their farm for rescues, how they can protect themselves with insurance and the legalities of such disasters. To end the year, the ITA sponsored a seminar to help breeders prepare for foaling and breeding season at Breakway Farm.

It's only fitting that a group of breeders are passionate about their broodmares. Because of this, every year the ITA donates towards the Friends of Ferdinand's Broodmare Bunch, a program to help retrain and rehome broodmares. The program was introduced in March 2021 and has since expanded to now be a division of the Retired Racehorse Program's Thoroughbred Makeover.

“We are so grateful to receive this generous donation,” says Erin Smith, vice president of FFI. “It will be used in servicing our broodmares that stand in the program for rehabilitation and retraining to further the process of working towards their third career and find them their forever homes.”

The donation will be used to continue offering services for approved retired Thoroughbred broodmares in their efforts to be retrained for a third career.

A donation of $2,000 was made towards Children's TherAplay, a foundation that provides assistance to Central Indiana children with disabilities. Innovative therapies using horses as a treatment tool for physical, occupational and speech therapy. A special tie-in for the donation was to see a retired Thoroughbred racehorse working his third career as a therapy horse.

“It's amazing to see a retired Thoroughbred thriving in the role as a therapy horse,” says Sharon Baker, ITA board member who personally made the donation. “Children's TherAplay has helped so many children, including my own nephew.”

The ITA recognized retired jockey and current leader of backside ministries at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Otto Thorworth, for his tireless dedication to the men and women working alongside Indiana racehorses. For the third year in a row, the ITA's donation towards the Otto Thorworth Ministries are just a small way to thank him for sharing his passion.

Each year the ITA works to utilize the funds generated from its Stallions and Services Auction, an event that highlights premier stallions from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida, as well as desired services such as stallion photography packages, veterinarian services and marketing. All proceeds from the auction go right back into the Indiana horse industry. The ITA board is composed of Indiana Thoroughbred breeders, owners and horsemen who are dedicated to not only the betterment of the Indiana industry, but the horse racing industry across the country.

“The board is forever grateful for the farms, owners and businesses that continue to support the ITA in its one-of-a-kind mission,” says Christine Cagle, ITA board member and chairperson of the ITA SSA. “We hope to continue to grow the ITA's outreach in the years to come.”

The 2022 edition of the ITA Stallions and Services Auction will be hosted on Starquine.com and will kick off on Friday, December 16 at 10:00 am EST and end at 5:00 pm EST December 19. More information on the ITA Indiana Breeders Crisis Fund, the Broodmare Bunch and the Third Annual ITA Stallions and Services Auction can be found on the ITA website: http://indianatb.org

The post Indiana Alliance Donates Over $30,000 Back To Indiana Thoroughbred Industry In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Researchers from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conducted a study which found that over 75 percent of horses living in Pennsylvania have been exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, both tick-borne illnesses, can cause fever and laminitis but may be hard to diagnose as additional symptoms often mimic other diseases. 

The scientists used 271 horses in the state that were suspected to have a tick-borne infection. They found that 25.5 percent of the horses used in the study were exposed to Anaplasma, and 77.1 percent of horses showed that they had been exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are prevalent in Pennsylvania. 

Horse owners who suspect their horse may have a tick-borne disease should contact their veterinarian. The vet will often use laboratory tests in conjunction with clinical signs and horse health history to correctly diagnose the horse, as well as to determine treatment and prevention plans. 

Read more at The Horse. 

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