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Harris Farms, Santa Anita Announce Scholarship Opportunities To Promote OTTB Sporthorses

Harris Farms and Santa Anita Race Track are thrilled to announce the creation of a new scholarship opportunities to promote the Thoroughbred in the Sporthorse disciplines! Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded annually, one for the Junior rider Thoroughbred and one for the Amateur rider Thoroughbred partnership.

The goal is to help the Junior/Amateur rider advance with their Thoroughbred from the local unrated shows or opportunity classes to the USEF-rated competition.

The requirements are listed below. The recipient shall receive an award of $1,000, to further their training and competition opportunities. Eligible expenses include lessons or clinics, travel expenses directly related to receiving instruction, competition fees, etc. The recipient must attest that he/she will continue to pursue training and competing with their Thoroughbred for the duration of the scholarship, and will notify Harris Farms and or Santa Anita if they are unable to continue to do so.

Requirements for application:

Applicants must submit an essay about themselves and their Thoroughbred partner.
Applicants must submit a video of them competing with their Thoroughbred.
Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation, for example from a trainer or veterinarian.
The Thoroughbred must have no experience or be in their first year of USEF-recognized competition (not including opportunity classes).
The Thoroughbred must be registered with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program.
The applicant must have participated in 2'6 or higher TIP Classes at two different show venues for the qualifying year.

The Scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who meets all requirements and shows a passion and commitment to the Thoroughbred breed in the Sporthorse world. Previous scholarship winners are not eligible. The recipient agrees to allow Harris Farms and or Santa Anita to post their names on any of the affiliated websites. Recipients agree to provide a quarterly photograph and a written update on their progress and use of funds. The recipient must be a U.S citizen or permanent resident and will be solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes. Please send applications to lisatorres@harrisfarms.com. Applications close on November 30, 2022 for the 2023 scholarship year. Winners will be announced 30 days after the last show on the 2022 show calendar.

View Scholarship Application

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Thumps: Not As Scary As They Sound

While not life-threatening or painful, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF or “thumps”) does affect a horse's respiration. Thumps is caused by an electrolyte imbalance which irritates the nerve that controls the diaphragm, essential for respiration, reports Horse Sport.

Calcium is the root cause of thumps, but the imbalance can be caused by either too much calcium or not enough. Thumps can occur if a horse needs calcium while exerting itself and none is able to be mobilized from its bloodstream, but calcium supplementation isn't necessarily the answer. Too much calcium in the horse's body affects its ability to mobilize calcium as well, making the phrenic nerve overly excited and causing it to randomly contract.

Though any horse can be affected by thumps, it's often extremely-fit horses like racehorses or eventers that suffer from the condition. Horses which are asked to exert themselves in hot weather can get an electrolyte imbalance when their sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, or potassium levels get out of whack. Additionally, horses that eat a diet high in calcium – like those fed alfalfa hay – may be more prone to developing thumps during intense exercise.

A horse experiencing thumps will look like it is hiccupping; a hiccup-like noise will take place along with a visible abdominal spasm, which is the diaphragm fluttering. This can impact a horse's athletic performance by impeding the way he breathes, because the horse will not be able to take in the oxygen needed to feed their muscles.

The best way to rectify thumps in horses is to correct the electrolyte imbalance, either by adding electrolytes to the horse's feed or adjusting the horse's diet so less calcium-rich hay is fed. Some trainers believe that having more liquid in the horse's stomach can prevent thumps as well.

Little Red Feather Shows That Ownership Is More Than Just Racing: Charity Spotlight Presented By Avion Law

Fractional ownership groups have been touted as the future of racehorse ownership for the industry, as a way to introduce the sport to more people. So, what better way to use that introduction for another introduction into the world of aftercare?

Enter Little Red Feather Racing and their program Little Red Feather Cares. Named after a fictitious character in bedtime stories read to Billy Koch, Little Red Feather's chairman, the growing partnership group is celebrating its 20^th year as active racehorse owners. Considering the fictitious character is known for developing a sense of empathy and trust, it's rather appropriate that the group has since developed its own sense of empathy with the start of its retirement program.

Little Red Feather Cares was started as a way for the partnership group to care for the horses it owned after a partnership ended. Being cognizant of differing opinions regarding aftercare or charities, Managing Partner Gary Fenton says that the registered nonprofit program allows current LRF partners to donate if they want to, or do with their charitable efforts as they see fit.

“This is a way for our partners that want to provide for the aftercare of their horses can,” says Fenton. “However, if there are some that don't want to, we don't judge. We don't force our partners to spend more than they have already committed to. We'll explain to all partners that it will cost a couple thousand to send a partnership horse onto his retirement home and new career, and the partners all love it because Little Red Feather Cares picks up the tab, not them.”

With more than 300 owners and 100 currently active racehorses, it might seem like a lot for the group to juggle, but LRFC enlists the help of CARMA to help move the retired racehorses to the next step off the track.

“If you don't have organizations like CARMA who can step up and help you, and the horse, then where do you go?” asks Fenton. “That's why our organization not only supports our retired racehorses, but we also donate and support other nonprofits doing the same good work, such as CARMA. We support other aftercare programs. We support the industry.”

The nonprofit has come a long way in the five years since it was started. Funded mostly by partner donations and fundraisers held at Del Mar, LRFC works with groups such as CARMA, Del Mar and TVG with handicapping contests, etc. “Horseplayers love to play and support aftercare,” says Fenton.

One of the biggest success stories of LRFC is McLovin. The 17-year-old son of Hussonet and the Buckfinder mare Classic Contender retired with 19 starts, five wins and one second and a total lifetime earnings of $75,638. He has since captured the hearts of many eventing fans, finishing in the 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. In fact, one of McLovin's former LRF owners bought into the syndication campaigning him now, so that owner is now enjoying following his second career.

Another unique story showcasing the dedication Little Red Feather has for the racehorse is the story of Tooreen Dancer (IRE). The partnership group came together and funded the care of the Ireland-bred mare who was stuck in quarantine due to a false positive Glanders test at the height of her racing career.

“Our partners just couldn't be more supportive of our group working and spending the money on legal fees and lawyers to save a horse's life,” says Fenton. “Not only did we save her life and got her out of quarantine, but we also changed the protocol for Glanders tests, allowing for second and third testing for imported horses in case of a false-positive.”

Tooreen Dancer raced under the LRFR silks and then retired to be a successful broodmare.

It is the goal of Fenton, Koch and all of Little Red Feather Racing to provide for every one of their horses, current or former.

“Aftercare is the responsibility of all owners,” says Fenton. “As the chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, I certainly keep that stance, but we also respect everyone's right to make charitable donations in any fashion as they wish. We're here to help the horses in our partnership and we're fortunate that so many partners want to step up and do so as well.”

To learn more about Little Red Feather Cares, you can visit their website: https://www.littleredfeather.com/lrf-cares/

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America Returns As Title Sponsor Of RRP’s Thoroughbred Makeover

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) jointly announce Thursday that TCA has returned as the title sponsor of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the flagship program of the Retired Racehorse Project. TCA's commitment to improving the lives and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses both on and off the track has guided its support of the RRP since 2012.

Designed to serve the RRP's charitable mission to increase demand for Thoroughbreds as sport and pleasure horses, the TCA Thoroughbred Makeover is a retraining competition and showcase, featuring trainers from across North America who have worked throughout the year to prepare recently retired Thoroughbred ex-racehorses to compete for more than $100,000 in ten equestrian sports.

“The Thoroughbred Makeover has been a game changer for aftercare,” said TCA executive director, Erin Halliwell. “Over the last decade, thousands of Thoroughbreds have been retrained to compete in the Makeover. When former racers learn new skills, it makes them more marketable to horse owners seeking their next mount which, in turn, can increase their post-racetrack value. TCA is proud to support the RRP and the Makeover as they continue to create a demand for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers.”

TCA's support of the Thoroughbred Makeover is part of its annual grant-making activity. This year, TCA granted nearly $783,000 to 74 approved organizations. For over three decades, TCA has worked to support not only Thoroughbred aftercare, but also programs that provide health and human services for backstretch and farm workers.

“TCA recognized the potential the RRP had to impact the aftercare industry in the earliest years of the organization,” said RRP executive director, Kirsten Green. “Education, incentive, and advocacy programs such as ours play a vital role in the aftercare industry and we're grateful for TCA's continued commitment that work.”

The road to the Thoroughbred Makeover is a long journey: participating trainers began the retraining process as early as December 1, 2021. A total of 516 horses were accepted through a registration process; after the Final Entry process, 377 horses and their trainers committed to competing in Kentucky. With TCA's support, the Thoroughbred Makeover has impacted over 4,000 horses, representing an estimated $34.8 million in private funds spent to care for the participating horses that are transitioning into riding careers. Since 2015, the RRP has also documented an 82% increase in value of horses upon retirement from racing that participate in the Makeover.

TCA's support of activities during Makeover week extends beyond their title sponsorship of the event. TCA staff collaborate with the RRP, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to produce the Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, a workshop opportunity for those involved in the aftercare industry to come together in a community setting to expand their knowledge of business best practices and discuss issues facing the industry. The Thoroughbred Makeover is also set to host an expanded offering of Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championship classes, of which TCA is also a proud supporter.

A full schedule of Thoroughbred Makeover events can be found at TheRRP.org.

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for off-track Thoroughbreds in the equestrian world. In addition to producing the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium the world's largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses, the organization also publishes Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, produces the Master Class retraining clinic series, and presents programming at major horse expos and events around the country. The RRP maintains an educational library of content to empower more equestrians to ride a Thoroughbred.

TCA funds and facilitates the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $26 million to more than 200 charities. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).

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