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Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition Offers Micro-Grants To Horse Owners In Need

The Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition's (MNHWC) mission is to keep Minnesota's horses safe at home. The MNHWC stands with horses and horse owners to provide timely access to resources before circumstances reach a crisis that endangers the well-being of the horse.

The MNHWC provides direct assistance to Minnesota horse owners experiencing temporary hardships and faced with competing priorities to maintain their horse or, as a last resort, refer horses to equine welfare and rescue members for rehoming assistance. The MNHWC offers micro-grants of up to $500 per horse to help with veterinarian and farrier expenses, castration, feed and hay support, transportation for rehoming, medications, and deworming. Minnesota horse owners who need help can apply online. If awarded, grants are paid directly to the service provider by the MNHWC. For more information, visit the MNHWC website.

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Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Opens Louisville Sanctuary At Chestnut Hall

A national Thoroughbred aftercare charity with more than twenty years of history caring for retired Thoroughbred racehorses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will open a first-of-its kind farm designed to give the Louisville community and fans from around the world a direct connection to the horses at the heart of horseracing.

The new TRF Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall will be the permanent home of 11 horses from the organization's national herd of 500 retired Thoroughbred racehorses. These “herd ambassadors” will serve as educators to tell the story of the long life and diverse second careers that await these equine athletes when their racing days are done. Located on nearly 30 acres of historic farmland in Oldham County and featuring a beautiful farmhouse restored to serve as an event venue, Chestnut Hall has been created for the express purpose of connecting Thoroughbred horses to the people of Louisville, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.

Starting mid-May, the farm will be open to the public for tours through Visit Horse Country and will be available as a unique venue for educational events and fundraisers for nonprofits across the Louisville community.

The TRF Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall represents the realization of a dream of local businessman, Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The new farm has been created as a gift to the horses of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the citizens of Kentucky. On behalf of his family and community, Carstanjen was moved to purchase the property in Prospect to protect the historic farmhouse and pasture land from residential development.

Over the course of the past year, Carstanjen has personally overseen the restoration of the 25+ acre property to its former beauty as an active horse farm. Reflecting his deep personal appreciation for the horses at the heart of the Thoroughbred racing industry, Castanjen sought out the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation as his partner to provide a home for retired racehorses and to connect the Louisville community, broadly defined, to the majestic animals upon whom the Thoroughbred racing industry relies.

“Thoroughbred horses have enriched the lives of countless citizens and visitors to Louisville throughout history, but very few opportunities exist for the community to experience and interact with these extraordinary animals,” said Kim Weir, the Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. “It is with this goal in mind that Mr. Carstanjen restored the horse farm and historic home at Chestnut Hall with the express intention of giving the gift of the horses to the community of Louisville. Together, it is our hope that the TRF Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall will provide a venue for education, inspiration and imagination for many years to come.”

Tour Booking and Private events: Visit https://www.trfinc.org/trf-sanctuary-farm-at-chestnut-hall/

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UK Gluck Center And VDL Preliminarily Identify Novel Rotavirus

Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory have preliminarily identified a novel Rotavirus associated with diarrhea in very young foals.

This virus could not be detected using current diagnostic tests for equine Rotavirus A and appears to be different than the virus strain used in the currently available commercial vaccine.

Efforts are underway to better characterize the virus and determine its role in the current outbreak of diarrheal disease. Additional investigations are also underway at UK to identify other possible causes, and researchers are sending out an epidemiological survey to farms to better understand the outbreak.

Both the Gluck Center and the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab recommend strict biosecurity protocols as the best protection strategy at this time.

See the March 19 news release for more information on this issue here.

Hats Off To The Horses: Birdstone Chapeau Benefits Old Friends

For the 12th consecutive year, Maggie Mae Designs® and Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement have teamed up for an unparalleled online shopping experience: “Hats off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”.

This unique fundraiser features one-of-a-kind couture hats created by Maggie Mae Designs®, the sale of which benefits Old Friends.

The last hat up for bid in our 2021 auction series honors Birdstone, winner of the 2004 Belmont Stakes and the 2004 Travers Stakes.

Bidding in this online auction will be available through April 11, 8:00 pm (EST). To bid, CLICK HERE

The son of Grindstone out of the Storm Bird mare Dear Birdie, Birdstone was donated to the non-profit organization by Gainesway Farm.

A homebred for owner Marylou Whitney and trained by Nick Zito, Birdstone captured the G1 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old in 2003. Birdstone ran up the track in the Kentucky Derby and sat out the Preakness, before surprising most of the sell-out crowd when he got up in the final yards in the Belmont Stakes to ruin Smarty Jones' try for the Triple Crown. That summer, at Saratoga Race Course, Birdstone proved that the Belmont was no fluke when he added a victory in the Travers Stakes to his impressive resume.

A very special chapeau was needed to honor this accomplished athlete. An extra wide hat foundation was created using an iridescent blue taffeta with chocolate thread to reflect the Whitney Stable's Eton blue racing silk colors.

To celebrate Birdstone's amazing charge to defeat favorite Smarty Jones in his Triple Crown bid, three delicate Marguerites were created out of chocolate satin rose curl centers and greenish-blue organza petals top stitched with chocolate embroidery strands. Two large Marguerite flowers adorn the front of the hat and one slightly smaller Marguerite adorns the back.

A chocolate taffeta sash lined with black silk organza encircles the crown of the hat and swirling layers of chocolate brown tulle encircle the crown.

As a physical remembrance of Birdstone, several strands of his tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Birdstone not only in spirit but in substance as well.

Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions – from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can been seen on her website at www.maggiemaedesigns.com

Bidding is open now. To bid CLICK HERE

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