Tag: Horse Care

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Thursday, Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course.

Free with paid track admission, the celebration will include a variety of events and demonstrations to highlight the work of the New York State aftercare community.

The featured race on Thursday's card will be the $125,000 Rick Violette, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for New York-bred sophomores named for the late trainer and NYTHA President who spearheaded the creation of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program and TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program.

Violette was a founding member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), the non-profit organization that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain, and rehome Thoroughbreds. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members.

Representatives from TAA-accredited organizations will be on-site at Saratoga on August 17 to educate both racing fans and the general public about the importance of responsible aftercare efforts, including Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue, ACTT Naturally, Equine Advocates, Lollipop Farm, Lucky Orphans, New Vocations, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, ReRun, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga.

Fans can visit the Community Booth behind the jockeys' quarters to learn more about the participating organizations.

“Thoroughbred Aftercare Day reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting and re-training equine athletes when their racing days are done,” said Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President and CEO. “New York is the national leader when it comes to supporting and investing in meaningful aftercare efforts, and we are thrilled to host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 17.”

New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day will begin with an on-track demonstration of retired racehorses showcasing the skills learned in their second careers. New Vocations will be the first to demonstrate the Thoroughbred's athleticism with a jumping display prior to the day's races, and ReRun will follow after the second race with flatwork/dressage exhibition.

The Horse Sense stall, located just outside of the Saratoga grandstand, will feature retired racehorses from Old Friends at Cabin Creek between 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) afterwards between 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

“We are so excited to present our third annual NY Aftercare Day,” said Rick Schosberg, the New York-based retired trainer who serves as Vice President of NYTHA and President of TAKE2/TAKE THE LEAD. “It is so important to be able to provide safe and purposeful retirements and second careers for these wonderful equine athletes, and to showcase all of the fine work to the public is so gratifying and rewarding. It's a massive combined effort of the horsemen, NYTHA, the TAA and the many accredited aftercare organizations, the NYTB, and the New York Racing Association. It's a full team effort! Enjoy the demonstrations and learn about the great work being done here in New York to provide safe and meaningful lives for our racehorses when their racing days are over.”

NYRA, NYTHA, NYTB, and New York owners contribute more than $1.2 million per year to aftercare support. New York's racing community contributes more financial support to Thoroughbred aftercare than any state in the country.

In 2013, NYTHA's TAKE THE LEAD (TTL) Thoroughbred Retirement Program was launched with NYRA and NYTB's support and has placed over 1,000 horses retiring from the NYRA tracks with TAA-accredited organizations.

In 2014, NYTHA adopted a per-start fee for owners of $5 that provided funding to the TAA. In July 2019, NYRA and NYTHA increased the per-start fee to $10. NYRA matches those contributions, and then donates the proceeds to the TAA at the conclusion of each race meet conducted at NYRA.

In 2019, NYRA and NYTHA launched an aftercare assessment program that requires owners claiming a horse subject to contribute a 1.5 percent aftercare assessment on top of the claiming price of the horse with funding allocated to the TAA and TTL. For example, an owner claiming a horse for $50,000 will contribute an additional $750 toward aftercare. This program generated over $245,000 in 2022, and over $100,000 this year through June 30.

“We're proud to partner with NYRA and NYTHA once again to highlight and bring awareness to Thoroughbred Aftercare in New York,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “The efforts undertaken by each of the participating Thoroughbred Aftercare accredited organizations to care, retrain and develop second careers for retired racehorses deserves to be featured. Being able to do so in front of racing fans at Saratoga speaks to the support our industry as a collective is providing to assure the long-term care of our equine athletes.”

Racing fans will be able to donate to TAKE THE LEAD by texting AFTERCARE2023 to 44321 to make a contribution, or by opting to make a donation to the TAA when cashing a winning ticket on an AmTote International self-service betting terminal. All donations are tax deductible.

There will also be a raffle on NY Thoroughbred Aftercare Day for an Exmark Radius-S Series 60” Zero Turn Mower, valued at $10,000.

“Exmark has been a longtime supporter of our industry, and with this donation they are providing a big boost to the great work that the NYTHA does for the New York equine community,” said Steve Andersen, founder of Equine Equipment. “We are proud to help facilitate this generous donation, and we are very thankful to have a partner like Exmark who gives back to the racing industry in so many ways.

“Equine Equipment is always available to help horsemen get discounts on a wide range of products and equipment, but if you are in the market for a new Exmark commercial mower, we encourage you to support this fundraiser or simply make a donation to the NYTHA,” added Andersen.

All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to TAKE THE LEAD.

About TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program:

Started in 2012, TAKE2 was created to provide second career opportunities for retired racehorses in the show ring and to increase the popularity of Thoroughbreds as Hunters and Jumpers. The program has grown from eight horse shows in three states and now partners with over 500 horse shows in 23 states. More than 2,500 Thoroughbreds have competed in the TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper divisions across the country.

TAKE THE LEAD works with owners and trainers to find placements for the horses retiring from the NYRA tracks with TAA-accredited aftercare organizations. TAKE THE LEAD is co-funded by members of the Thoroughbred industry around the country: New York Thoroughbred Breeders; New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund; Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associations in Maryland (through Beyond the Wire) and Pennsylvania (through Turning for Home); Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; and members of the racing and horse show communities across the country, For more information on TAKE2 and TAKE THE LEAD, go to www.take2tbreds.com.

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Dallas Keen, a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer based out of Lone Star Park, recently announced his retirement from race training to focus solely on retraining and rehoming retired racehorses. 

He and wife Donna own the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Remember Me Rescue in Burleson, Texas. 

Keen has had 970 wins and earnings of $15.9 million in 6,041 starts. He is looking forward to watching the ex-racehorses learn their new roles in second careers. 

The Keens also plan to utilize their ranch to offer horsemanship clinics and desensitization opportunities, specifically for Texas-based mounted patrol units using OTTBs. 

Read more at Daily Racing Form.

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Though Thoroughbreds featured prominently in hunter and jumper show rings of the past, the breed is now rarely represented at the highest echelons of the sport. The Take2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program was created to encourage the use of Thoroughbreds in show rings once more.

The Take2 program was the brainchild of Thoroughbred trainer Rick Violette, who grew up on the East Coast showing hunters and jumpers before transitioning to training racehorses. Violette passed away in 2018, but the program remains dedicated to providing opportunities to retiring racehorses.

Executive Director Andy Belfiore says the program works as a go-between for racehorse owners and people seeing show horses. Take2 is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited nonprofit that also encompasses the TAKE THE LEAD program, which is a retirement program for horses that retired from New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks. 

More than 1,000 horses have found new homes between Take2 and TAKE THE LEAD program. 

Take2 launched a 3-foot hunter division and a 1.0-to-1.05-meter division specifically for Thoroughbreds in 2012. There are now Take2 divisions in 23 states and the Take2 League has been created. All Take2 classes take place at horse shows that are sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. 

Membership in the League allows riders to try to qualify for the $20,000 Take2 Hunter-Jumper Finals, which will take place at the Kentucky National Horse Show Sept. 20 to 24, at the Kentucky Horse Park. It also puts riders in the running for year-end high-point awards. Take2 also offers a Junior Rider Program and scholarships. 

Learn more about Take2 here.  

Read more at The Plaid Horse. 

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It was a typical Saturday several months ago when 19-year-old Kaitlyn Bonis completed a dressage workout with Sunny, her 24-year-old Arabian horse. But the next day, her family received a call from Sunny's barn that he didn't appear well, and the veterinarian was on his way. The horse Kaitlyn had owned since she was 11 was fighting for his life.

Sunny's primary veterinarian performed a colic work-up, but the horse showed no improvement. He felt this was beyond a colic episode and knew there was nothing more he could do locally. The best option would be to get Sunny to the UC Davis veterinary hospital's Large Animal Clinic. He called ahead to make the referral as the Bonis family loaded up Sunny for the 2-hour drive from Chico to Davis.

Kaitlyn and Sunny have always had a special bond. Throughout their six years of competing together, their harmony was often noted by judges.

“As our special bond has gotten even stronger over the years, our hearts beat as one at practice and in the show ring,” Kaitlyn told United States Dressage Federation's YourDressage publication in July 2021.

The two began their journey together competing at hunter-jumper events in 2016, with varying results. It wasn't until their trainer suggested moving to dressage, however, that Sunny truly found his calling. They won their first dressage competition at the Training Level, as the overall high point champion both days.

“Sunny turned out to have been born for dressage, and I loved the challenge of the discipline equally,” said Kaitlyn. “We have never looked back.”

The team moved quickly through the levels, and Kaitlyn earned her USDF Bronze Medal on Sunny. The pair won four regional championships at Second and Third Levels on the Arabian circuit, and reserve national champion at Second Level.

Had Sunny been younger, Kaitlyn feels he could've succeeded at Fourth Level and maybe beyond. But in 2022, at age 23, Sunny semi-retired from competition.

Kaitlyn's mother, Andrea Bonis, describes Sunny as the kind of horse who doesn't come along very often – Kaitlyn's “horse of a lifetime.”

It is clear they were willing to do whatever it took to save Sunny.

Upon arrival at UC Davis, Sunny was immediately examined by an extensive team of faculty critical care and surgery specialists, residents, technicians, and students. He appeared uncomfortable and showed signs of colic with a distended abdomen. A belly tap revealed peritoneal fluid with signs of septic peritonitis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the abdominal cavity.

Due to Sunny's persistent pain, an exploratory colic surgery was performed. Faculty member Dr. Isabelle Kilcoyne, assisted by surgery residents Drs. Bridget Ratliff and Mitja Miklavcic and intern Dr. Marta Horna, discovered a lipoma, a fatty abdominal tumor. More common in older horses like Sunny, lipomas strangulate the intestine, cutting off the blood supply until the tissue dies. In Sunny's case, the lipoma had strangulated eight feet of his small intestine, which had to be removed if he was to be saved.

“Due to the seriousness of his condition, the anesthesiologists maintaining Sunny under general anesthesia had to work extremely hard to keep him alive while we performed the surgery,” said Kilcoyne, chief of the Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service. “Drs. Harriet Flynn and Manuel Fernades-Barrientos did a tremendous job in helping to save Sunny's life.”

The surgeons successfully removed the 8-foot section in the middle of Sunny's small intestine, connecting the healthy ends together. A horse's small intestine can be up to 70 feet in length, so Sunny can survive normally without the 8-foot section.

Following surgery, Sunny received around-the-clock care in the Equine Intensive Care Unit and remained at UC Davis for 10 days until he was well enough to return home.

In the first month of recovery, he was kept on strict stall rest, with only short hand-walking after two weeks. During his second month, Sunny was allowed access to a small. In the third month, he gained access to a large paddock. He completed all levels of recovery without complications.

“He's our miracle horse, and we owe this to the UC Davis team – he couldn't have been in better hands,” said Andrea. “Everybody was very kind, understanding, and professional, and they all took excellent care of our little boy. For a horse who was given a 10 percent chance to make it, you'd never know by looking at him now what an ordeal he underwent.”

Sunny recently celebrated his 25th birthday, and Kaitlyn is riding him once again. She hopes to enjoy Sunny as a pleasure horse for many years to come.

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