© Audrey Crosby McLellan
Blue Horse Charities and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) has awarded New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program more than $50,000 in grants to buoy efforts to rehabilitate, train and re-home retired racehorses, according to a press release from New Vocations.
The grant money comes at a critical time, according to New Vocations Program Director Anna Ford, who says current drought conditions have driven up the cost of hay.
“Hay prices have doubled and the cost of caring for the horses in our program continues to rise,” Ford says. “We have new horses arriving into the program on a weekly basis, and it’s only through grants and private donations that our doors have remained open.”
She adds: “We are very grateful to receive both grants (totaling $54,360) as we have found ourselves in a great time of need with the current drought.”
Erin Crady, executive director of Thoroughbred Charities of America, says the horse charities are pleased to assist New Vocations with its costs.
“TCA and Blue Horse Charities are proud to name New Vocations as one of our 2012 grantees,” Crady stated in the press release. “New Vocations successfully completed our grant application process and as a result we are pleased to provide a grant that will assist in the rehabilitation, retraining and adoption of off-the-track Thoroughbreds.”
Formed by Fasig-Tipton in 2001, Blue Horse Charities assists nonprofit organizations that work to offer adoption solutions for Thoroughbreds no longer suitable for breeding or racing, the press release stated.
The charity is financed in equal parts by buyers, consignors and Fasig-Tipton. Thoroughbred Charities of America is the managing agent of Blue Horse Charities.
Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) selected New Vocations as one of the 82 Thoroughbred industry-related nonprofits that have been awarded TCA grants totaling $597,258. Those chosen to receive an award exemplify the TCA’s mission to “provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers.”
New Vocations continues to lead the nation in racehorse adoptions. The charity placed 429 horses into carefully screened new homes in 2011, and more than 4,000 horses have found new homes through New Vocations since the charity opened in 1992.
Starting with a single farm in Dayton, Ohio, the program has grown to have six facilities located in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Serving over 40 racetracks, New Vocations works directly with owners and trainers in need of an aftercare program for horses leaving the track.
The program has a sound adoption system in place that is proven to move a large number of horses in a rather short period of time.
Their sole mission is to provide non-competitive, often injured racehorses with a peaceful environment and skilled hands to assist in their development as pleasure mounts and therefore, a future. www.horseadoption.com
For more information, please contact: Sandy Seabrook 937-642-3171 sandy@horseadoption.com
