James Hastie, new executive director of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, with his cousin Haley Bell and her favorite OTTB, Sport.
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced last week that it has accredited 20 additional Thoroughbred aftercare facilities, which join the TAA’s previously accredited facilities: Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care, New Vocations, and Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue.
With the addition of 20 new accredited horse charities, there are now 23 organizations eligible to receive financial grants from the TAA for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds, according to a press release.
Listed below are the names and locations of the Thoroughbred aftercare facilities that have thus far won accreditation:
Callmetony and Hotstuff hang out at Akindale, one of the nonprofits to receive TAA accreditation
• Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue – Pawling, N.Y.
• Angel Acres Horse Haven – Glenville, Pa.
• CANTER, California – Los Gatos, Calif.
• CANTER, Ohio – Mentor, Ohio
• Equine Encore – Tucson, Ariz.
• Glen Ellen Vocational Academy – Glen Ellen, Calif.
• Humanity for Horses – Mt. Shasta, Calif.
• Kentucky Equine Humane Center – Lexington, Ky.
• Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society – Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
• Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue – Chesapeake City, Md.
Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement in Salem, Conn., was among those accredited by the TAA
• Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement– Salem, Conn.
• Neigh Savers Foundation – Walnut Creek, Calif.
• New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society – Surrey, British Columbia (Canada)
• Old Friends – Georgetown, Ky.
• ReRun – Virginia Beach, Va.
• The Exceller Fund – Lexington, Ky.
• Thoroughbred Placement Resources – Upper Marlboro, Md.
• Tijuana River Valley Animal Rescue – San Diego, Calif.
• TROTT USA – Laguna Hills, Calif.
• United Pegasus Foundation – Tehachapi, Calif.
Not only do the facilities represent a good cross-section of rescue, retirement, retraining and adoption programs successfully operating across the United States and Canada, but also they enter the TAA at an exciting time, as the Thoroughbred industry and aftercare join together to help improve the post-racing lives of ex-racehorses.
Lisa Molloy, executive director of ReRun, Inc., enjoys a sunny ride
TAA Executive Director James Hastie, who was named to his post last month, says he has come on board at a “very exciting time,” and that he eagerly looks forward to forging ties between horse charities and the Thoroughbred industry.
“One week from today (Dec. 5) I will be joining TAA board members Madeline Auerbach and Stacie Clark at the Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming in Tucson, Ariz. to announce our newly accredited aftercare facilities, and the 2013 grant-award winners,” Hastie says. “It will be an important milestone symbolizing a lot of hard work and dedication. Moreover, I believe it will be a very special moment to celebrate the support of so many who made our 2013 grants possible.”
He notes that grant awards will be announced on Dec. 11.
The 23 certified nonprofit horse charities accredited thus far won the designation after a detailed application process and careful onsite examinations by the TAA inspectors, independent veterinarians, the press release stated.
Star Nicholas at Neigh Savers, a newly accredited charity
Each was found to have met or exceeded the TAA Code of Standards in the areas of operations, education, horse care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols.
Says Hastie, “We’re thrilled to grant accreditation to these worthy organizations in recognition of the great work they’re doing. Each of these facilities has undergone a rigorous review process to ensure that they are providing a uniform level of care for our retired Thoroughbreds, and we are pleased to invite them to apply for funding.”
Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities.
Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call 859-224-2756.
And, to view the requirements for TAA accreditation and the complete TAA Code of Standards for aftercare facilities, please visit the Accreditation page on the TAA website. The 2014 Code of Standards and the Application for Accreditation will be available in February 2014.
I hope that all of this will eventually slow down the rampant over-breeding of race horses that has went on for decades with no end in sight. At least one of the slaughter plants in Canada does not accept TB’s for slaughter any more because of the known drugs that all of the TB race horses are given. That don’t do much to help all of the other horses from the US that end their lives in a kill box.
At least the racing industry is attempting to do something to help these horses, after all the money all of these people including the race track owners have made off of these horse for years it’s about time.
I couldn’t agree more…the breeding has got to slow down and care increased for those horses who have given their all, well deserving a decent retirement!
I hope to soon see Transitions Thoroughbreds Rescue on that list. Mindy Lovell so deserves to be a part of this. 🙂