37 TB charities stand to receive funds from TAA

Retired racehorses at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and 36 other horse charities, stand to receive financial help from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced today that 37 aftercare organizations have earned accreditation in 2015, of which 21 were re-accredited and 16 earned accreditation for the first time. This increases the Alliance’s total to 56 accredited aftercare organizations using more than 180 facilities across the United States and Canada.

The 37 organizations accredited this year are After The Homestretch—Arizona; Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue; Beyond The Roses Equine Rescue & Retirement; Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Inc.; CANTER California; CANTER Colorado; CANTER Kentucky; CANTER Ohio; Days End Farm Horse Rescue; Equine Encore Foundation; Equine Rescue of Aiken; Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Program; Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Inc. (GEVA); Horse Power Sanctuaries dba Redwings Horse Sanctuary; Humanity for Horses; Kentucky Equine Humane Center; LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE); LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society; Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue; Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center; MidAtlantic Horse Rescue Inc.; Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Inc.; Neigh Savers Foundation, Inc.; New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society; New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program; Old Friends; ReRun, Inc.; South Florida S.P.C.A.; South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue; Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue; The Exceller Fund, Inc.; Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc.; Thoroughbred Rehab Center; Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, Inc.; TROTT (Training Racehorse Off the Track); United Pegasus Foundation.

Richard Migliore of the TRF and Michael Blowen of Old Friends talk horses. Both charities have been accredited by the TAA. Photo Rick Capone

“These organizations have gone through a rigorous accreditation process and have met or exceeded our Code of Standards,” praised Jimmy Bell, TAA president. “Our donors should feel confident that their investments in the TAA are going to organizations that provide the best care possible to our retired equine athletes.”

The growth of the organization is a positive sign, adds Stacie Clark Rogers, operations consultant for the TAA.

“As the TAA continues to grow we are seeing more and more industry stakeholders participate,” she says. “

The success of the diligent accreditation process allows donors to confidently contribute funds, and to know that their money is providing successful careers for thoroughbreds after their racing careers are concluded.”

To earn accreditation, organizations are evaluated upon their submitted application covering five key areas: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. In addition to an extensive application review, all organizations are subject to site inspections of all facilities housing their horses. Accreditation is effective for two years, after which organizations must reapply for accreditation. Accredited aftercare organizations are eligible to receive grants from the TAA to support their operations.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the non-profit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To date, 56 aftercare organizations supporting more than 180 facilities across the U.S. and Canada have been granted accreditation and received funding from the TAA. To learn more about the TAA, visit thoroughbredaftercare.org