Although horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry it is astonishing to discover that many racehorses are left with no place to go except the slaughterhouse.
Thousands of Standardbred horses in North America have been discarded like trash because of a career ending injury, being deemed too slow for the track (despite being bred for speed) or because it has retired from the track. Standardbreds are often looked upon as racehorses only - and if one is unfit for the track then many people think it is a waste of horse flesh. This is simply not so.
While Standardbreds are generally bred to be harness racing horses they are a versatile animal. They were originally bred for racing in saddle and are essentially a mix of Thoroughbred and Morgan. Many of these ex-racehorses make wonderful saddle horses for different disciplines. Of course they can also still drive – they just can’t race. Don’t forget that these horses have already been taught to stand, tie, clip, bathe, trailer, accept the bit, back, walk and trot. On top of that they are already used to noisy crowds and strange places. It is also often thought that Standardbreds are strictly pacers that are ugly, cheap horses that cannot canter or trot. None of this is true at all. These animals simply need a chance to prove their quality at something other than racing.
As mentioned above some of these ex-racehorses have been injured or have acquired arthritis or some other disease. Racing is hard on an animal and many have joint issues. Some may be unfit to ride or drive yet they make great companion animals. An injury or disease should not necessarily mean a death sentence. Some of these horses are great with children and other horses. They need some TLC and a loving home to retire to for the rest of their days.
Thank goodness for all the rescue and adoption agencies that are in place. While not all Standardbreds can be saved from someone’s plate you can help the ones that have been. Remember that these organizations are non-profit and donations are always greatly appreciated. Please consider adopting a beautiful Standardbred as a saddle or companion horse. They truly are remarkable animals. Click on one of the links at right to find Standardbreds for adoption.
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Standardbred Horse Adoption Organizations in the US:
Standardbred Retirement Foundation
American Standardbred Adoption Program
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
Standardbred Horse Adoption Organizations in Canada:
Ontario Standardbred Adoption Agency
Saskatchewan Standardbred Adoption Agency
Performance Standardbreds
Adrianne Lake Copyright 2006 horses-and-ponies.com |
