Saving Horses

The April issue of Flying Changes (my favorite regional sporthorse magazine) has two great articles about second careers for race horses and a Washington rescue organization. Editor Lauren Davis Baker will have the new issue posted on the website by April 10th.

In the meantime, check out Hidden Fox Farms where Katie Bornholdt-Peery tries to connect off-the-track-thoroughbreds with new owners. Having spent some time in the hunter/jumper world and on the fringes of the eventing world, I know that thoroughbreds are an ideal breed for these activities. At that time in my riding career, a pair of my fellow boarders bought project horses off the track for hunter training and resale. We used to joke that they could only canter in one direction (counter-clockwise), but all of the recycled race horses adapted well to their new lifestyles and went on to new homes.

Fortunately, there are several horse rescue operations in the Pacific Northwest. They range from individual efforts to nonprofit organizations. The April issue of Flying Changes features SAFE (Save a Forgotten Equine) in the Monroe, Washington, area. SAFE has 501(c)3 status, so donations are tax deductible.

By the way -- the cover of Flying Changes always features amazing photography or artwork by regional artists. For anyone moving into Oregon or Washington, it has one of the most comprehensive service directories for sport horse enthusiasts.