Meghan O’Donoghue and the 15-year-old OTTB Palm Crescent (Quiet American x Edey’s Village, by Silver Deputy) finished 23d at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and 17th at the Maryland 5 Star in 2021. Photo by Abby Powell.
Have you thanked an OTTB event horse today? We are grateful to these special athletes for their willingness to rebound from a career in racing and give it a go in a new direction.
One way you can show them you care is by donating to an organization working in the service of OTTBs. Below, we’ve listed a few large non-profits as well as some smaller local or regional sanctuary/rehab/adoption facilities that could use a helping hand on Giving Tuesday.
CANTER: The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) has chapters throughout the country. Through its different programs and its website, CANTER and its volunteers provide retiring Thoroughbred racehorses with opportunities for new careers by helping to place, rehabilitate, and retrain these amazing athletes. [Donate]
New Vocations: New Vocations is the largest racehorse adoption program in the country serving more than 500 horses a year. Founded in 1992, their mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals. With eight facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options. [Donate]
Retired Racehorse Project: The RRP exists to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in equestrian sports and serving the farms, trainers, and organizations that transition them. Since its 2010 founding, the RRP has inspired thousands to choose an OTTB. Thanks to 160,000+ Facebook followers, 3,000,000+ website hits annually, constant press coverage, and sell out crowds at horse expos, the popularity and value of OTTBs are on the rise. [Donate]
TAKE2: The mission of TAKE2 is to ensure every racehorse is provided a happy and healthy future when it is time to retire from the track. The program has grown from a network of just eight horse shows in three states in its first year and now partners with more than 380 horse shows nationwide. With your support, TAKE THE LEAD has found safe haven for more than 850 horses retiring from New York’s racetracks. [Donate]
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Since 2012, the TAA has granted more than $20.7 million to accredited aftercare organizations and 11,000 Thoroughbreds have been retrained, rehomed, or retired by accredited organizations. Currently, 81 organizations with approximately 170 facilities hold TAA accreditation. [Donate]
Thoroughbred Charities of America: TCA raises and distributes money to approved charitable organizations assisting with Thoroughbred rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming; backstretch and farm employee programs; and equine-assisted therapy programs. Over the past 30 years, TCA has provided over $24 million grants to more than 200 Thoroughbred-related organizations [Donate]
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: The TRF is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world, devoted to protecting the Thoroughbred racehorse when his racing days are over to prevent him from possible neglect, abuse or slaughter. To this mission, TRF has sheltered thousands of animals, with many going on to second careers while some remain at sanctuary. TRF has also partnered with State of New York Department of Correctional Services to create a vocational training program for inmates, focusing on equine care and management. [Donate]
Below is a listing of Thoroughbred aftercare organizations accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Go OTTBs. Go Eventing.
