Horses off the racetrack and other registered thoroughbreds will get a boost for a second career under a new program designed to save them from a variety of cruel fates
Gem Twist, the classical American thoroughbred, was an outstanding example of his breed who took Greg Best to two silver medals at the 1988 Olympics and won the title of Best Young Horse at the 1990 World Equestrian GamesHe need not have worried. Times already were changing. Once the monarchs of the hunter/jumper world, thoroughbreds fell out of favor in the show ring a few decades ago; first the jumpers, then the hunters, replaced by trendy and pricey imported warmbloods.
In another era, after their days at the track, many ex-racehorses, along with unraced thoroughbreds, would go on to make their mark over fences. For evidence of their success, just review the roster of the jumper and hunter halls of fame. Gem Twist, Idle Dice, Jet Run, For the Moment, Touch of Class and Snowbound in the jumper ranks; Cap N Gown, Navy Commander and Isgilde in the hunters are only some of the thoroughbreds who excelled in an earlier era.
But with the popularity of the warmbloods, fewer opportunities for new jobs for thoroughbreds have resulted in too many going to auction, sent for slaughter or winding up neglected; indeed, sometimes they have been left to starve.
Increasing awareness of the difficult situation has spurred efforts to change it. The newest option, the Take2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, makes its debut in New Jersey during next month's Garden State Horse Show at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta.
The initiative, which offers prize money for thoroughbred-only classes (horses entered must have a lip tattoo or registration papers), has been organized by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the New York Racing Association and New York Thoroughbred Breeders. It's geared to expanding the demand for thoroughbreds in shows as an alternative to a questionable future.
"There are a lot of very conscionable people, whether it's owners, trainers, breeders out there who very quietly find good homes for their retired horses. Sometimes the industry is painted with a broad brush, and that's unfortunate. Can we do things better? You bet, and that's what we're trying to do," said Rick Violette, president of NYTHA.
He was talking about the initiative at a party when Kevin Saggese spoke up on behalf of Garden State and said, "I think we'd love to be in on this."
Said Violette, "That's the genesis of it, and they've been just tremendous to work with. Those are the kind of people that we want to do business with as we try to promote this. It's a great initiative I think is beneficial to both the show horse industry and the racing industry."
The classes also will be presented at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., show the first two weeks in May.
Saggese, an executive coordinator of Garden State, also is a thoroughbred racehorse trainer and has been involved in the show world as well, noted, "We all grew up riding thoroughbreds. We did not have the warmbloods. This was an opportunity to give back to the thoroughbreds, which I've always loved, and to find the next Gem Twist. There's nothing in the world more athletic than the thoroughbred. It takes twice the horsemanship to make a thoroughbred," said Saggese, who contends "We've lost some of that over the years."
Tim Cleary, the manager of Garden State, said the entry fees for the thoroughbred competitions are lower than for a typical class.
"I think it is pretty exciting, but I don't have a clue how many we'll get," he said. The entry deadline is April 15.
Garden State (gardenstatehorseshow.org), New Jersey's largest horse show, runs May 2-6. It is presented by the Junior Essex Troop and dedicated to the memory of the late Capt. John Fritz, a former commandant of the troop and one of the founding fathers of modern U.S. horse sports. The highlight is the $35,000 Junior Essex Troop Garden State Grand Prix at 4 p.m. May 5, but the thoroughbreds will be highlighted in their own $4,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic beforehand on what coincidentally is Kentucky Derby Day. There also will be a $1,000 Thoroughbred Hunter Classic and a $1,000 bonus for thoroughbreds who place well in the USHJA Garden State Hunter Derby, presented by Devoucoux. The prize money will be offered by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Industry and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
Kim Bonstein, a trainer whose family is involved with Garden State, is a thoroughbred fan who thinks they have gotten short shrift.
"When outsourcing our need for performance horses by purchasing from abroad, it reminds me of the outsourcing of jobs in our country. We have the talent right here in this country, but somehow felt the need to go somewhere else to fill our requirements, because that talent is less expensive. The main difference is when we outsource people's jobs, they still have a chance to recoup."
She added, "When we outsource the jobs that thoroughbreds are able to do, they are discarded when many are finished with them and sent to slaughter. When this happens, we're actually paying far higher prices for importing alone. Thoroughbreds are intelligent, athletic and most of all, big hearted. They're not the scary horse some make them out to be. The best horses I have ever worked with were thoroughbreds, and I am overjoyed that they'll have a second chance to be recognized for the wonderful horses that they are."
The new program is "definitely a work in progress," said Violette, who noted the classes will also be held at shows in Texas.
"I can see relationships being established where show horse trainers would have an open line to a number of race horse trainers, so if they had a horse they thought would fit, they could get on the phone and find a fairly immediate home."
Also under consideration is a plan to recognize horses in eventing in New York state competitions. More thoroughbreds are used in eventing than in showing. In addition, Violette would like to see the Pony Club get involved at some point.
"It's easy to place a 17-year-old sound, good-moving thoroughbred. But we have a lot of 15-hand, 15.2-hand thoroughbreds that aren't going to cut it on the A circuit but have a natural home in the Pony Club."
Laurie Lane, the New Jersey-based program director of ReRun, which specializes in finding new careers and homes for thoroughbreds, thinks Take2 has potential.
"I'm really excited about this," she said. "It's my hope that this kind of program will allow the groups like ours not only to help the horses that are moving on and going to shows like Garden State, but there will be revenue left for the trail horses who can't go on, because they are the hardest to place. They're not good enough to enter Garden State, but not bad enough to be put down; I'm hoping for a trickle-down effect.''
She'd also like to see a resurgence of "hunterbreds" from thoroughbred mares and stallions. "I'm hoping there will still be a productive home for them down the road,'' she commented.
Meanwhile, another initiative is geared to thoroughbred eventers. It's the Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program, which will be part of the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event at the Horse Park of New Jersey May 9-13, with a $250 financial incentive for winners, as well as the July 28-29 Horse Trials at the facility in Allentown, where there will be a $100 incentive for award winners.
ON THE RAIL -- The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office is handling an SPCA complaint against Pan American Games dressage medalist Cesar Parra of Whitehouse Station. The matter was supposed to be before the Readington Municipal Court on Thursday, but that hearing was canceled.
"Any time there are indictable charges, they come up to our office," explained Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony Kearns III, noting
"it is a matter of procedure." He said his office will do a review, to determine disposition of the allegations, which he hopes can be completed in the next couple of weeks.
The charges, which include "torment, torture...of a living animal" and "overdrive, overwork, abuse...a living animal" stem from a 2009 incident in which Parra was longeing a 4-year-old Hanoverian stallion who fell and was hurt. The owner of the horse has sued Parra, contending the animal can no longer be used for riding or breeding as a result of the injuries he sustained.
Supporters of Parra, a group that includes friends as well as staff and students at his Piaffe Performance Farm, issued a statement citing "his reputation for honesty, compassion, kindness, and the highest standards...If, for one moment, we doubted his character or abilities, we would not have remained in his employ or sought out his unparalleled expertise...The ease and devotion with which he interacts with the horses is exemplary and inspirational."
They added, "We are stunned that such a highly respected figure is being defamed, in such a senseless way. The fact that our names also have been mentioned, implying our complicity in the alleged conduct, is an enormous insult and unfairly damages our reputation and everything we strive to achieve."
Last night's $500,000 FTI Consulting Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival had a surprising winner, 21-year-old Daniel Bluman of Colombia on Sancha LS. His was the fastest of three 4-fault rounds in the jump-off, with a clocking of 48.97 seconds. The runner-up was Captain Canada, Ian Millar, with a time of 49.30 seconds on Star Power, while third went to Lauren Hough, who was going for a clear round and had the last fence down with Quick Study in
a time of 55.97 seconds.
There were 45 starters in the competition in Wellington, Fla., the finale of the 12-week series. First place in the $100,000 FTI rider bonus standings went to Laura Kraut.
ReRun is hosting a benefit wine tasting from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank. In addition to wines, the evening will include hors d'oeuvres, cheeses and dessert. For information, contact Mike Squillante at 732.539.3451 or msquillante1@optonline.net
Friends of the Horse Park of New Jersey are presenting Susan Harris clinics this month to benefit the park. The first clinic April 13 is "Anatomy In Motion," featuring a horse painted with muscles on one side and bones on the other. Harris also will give an analysis of each rider’s horse in terms of conformation, breed/type and discipline, then assist the riders in getting the best out of them during the mounted session. That will be followed by an evening lecture on "The Visible Horse." Discounts are available for groups.
The next two days feature a centered riding/centered jumping clinic. Harris will help riders learn from a biomechanical point of view for all disciplines, from hunter/jumper to western.
Information and registration are available on line at horseparkofnewjersey.com.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Duncraven Winter Circuit and CJL Show, 1300 Trenton-Harbourton Road, Titusville; N.J. Region Pony Club Open Dressage Schooling Show, U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, Pottersville Road, Gladstone; Woodedge Show, 116A Borton Landing Road, Moorestown; Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association Show, Gloucester County Dream Park, 400 Route 130 South, Logan Township; Central Jersey Horsemen's Association Show, East Freehold Park, Kozloski Road, Freehold.
Friday: CJL Show, Hunter's Crossing Farm, 121 E. Valley Brook Road, Long Valley.
Saturday: Dressage Schooling Show, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.