The Cost of a "Free" Horse

At the inception of The Second Race, we wanted to be as easy a resource as possible for both the adopter and the trainer/owner asking for assistance. This included offering "free" horses to our network of potential adopters. While the idea of a free horse, is tempting, a horse is never free.

Nor is the responsibility of the adopter to ensure that the horse finds a happy and healthy home and life. The Second Race has discovered on occasion in the past 18 months, that those that received a "free" horse from us, didn't perhaps have the "buy in" needed to ensure that their new horse was a forever horse in their care. Let us explain.

When, Sharla Sanders the founder of The Second Race worked in middle management at a number one mortgage company in America, she was responsible for the broker division and managed 46 employees. The division went from having three separate managers, to just one (Sharla) in a years time. There were lots of disgruntled employees, change is hard for everyone and managing expectations was important to the success of the company. Sharla and her manager a VP determined that there had to be "buy in" from the employees in order to reach our goals. A bonus plan was re-designed whereby all members of the team had to collectively reach benchmarks, goals and exceed expectations together, for anyone to receive a bonus. At first, this was not well received, but in a very short time everyone learned they had to work together to get their increase in salary, in other words, they bought into the mission of the company and expectations. Without doing this, those that did well would expect their bonuses and those that did not, continued to do sub par performance. Its all about the buy in, you have to feel that you are invested in order to make something matter to you, its just human nature. Anything given and not earned is never appreciated in the same manner.

Taking that same thought process into consideration, The Second Race has decided that beginning this month, there will be an adoption fee for our horses. $ 500 will be required and the adopter will be responsible for the Coggins/Health Cert and transport should a horse go across state lines. The Second Race paid for the shipping of horses, and Coggins and found not only was this costly, but it was easy for someone to consider "giving back" a horse or attempting to transfer a horse to another party, because as mentioned above in our opinion, a stake in that horse was not present.




Our mission is to continue to provide an easy transition from the race track, lay up farm or breeding operation for the horsemen, but we also believe that an adopter should be more vested in the adoption of one of our horses, and so therefore the change in procedure. Please note, if a horse is not owned by The Second Race, the horse will still be offered for free, unless the current owner agrees that some type of fee should be attached to the horses adoption. These will be on a case by case basis.

One way to find out about the cost of horse ownership is to do research prior to adoption. Here is a recent book written by a life long horsewomen that clearly and easily shares her years of experience. A horse is a lifetime (a horse's life span can be as much as 25 years) commitment, and should be treated as such.

To read more about 'What A Free Horse Really Costs' or to order the book go to Diane Mollers' website http://www.freehorsecosts.com/ A portion of her book sales, will benefit a rescue organization, Habitat for Horses.

Equine Resolutions for the New Year--What Are Yours?

Photo by John Chun

Why a photo of Einstein's saddle clothe? Because as his name would infer it doesn't in fact take a genius to know that resolutions need to be made in horse racing to protect race horses.

Some inroads were made in 2009. We saw the public announcement by the NYRA that a "zero' tolerance stance was going to be taken at all New York racing tracks. The message was clear, knowingly send a horse to slaughter and your stalls would be pulled and denied in the state. The Second Race and many other organizations collectively applauded the stance. The question will be, will there be any real teeth to the announcement?

And yet today news from Florida stated that an investigation into an illegal slaughter house has begun after two race horses from Calder Racecourse where found there on Christmas Day. Three steps back....

Arizona has a problem, Kentucky has a problem, California has a problem....and on and on. Several tracks have recently been accredited by the NTRA Safety Alliance, however what do the tracks have to do to be certified with respect to a plan to safely protect the race horses? Who is regulating? And who is minding the people at the race track that provide the means and access to the gate to let in the trucks in the middle of the night?

Racing fans have asked why isn't more being done? Unfortunately with the current system of racing, each state has it's own groups, and then within each state again, there is a maze of regulatory bodies governing those same groups. If racing had one shared entity instead of so many factions, like the National Football League, or National Basketball Association does, would racing be able to do a better job of protecting the very horses it needs to exist?

The needs for resolutions in 2010 abound....let's hope that the racing industry collectively, actually does something in the New Year.

As for The Second Race our resolutions are:

1. To more efficiently and effectively network to assist the transition of race horses from the race tracks throughout California, western states and the Southwest. To work more closely with horsemen's groups, trainers, and race tracks---networking for adoptive homes and new careers.

2. To market everywhere the service that The Second Race can provide and to visit race tracks outside of California (Arizona, Washington, Kentucky, New York, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida--invitations await) over the next 18 to 24 months.

3. To begin lobbying efforts to help those that do not want to give up their ex-race horses because they can no longer feed them. Often times the difference is a month or two of hay, and care in order for a situation to turn itself around. Wouldn't it be better to allow a horse to remain with their owners who want them, instead of looking for an already over burdened rescue to take them in?.

4. To look at ways to partner with existing groups/volunteers in a POSITIVE manner on behalf of the horses. The pettiness, egos and games only hurt the horses and the hard work of many when we do not work as a co-operative for the horses and create "hubs" of The Second Race at race tracks and surrounding areas.

5. To KNOW in my heart that The Second Race did all it could THAT day on behalf of a race horse ( be it Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Paint or Standardbred) before I close my eyes at night.

Abandoned Horses a Sign of the Times--- Domesticated Horses Cannot Survive on Their Own

Last week I saw the story of a beautiful grey Quarter Horse that was found wandering in Nevada with a very large square patch of it's hide cut away. The person or persons that abandoned the horse, had the forethought to cut the brand off of the horse so that if it was discovered alive, it could not be traced back to its owner(s). Details and the photos are here.


http://www.2news.tv/news/50494407.html The story is disturbing and illustrates the lengths to which many horse owners are going to, to remove their responsibility to their horses. However there is a proper and correct way to give up your horse, this of course certainly was a horrific manner to complete that same task.

Abandonment of a horse is a crime in all 50 states, the fines and penalties vary widely and admittedly these "crimes" are not being prosecuted. Having laws on the books, without enforcement is an empty threat at best. In Indiana in 2008 there was a reported story, that a sheriff department official when called upon to act on the starvation of horses found on a lot, said it could not as the county could not afford to feed them. Rescues, shelters and county facilities across the United States are reporting trailers being pulled up to their doors, with underweight horses being left on their doorsteps. Most owners beg for their horses to be taken in. People generally want to do the right thing and are not negligent, they just can't continue the burden of the cost to feed their horses.

The economy has forced all of us to rethink how we spend our dollars. Foreclosures have been the norm for the past two years, and people are having to downsize to stay afloat. Pets are now seen as luxuries and many owners have had to make the painful decision to leave them behind. In real estate dealings dogs, cats and other beloved pets are being found in foreclosed homes at an alarming rate.



Last year, the Los Angeles County shelter took in 188 abandoned or abused horses -- up 600 percent from the previous year. "There are no hard numbers on this," said Michael Markarian of the Humane Society of the United States. "The states don't seem to be keeping numbers. The economy has been hard on everybody, and animals are no exception." (excerpt from a CNN article dated 3/22/09)



A horse is not so easily left behind, it's not easy to hide a horse in a back bedroom. Leaving the barn door open and hoping the horse can fend for itself in the elements is a myth. Adding to this phenomena is that a domesticated horse is not suited for, nor would be accepted by a wild herd.


"To turn a domesticated horse loose into the wilds and think that he or she will blend right in is a somewhat irresponsible notion," Kerry M Thomas, Equine Ethological Researcher/Behavior Expert and Founder of THT, http://www.thomasherdingtechnique.com/ specializes in Equine Athletic Psychology. "A great number of variables fall into play, and the domesticated horse in a wild horse's world, especially a stallion, would have a difficult time belonging to a bachelor herd, and a very difficult go of taking over a breeding band. The life lead could very likely be more like the injured and abandoned wild horse unable to keep up. Diseases and other infirmities could be a serious issue and deeply damage a healthy band of wild horses and adversely affect the intricate social herd dynamics as well as the localized ecosystems. Then there is the issue of the breeding female infecting the genotype. In reality it isn't as much a matter of can they do it, but the question moves toward should they be allowed to. I say certainly not."




Google "abandoned horse" and you will find story after story of horses being found wandering in the Southern California desert, or showing up as this gray horse did on someone elses property.



So how does a responsible horse owner either try to hold onto their horse during tough times or give up their horse? Contact the local rescues in your area. They will have the ability to assess if they can in fact take in the horse. Most rescues network with each other and can give you other alternatives. The Humane Society is a resource as well. Many shelters are full and funds are not available. It will take work on the owners part to find a home. Consider donating your horse to a charity, so that the charity can sell the horse and proceeds from the sale benefit the organization and can also in some cases provide a tax write off for the owner. (Read my post http://thesecondrace.blogspot.com/2009/07/donating-your-horse-to-charity-featured.html). Bartering has become popular with other services and could be conducted similarly between parties so that horse owners could keep their horses in hay, vaccinations and shoes. Allowing a dentistry clinic utilizing an owners horses, could help out students obtain their education and reduce the costs of having a horses teeth floated, thereby using funds to feed instead. Other alternatives are humane euthanasia and there have been recent clinics sponsored by NorCal Rescue among others at a reduced cost to assist owners. These decisions are difficult and ultimately up the the owner of the horse to make.



Posting a horse for "free" brings about a cautionary tale. Often times the person that answers that ad does not have the best interest of the horse in mind and are "fronts" for kill buyers. When possible in offering a free horse, do the homework to ensure that in fact the horse will have a good home. Visit where the horse will be living, meet the care givers, what is their experience, what will the horse be doing. Example a horse that is in someones' backyard as a pasture ornament might not be suited for trail riding, or jumping. Your horse if not suited to the expected 'new life' may find itself right back in harms way.


No one can plan for every facet of life and what will come it's way. Having a realistic plan in the eventuality that you may have to give up your beloved equine friend should be considered well in advance, not at a time when emotions are running high and hope is ebbing.



Let's hope we see less stories in the future of abandoned horses and we wish well the recovery of this beautiful Grey that sparked this posting.

Welcome to The Second Race

Welcome to "The Second Race TM". The Second Race, was created by me, Sharla Sanders as an umbrella organization with its philosophy and mission at its core-- NETWORKING FOR RESULTS. When researching my idea for a network solution primarily for race horses and rescue efforts, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so I decided to create my own. This blog will serve to communicate in the next few years several initiatives and objectives I have developed (some committed to paper and development and some still swirling around in my head). But all with one singular purpose--- to share information and resources to benefit all. To loosely quote, Sharmen Lane, a motivational speaker "Ones candle does not burn any less brightly for having shared it's light with another".


Too often we come from a place of fear, scarcity, or with a closed fist when it comes to helping another group or individual. I don't know if it's human nature, or this economy or a bit of both that seems to have made it seem far more difficult in the past year to obtain help. The Second Race, wants to blow all of this negativity away, and bring forth a consortium, if you will, of goodwill.


This blog will endeavor to give the reader access to non profits, a voice to individuals that toil behind the scenes; asking them to give their first hand account of their trials, joys and more importantly their expertise. The Second Race will search out experts in fields such as grant research and writing, care of the equine athlete, rescue and fundraising. The Second Race will form alliances with horseman's groups across the United States to find who is and who isn't backing the very racing stock that they generate their livelihood from. If there is a program that is offered that is available in a particular state, my aim is to share this with the reader. The Second Race will form partnerships with all forms of media, industry leaders and prominent people inside and outside of the horse world. Personally, I want to laugh, cry and point out the ridiculous and the marvelous all at the same time. I want to introduce us both to breeders, owners and trainers from the four major racing worlds and so much more.


Lastly, and may I say most important of all my wishes for The Second Race TM is that we celebrate the amazing equine athletes that give us their very lives for our enjoyment a network that will serve them when it's time for their next RACE.


Until next time....