Harness Horse Racing

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EPR News From HRNB Standardbred Canada Due to the pending weekend weather forecast of heavy rain for the region, Horse Racing New Brunswick officials would remind all participants to contact the Saint John race office at 506-636-6927 for updates on track and race conditions. The decision to …

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Updated EHV-1 Notice From MPHRC Standardbred Canada Effective immediately any horse that was stabled at the Campbellville Training Center after April 29, 2013 is barred from entering the grounds of any racetrack under the jurisdiction of the MPHRC and no entries for horses stabled at this location will … and more »

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The Idaho Statesman

Orb has gone from ordinary to extraordinary The Idaho Statesman Kentucky Derby winner Orb looks on as he is cooled down after a workout at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Thursday, May 16, 2013. The Preakness Stakes horse race is scheduled to take place May 18. Patrick Semansky — AP Photo. Story Photos: … Preakness 2013: Breaking Down Top Long Shots at PimlicoBleacher Report Are Triple Crown contenders slowing down?Bend Bulletin all 396 news articles »

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Saved from the slaughterhouse, horse is welcomed to new home on Pilesgrove … NJ.com Baia-Roe is a 15-year-old standardbred mare rescued from a truck that was on its way to a slaughterhouse. Caitlin Stewart, her boyfriend, Stephen Wade, and brother, Gustave Stewart, all initiated an effort to save Baia-Roe and this weekend a group of …

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New Yorker

Black Onyx scratched from Kentucky Derby Fresno Bee Long shot Black Onyx was a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby because of a chip in his left ankle, leaving 19 horses to vie for the roses. The scratch occurred Friday after early wagering for the race had opened, so Black Onyx's No. 1 post position … This Week in Kentucky Derby HistoryThe Idaho Statesman Betting on the Kentucky Derby without going to the trackLouisville.com Check out here how to invest in a racehorse!Harnesslink ESPN -The Herald Bulletin all 2,401 news articles »

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So you want to rescue a horse.  Congratulations.  Fortunately for you, the Internet,  has made it much easier for individuals to get involved thanks to social media, like Facebook as well as quick payment systems such as Paypal and Google Wallet.  The bad news is the Internet has made it easier for people to scam good natured people.

The purpose of this article is not to tell people to donate to horse rescues.  It certainly is not to tell you that you shouldn’t donate to horse rescues.  It is to tell you what to look for when you decide to spend your hard earned money on horse rescue.

Before we go further, let’s talk about the various avenues available for rescuing horses; horses of all types and even donkeys.

The simplest program is the programs that deal with the unpleasantness of the grade auctions and buy their horses directly, often for less than $100 or obtain their horses from owner surrenders.  They then go through the expense of quarantine and will evaluate the horse and begin training the horse for another career if possible.  When offered to the public, they are offered for adoption with a contract with a nominal fee, a fee to allow the rescue to continue their work and they will take the horse back if the adoption doesn’t work out.  When they look for donations, they generally look for donations to help cover their expenses and continue their work.

Then there are those groups who basically market horses which went through auctions and were purchased by an auction operator, supposedly for slaughter .  In this case, the owner doesn’t care which way he make his money; either selling to you for a profit or selling it to the kill-buyer.  Often these operators welcome the assistance of others to work with them in getting the horses placed.  Potential buyers are welcome to the feed lot to see the horse.  Some object to this type of arrangement as at times these owners will buy horses from other auctions and run them through their own auction to inflate the prices.  Some object to this type of operation because it allows the auction operator to buy more horses because he/she can make a profit selling the horses to the public, playing on their emotions.  Regardless of what you feel about this method, you will typically end up with the horse you have saved.

Then there are the most controversial programs, the Broker-Owned sales.  Here, rescues will work with a kill-buyer and seek to get horses sold before ‘the truck arrives’.  They will often help by facilitating the raising of bail money to save a horse.  Sometimes you don’t know the horse is owned by a kill-buyer.  Opponents have a problem with a ‘rescue’ being in bed with a kill buyer.  They also have a problem with them claiming the truck is coming for them when often it isn’t because the horse is likely not a candidate for slaughter due to pregnancy or low weight.  The best horses generally are not offered for sale as they are the ones the slaughterhouses want.  Once again, allowing a broker to make a profit will allow them to buy more horses; horses which may not have a chance to be offered for rescue.  It should be noted that some people have claimed the horse they thought they were buying is not the horse offered to them when they show up and/or they end up with a lot more work to get the horse in good shape than they thought they were getting into.  If you go this root, you will almost certainly be paying a premium.

I will leave it to you to decide which type of rescue you should use or support.  Some will argue a horse saved is a horse saved no matter how it is done.  Others are willing to let a horse go to slaughter instead of enriching the kill-buyer.  All I will say is do your research and decide which way you want to go.  If things go wrong, complain; but make sure you complain for the right reason.  Were your expectations realistic? 

Earlier, I mentioned the Internet has made it possible for questionable groups to scam people, taking advantage of their sentimentality and desire to save a horse from slaughter.  Of course, there are groups who legitimately are working to save horses and find social networks like Facebook are low-cost methods to fund raise.  As a potential downer, it unfortunately is up to you to do your research because law enforcement typically have bigger problems to deal with. 

Here are some rules and things you should look for when making donations.

1. A 501(c)(3) organization is not an endorsement.  All it means is a group may collect donations that are tax-deductible to the donor .  A 501(c)(3) organization is a non-profit, meaning there are no retained earnings.
2. A 501(c)(3) status can be abused.  It takes time for the government to revoke the status and in the meanwhile, a group can take advantage of this ‘seal of approval’.  Look at a site like www.guidestar.org and check on the status of a 501(c)(3). 
3. While a website is not a guarantee of legitimacy, if there is no website, it is a warning sign.
4. If a horse is being sold, that is a problem.  Horses should be adopted out with a contract which specifies the rescue will take the horse back if anything goes wrong or is not well maintained by the adopter.  A horse should not be allowed to breed.  A rescue should require at least once a year a report from a veterinarian on the status of the horse.  A rescue that lets a horse go without a contract is a seller of horses, not a rescue.
5. Is the rescue accredited?  It should be on their website.  Don’t take their word.  Check with the accrediting agency and make sure they are still members in good standing. 
6. On the website, it should list the current officers of the charity and their primary occupation.
7. Check the latest Form 990 (which ideally should be posted on the rescue’s website or failing that on Guidestar) and make sure the officers are volunteers.  If they make a salary it could be a warning sign.  Look for other expenses on their report and do they seem out of wack or expenses which seem extravagant (conventions, etc.)?  Rescues should be working on saving horses, not enjoying themselves on the donors’ dime.  Read the entire form 990.  No, you don’t need to read every single thing but you want the form to pass the smell test.  
8. All non-profits must make their latest Form 990 available to the public either on their website, through a third-party website or in person or by mail.  A non-profit may charge $1 for the first page and $0.15 per page after that.  If making request by mail, they have 30 days to complete your request.
9. Remember, there may be a delay in posting their 990.  If you don’t see 2012′s form 990 on their website or on Guidestar.org (or other site) that is okay in the early part of 2013.  However, if you don’t see the 2011 form out there, it should be a warning sign.
10. Note Guidestar is a voluntary service.  If you can’t find a rescue on Guidestar, look elsewhere such as Foundation Center. 
11. Beware of the ‘truck is coming’ story.  You know horses can be going to slaughter.  When a group uses this angle, they are tugging on your emotions and hoping you take out your credit card or checkbook. 
12. Do your research.  Check the web for complaints.  Any group can have some detractors; you can’t please everyone but there comes a point where the complaints are too many to ignore.  Where there is smoke, there usually is fire.
13. If the rescue is close enough, consider visiting them.  Just realize you may not be able to just show up and visit, you may need to make arrangements to visit.  A big warning is when they try to seriously discourage visits or refuse to allow you to visit.

The point of this article is not to tell you to avoid horse rescues.  There are some real good horse rescues out there but unfortunately, there are those who are more concerned with your money than actually rescuing horses.  The cause is good.  Good enough that it is worth doing the work to make sure the rescue is legitimate. 

Do you think I missed something here?  Let me know and I will share your thoughts.

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The Idaho Statesman

Black Onyx scratched from Kentucky Derby The Idaho Statesman Long shot Black Onyx is a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby, leaving 19 horses to vie for the roses. The scratch occurred Friday after early wagering for the race was opened, so Black Onyx's No. 1 post position will be left empty on Saturday. The … Pletcher chasing Lukas' standard at Ky DerbyFresno Bee Betting on the Kentucky Derby without going to the trackLouisville.com Oaks-Derby double an attractive offer – Vancouver SunVancouver Sun ESPN all 662 news articles »

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Thanks from 'I Am, A Harness Racing Horse' – Harnesslink Harnesslink The harness racing documentary film trailer Happy Easter from 'I Am, A Harness Racing Horse' deeply appreciates the wonderful support from those of you who posted the video on your harness racing websites. We want to thank you sincerely for doing this …

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Stallion Passes From Unknown Illness Standardbred Canada A standardbred stallion standing in the United States has passed away after a mysterious illness changed the horse's skin pigment and caused complete loss of his coat. Prominent Florida sire Arapa Victory, whose sons and daughters have made a solid …

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Woodbine Harness: Horses to watch from April 4 – April 8 | Daily Racing Form Daily Racing Form Finished third as the favorite won and the pocket horse got up for 2nd but showed enough to earn a look facing weaker stock. FOOLISH MIND (NW2FM) Sat in the pocket hard to hold looking for racing room heading home, bulled out enough to bump a foe and …

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