Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program: Ensuring Happy Days for Retired Horses

                                                                                                                     by Avery Oden

Everybody knows that even the most famous athletes can’t compete forever.

Happily Retired Valentine Gamble

Luckily for the athletes of the human category, there’s a myriad of secondary career options like commercials, sponsorships, and appearance fees. Even Shaq got a job announcing on ESPN. But for race horses it can be a bit more complicated.

Anybody who has ever owned horses knows that keeping their bellies full and their minds happy can be both expensive and exhaustive, making the futures of these beloved competitors less certain than the Michael Jordans of the world.

That’s why the OTRP works hard every day to help keep these retired heroes of the track taken care of. And when I say, “Works hard every day,” I mean exhaustive, endless, tireless efforts of love. For free. And yes, they have day jobs too. The same ones that seem to wear the rest of us out by 5pm.

To learn a bit more about the program, I got to speak with some of the amazing folks at OTRP who make it all happen:

What is the goal of the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program?

The OTRP has two essential goals.  The first is to get as many of our horses as possible into the adoption process for evaluation of second career possibilities, or simply becoming a loving companion horse.   Secondly, our goal is to provide a safe and happy home for our permanent horses to live out their lives.

How long have you been pursuing this goal?  

The Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program was founded in 2007.

Who started this foundation, and why?

With a significant need to aid Oklahoma Thoroughbred ex-racehorses from possible abuse, neglect or worse, Royce Clay and Robin Brookins created the OTRP. The idea was more than safely retiring all these horses but to provide rehabilitation, retraining, and adoption. 

If you could wave a magic wand and do one thing to help retired horses live their days out in dignity, what would you do?  

We would want all owners and breeders to be responsible for doing what is right. If more owners would pledge to find other opportunities and/or provide rehab after a racing career, it would make for a much more respectable horse racing industry.

Silver Senior

What methods do you use to further your cause?  

We have started additional initiatives to create awareness of the program.  Remington Park has been a wonderful host and supporter; we are grateful for everything they have done. 

We are confident social media will have a tremendous impact on our program. Our Facebook page is growing immensely, where we continually post new horses up for adoption along with special featured events.  We are trying to be as visible as possible and creative. We secured a spot on “Is This a Great State or What,” and had a commercial made featuring Dale Cordova, a professional veteran jockey.  Exposure through Blood-Horse and other industry related media should help as well. 

We are also working to align ourselves more closely with the hunter/jumper, dressage, sport horses and even western disciplines.  Numerous horse shows and sporting events can act as a platform to showcase the 0ff-the-track thoroughbreds’ talents.  Ultimately, we would like to see the OTRP create events like the Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show which took place in the infield at Pimlico race track in Maryland.   It was an enormous success with 800 entries and $16,500 raised for charity.  In addition, we are sponsoring a few classes at an upcoming event on November 4^th where Zee Oh Six will compete in his new discipline.

How can horse lovers get involved to help this important cause? 

The OTRP always needs volunteers to help with awareness events from simple roles like manning tables to more time intensive activities like organizing social events as well as developing shows where off-the-track thoroughbreds can be showcased.  Also important, we are always looking for others who would like to help train the horses for a new discipline.

Ex-superstar Highland Ice with a young fan

Several horses are being exercised by amateur riders who are interns from a veterinary clinic, as well as other professional and amateur riders that will be taking horses to various shows and events around Oklahoma and the region.  With rising costs in grain and hay, caring for our animals has become problematic. The majority of the OTRP horses are unsupported and we rely heavily on donations to pay for their care.  When sponsoring a horse, our 501(c)3 status allows for tax deductible opportunities. 

What are some of OTRP’s biggest challenges?  

As with any non-profit, funding is always an issue. We have started several initiatives to reach longer-term funding needs and solid sustainability.  First, we must expand the general and annual fundraising programs.  Secondly, we must create an endowment through estate planning as well as charitable gifts. Sometimes it is easier to change a beneficiary on a policy or leave a small percentage of an estate to a charitable organization than to write a check today. 

We must also create more awareness of the program, the adoption process, and the horses available.   We have to overcome the stigma that the OTRP is simply a retirement home for horses. Instead, we should be viewed as an active transition for horses to enter into new homes and careers.  While the OTRP is the only Oklahoma based 501(c)3 offering a home for permanent retirees, we have also found new homes and careers for over 70 ex-racehorses with another 19 either in rehab or starting in the adoption process.  

Off-the-track thoroughbreds have a stereotype among the sport horse community that we continually struggle to overcome.  There is no organization devoted solely to the marketing of Off-The-Track Thoroughbreds.  All of the other breeds market to the sport horse community by coordinating promotions and advertising.    Our mission is to market the horses as trainable for other disciplines, through corporation with the hunter/jumper community for example.  

However, our current single largest need is support and help from horsemen and farm owners.  We need open stalls and empty paddocks for horses coming off the track for 45-60 days.  People are needed who know how to handle horses who have been in daily training on the track for months to be let down gradually.  Finally, we are in need of trainers from all disciplines who are willing to evaluate the horse for ability.  We really need help from those who understand our mission and believe in what we do. 

What is the scope of the problems that they’re working to solve?   

We advocate responsible breeding and encourage breeding for quality over quantity.  Although I know it goes on everywhere, I continually see breeding operations breeding every mare, in every pasture, and every year to the same stallions. 

To the casual observer, the thoroughbred seems to lead the life of royalty.  While that may be true for some, the life of most ex-racehorses is far different.  People still don’t understand that many horses coming off the track are quickly dumped for new arrivals. Only some owners find adequate placement or turn to the OTRP for help with their horses to transition into a second career and be loved by others.

How many horses has the OTRP successfully retired? 

The OTRP has been responsible for retiring, placing, and adopting 102 thoroughbreds.   Currently, we are home to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred, Highland Ice.

I’d like to thank the amazing folks at the OTRP for taking some time out of their busy schedules to help with this interview.

To contact the OTRP for volunteering, donation, and sponsorship opportunities, contact Robin Brookins at DBrook4000@Aol.com

For more info, visit: http://www.otrp.info/index.html

Follow OTRP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-Thoroughbred-Retirement-Program/447489085292055