Over the past 20 years, I have helped the TRF to raise money to help with their programs which change the lives of incarcerated men and women, as well as the horses they save. I have spoken with the prisoners in the TRF programs, and the way it positively affects them lives is incredible. Many of them have never had meaning or purpose in their life before this--never had anyone to care for, be responsible for, and who held them responsible as well. The TRF provides permanent lifetime homes for over 850 horses who would otherwise face neglect, abuse and slaughter, and there's something magical about the way they pair these discarded horses with society's discarded men and women, and let something magical happen. I can't say enough good things about them.
This was for the TRF at Montpelier in Orange, VA. I volunteered for 6 plus months AND adopted a TRF ex-racehorse named Monty. TRF is a wonderful organization that tries to place ex-racehorses in forever homes as companions or performance horses. The Montpelier facility is great--they take care to match what you are looking for in a horse and they are very knowledgeable. Some (due to injuries) are good pasturemates...others (like Monty) can actually be performance horses. I worked with Monty and showed succesfully at USDF recognized shows to 2nd level dressage! You do need to be an expert horseperson to help with the horses/volunteer--racehorses can be high strung as they are being reschooled. However, there are other ways to help TRF including helping at their benefit parties or sponsoring a horse to have shoes for a year. You could buy and donate hay or other needed items. You can even sponsor the reseeding of a field or buy art at Art at the Barn.
I am fostering a wonderful retired 13 year old Thoroughbred on behalf of TRF and they were fantastic to work with. They have been so appreciative and interested in how he is doing and getting along with his equine companions. I can tell that this horse was well cared for. The work they are doing is so important. These athletes deserve to have a comfortable happy retirement and that's what TRF strives for.
I hope they've improved the situation in the past few months, but I think these _New York Times_ articles raise more than a few concerns: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/sports/19horses.html?_r=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/sports/20horses.html?scp=6&sq=%22Thoroughbred%20Retirement%22&st=cse Donor beware.
Review from Guidestar