My Nonprofit Reviews

I'm new to the horse rescue movement, but privately I have wished to be the owner of a race horse since my teen age years. In those days my brother and I would often accompany our father on his 2nd job as a paddock guard at Saratoga Raceway. We'd watch the races from outside the fence, mingle with the children of the horsemen and women and generally have a good time. Eventually, we found jobs as hot walkers, cooling out Standardbreds after they'd raced. Typically, we'd walk and water blanketed horses for about an hour after their post race bath. During these walks, we'd learn a little about horses and their care, generally inculcate ourselves (albeit in a very minor way) into the racing scene and end up with a buck or two to spend in the track restaurant when we were done. It was great fun!

Ever since Saratoga I've wanted to own a race horse. But, life has had its contradictory demands and I never did become a horse owner. Fast forward to age of 77. My kids (now adults) encouraged me to join Facebook (FB)--which I did very reluctantly. Of course, on FB one runs across all kinds of people, places and things. But, in my FB scrolling I ran across Susan Kayne at Unbridled Sanctuary (US) in Greenville, NY. Susan had started US as a rescue operation for thoroughbreds, but has since expanded her mission to all equines. What struck me most about Unbridled was their "ALL IN!" commitment to horses who are literally at the end of their rope--horses judged to be beyond their productive years and placed by their owners into the "slaughter pipeline" to reap the last vestige of their worth--their very flesh and bones! Fortunately, Susan Kayne not only "Walks the walk!" of an equine sanctuary which she does with much love, care and just plain hard physical labor. But, she's also very effective at "Talking the talk!"--an equally important quality needed to garner the much needed support of volunteers and financial contributors to effect the care of more than 60 equines! Following Susan on Facebook has led me to an important adjustment to my lifelong dream. Instead of actually owning a race horse, I can contribute monthly as a member of the 21 Club. In this way I contribute to the complete compassionate care of equines for the rest of their natural lives. it's so much better than mere ownership! Consequently, I can whole heartedly commend, Susan Kayne, Andrew Elsbree and all those that volunteer their time and/or give financial support to this most worthy cause.