Why We Do What We Do

In the fall of 2004, a woman named Sue living near Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, New York, sought out retiring racehorses from the track and promised their owners that she would place them in good homes.

Unsuspecting owners and trainers gladly donated or consigned horses after reading posters that advertised that no horses would go to slaughter, and that each horse would be placed according to its needs and abilities. Little did they know that their horses were in reality being consigned to a livestock auction in Athens, Pennsylvania, where animals were bought and sold primarily for meat.

Trigger Happy Jill (photo above left) was one of these horses. Trigger Happy Jill had been unsuccessful on the racetrack, but her owner was determined to find her a good home. Trigger Happy Jill was consigned to Sue in late September 2004.

On October 4, Jill’s owner received a phone call from Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue in southern Pennsylvania. Jill had been rescued from a slaughter pen at the auction for a price of $200. Angel Acres had been able to track down Jill’s owner, Valerie Morrison, by tracing Jill’s lip tattoo, and had called her to inform her of the rescue.

Valerie, together with racetrack veterinarian Dr. Margaret Ohlinger and Finger Lakes trainer Phyllis Shetron, began a hurried attempt to find the other eight horses that had made the trip to Pennsylvania with Trigger Happy Jill. While Dr. Ohlinger worked diligently at the track to trace the missing horses, Phyllis and Valerie traveled to Pennsylvania in their quest to find the horses and bring them home.

What they found appalled them. Most of the horses had ended up in temporary homes that placed them in imminent danger. One horse, Polish Jig, (photo above right) was found emaciated, with open, untreated wounds, tied in a filthy, dark stall with no food or water. Negotiations were made with owners of horses deemed to be at the greatest risk, and three of the nine were bought back and brought home to their relieved owners. Trigger Happy Jill remained in the care of Angel Acres and was adopted out to a local veterinarian and his family. Today she has a new career as a polo pony, and has become one of the better polo ponies in the Northeast.

Not all the horses were as fortunate. For a gelding named Austin’s Awesome, help did not arrive soon enough. He was sent to slaughter after going through the livestock auction in Athens. Yet another horse, Emily’s Dad, was never found. (see photos below of Polish Jig upon her return from her harrowing experience)

As a result of this experience, Dr. Margaret Ohlinger, Phyllis Shetron, and Valerie Morrison, together with management from Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, began the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP). It is the first Thoroughbred adoption facility in the country to be run as a collaborative effort between racetrack management and horsemen. We are hoping our efforts will ensure that all adoptable retiring Thoroughbreds are placed in caring homes. With the help of those that support us, we are sure we will be able to attain this goal.

Found emaciated

Had been tied in a dark, filthy stall

With open, untreated sores on legs . More Success Stories Another Crash - from Urgent Need to Pet - Read Online And How About these Success Story snapshots! Saz(Saxton River) is an absolute sweetheart. We love him and he is part of our family. He is best buddies with our other horse Bear. Thanks for your help. Saz is really enjoying life! . Dover is adapting to his new home and doing fine! We love him to peices! We free lunge him daily and he always has kisses for his mom. . Brian (Bold Brian) has been doing so great! Everyone at the barn loves his sweet laid back personality. . Daisy (Daybeforeherbday) is doing very well, and seems to be taking new experiences in stride! She has done nicely at our lessons, and is learning how to ride in traffic (the horsey kind). She is adjusting well to the new noises and she is becoming more social with strangers. . Alex (Alexander) is progressing nicely under saddle, and he has become accustom to his new home quite nicely! He has made a few solid friends and still gallops out into the coral to go play with them every day. He is quick to turn around and greet me when I come into the stable and I think he always looks proud that he has a owner that comes to the barn twice a day! He has brought me so much joy and he seems to be getting acclimated to his new lifestyle very nicely!! I am working with him on becoming a basic pleasure horse and hope to eventually trail ride with him. I found a good book on re-schooling thoroughbreds which actually named Alex's grandfather and 1980 Kentucky Derby winner - Sunny's Halo. That was really neat, but the book has a bunch of helpful hints and I am enjoying reading it tremendously!!! Worthy Lover ("Romeo") has been with us for six months and is enjoying his new lifestyle with fellow herd mates on our private farm.  He fit in beautifully, and is extremely well-mannered (always nice to get one off the track for this reason).  He is relaxing towards his new life as a pleasure horse.  After 21 races, he will continue to have the winter off. We can't wait for spring.  Thank you for being there; it benefits everybody.