BY MELISSA CAMPBELL
I’m new to the social media world, and my goal in using apps like Facebook and Instagram has unfortunately led my algorithm to constantly show animals, especially dogs and horses, who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. If I see one more post about horses that have been dumped in auction houses or bound for slaughter because they were too old or too broken, I’m going to lose it.
When I see those posts, I blame humanity in general. Shame on humans for taking on an animal that they can’t promise “til death do them part.” Because when you buy or adopt an animal like a horse, they don’t just live ten years. They can live to be 20-30 years old, sometimes even longer. If you’re going to commit, it has to include when the horse can no longer do the job you want or lives to the point of needing significant medical attention.
Now, I understand that many people outgrow their horse and find him or her their next job with an excited family. But what happens when that family can no longer afford the horse, or themselves outgrow the horse? The horse changes hands again. Same question. Do you see the potential domino effect?
I married an ex-jockey turned Thoroughbred racehorse trainer, so we are a strictly off-the-track family. I am also a stage-five clinger who’s a major sucker. So, when we take one off the track, they stay forever. But we know our limits. My husband and I know what our maximum horse number is both physically and financially. Do I wish I was a billionaire who lived on 200 acres and could rescue every horse I see? Absolutely. But I know we have to remain realistic, so we save and spoil the ones we know we can manage.
I recently saw a Facebook post about a Thoroughbred ex-racer that was found in the slaughter pipeline. The post went on to provide the story of the ex-racer who had retired from the racetrack, started a second career, changed hands a second time, and then somehow ended up at an auction house. This post went on to instantly blame the racing world. The finger wasn’t pointed at the most recent owner, or even the owner before that. It was immediately aimed at the horse trainer and racing industry as a whole. Am I the only one who sees a problem in that?
Should there be a better system for off-the-track horses, and all horses in general, as they change hands? One hundred percent, yes! The thing that infuriates me is that there already are some systems in place, but we as owners aren’t following through. And why is the blame falling solely on the racing industry? In this particular post, it wasn’t the trainer who dumped the ex-racer at an auction house.
And yes, I’m sure there are awful people at the track who directly contribute to this problem; there are slimy people in every business. But not everyone there is bad. My father-in-law is also a racehorse trainer and several years ago was contacted regarding one of his former racehorses who was found on a truck bound for slaughter. Turns out the man who bought him off the track passed away. The wife ended up selling the horse to someone else, and the story trickles down from there. My father-in-law not only paid the fee to get his ex-racer out of auction, but he paid for transport to a quarantine facility so they could eventually find that horse a better home.
There are so many groups, like New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, that work to re-home ex-racers with adoption screenings, but just like getting a horse straight off the track, how can these groups keep tabs on every horse without help from the new owners? The Jockey Club itself has a few programs in place, one of which is called Thoroughbred Connect. This allows anyone in possession of or previously connected to a Thoroughbred to declare an OTTB in need of care or register themselves as someone willing to be contacted about an OTTB in need of care. I just found out about this system three months ago, and I’ve owned OTTB’s for over twenty years.
So who’s to blame? The racing industry for not stalking all ex-racers? I think there should be more public awareness about what it takes to provide a long-term home for ex-racers, as well as all horses. I also think there should be a bigger push to keep communications and contacts open in case the horse gets to the point of needing a more stable family. But I don’t think we can solely point the finger at the racing world.
All horse owners need to take on more responsibility. Make sure you’re educated about the commitment you’re getting into with horses. Make sure you keep contact information of previous trainers and owners. And know it’s okay to admit if you no longer can provide the care or home the horse needs. We all get it. We live in a world where salaries aren’t keeping up with inflation. But don’t let the horse take the fall for your pride. Somewhere, someone is willing to help out.
I beg all parties involved to do better, and before you point the finger of blame, ask yourself what you’re doing to help out. These horses rely on us. If we let them down, their outcome is dismal. Even the old and broken horses deserve another shot at life. So I ask you, while knowing your realistic limits, what can you do to help give more chances?
Melissa Campbell is a teacher of the visually impaired in the state of Illinois, as well as a newly published author of her horse memoir, When Lilies Turn Gray. Her and her husband, Joel, live with their two OTTB’s and greyhound in the Chicago suburbs.
