Connie Black has been a club member at Wasabi Ventures Stables since July 2018. She also was the very first club member to become a monthly donor to The Horse Fund. I recently interviewed Connie to learn more about her passion for horses.

What is your relationship with thoroughbreds?

My first real connection with thoroughbred was winning a tiny piece of Willie The Whale with Wasabi. We have always owned quarter horses and began racing them in 2014. In addition to some of the Wasabi race horses and broodmares, I now own my own TB broodmare, who has given me two beautiful fillies, born on the same date a year apart.

How long have you been involved?

I’ve personally been involved with horses, in general, since meeting my husband in 1972. He grew up showing western pleasure horses in 4H, boarded others’ horses, then started barrel racing after we got married. Yes, he even got me to barrel race a few times. I think my life passed before my eyes every time I did it!

When did you first learn about thoroughbred aftercare?

I had heard about TB aftercare through trade magazines and social media before ever owning one. Even though I know very little about the RRP (Retired Racehorse Project), I’ve seen a few people working with horses aimed toward that when we visited our trainer, who used to take our quarter horses to Florida in the off-season from our racing in Indiana. They stayed at a training center next to the Florida Horse Park. The proximity to that drew lots of TB folks to stay at the same training center. It was fun to watch them work their horses in events I’d never seen before.

Do you have other involvements with thoroughbred aftercare?

I don’t directly have any involvement in aftercare, other than always trying to help any of our trainer friends try to find new owners/homes for horses they’ve worked with that just aren’t suited for track life.

What made you decide to become a monthly donor?

I’ve always been one to try to help when it comes to animal causes. My Amazon Prime Smile rewards go to a local animal rescue, His Hands Extended. I’ve been a supporter of The Barn Santuary ever since I first saw the TV show. Being able to have a monthly donation automatically made to The Horse Fund is so very easy. It’s become a permanent part of my monthly horse budget. I even gave up my mani-pedis so I could get another horse! I decided it was a better use of my “fun” money. My nails are always a mess after I come in from the barn anyway! 😄

What do you think people need to know about aftercare?

I think many people may not be aware of all the possibilities that exist for horses leaving the race life. Maybe they’ll go to eventing of some kind, a few may make it to the barrel pen, some may be able to transition to a therapy horse, be used for trail riding, become a broodmare, or my favorite, just be a pasture pet.

What else can The Horse Fund do for the horse racing community and/or thoroughbreds?

I’m thrilled The Horse Fund has been able to step in and assist a few horses start their race retirement years when others would have kept pushing them in a career unsuited to them. Setting a good example of what’s right to do for the horse and being a good steward of the funds collected are great ways to show the industry the best way to help horses post-racing. Maybe at some point The Horse Fund can extend far beyond the membership of Wasabi.

Is there anything else you want to share?

It’s been very educational to be part of the Wasabi family. I’m really grateful for all the information shared and so happy knowing I get to be a small part of helping make a better life possible for some horses through The Horse Fund.

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
~Winston Churchill

“Horses do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
~EquestrianCo.com

Many thanks to Connie Black not only for taking the time to answer these questions but also for continuing to be a valued part of our community.

The first full year of operations for The Horse Fund was highly successful on multiple levels. Not only did we facilitate safe and secure retirements for a number of thoroughbreds, we also shared updates on many retirees, as well as surpassed our fundraising goals. Let’s take a moment and look at each of those categories in review.

Retirements

In 2022, we assisted in the retirement of 14 Wasabi Ventures Stables (WVS) horses. Nine of these retirements were initiated by Wasabi. Of those nine, we made charitable donations to five aftercare organizations, with whom the horses were placed. The other four retirements incurred no fees.

In July we made our first private purchase of a former WVS horse, which we then retired. This purchase was followed by four more purchases through the end of the year, making a grand total of five purchases.

Updates

We published 45 articles on our website last year. Of those articles, we had 33 updates on retirements, private purchases, and retirees. We also posted 5 interviews with aftercare organizations. The remainder of our articles were promotional items for The Horse Fund, including upcoming events and other interesting tidbits.

Fundraising

The best way to describe our fundraising in 2022 is amazing! Although our auctions and Shamrock Kid Day celebrations raised slightly less than anticipated, our 12 Days of Giving campaign raised three times the anticipated amount. What played a huge role in this achievement was the generosity of three matching donors with amounts of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,500, as well another donor who gave $100 for each of the 12 days. All three goals were met and exceeded, for a grand total of $13,163.57 raised. This generosity will assist us in continuing to privately purchase former WVS horses who are ready to be retired.

In Review

Last year truly was a success on all levels. In 2023 as we continue to track these horses, both before and after retirement, we hope to make a greater impact in the world of thoroughbred aftercare. We want not only to educate others on the importance of aftercare but also to inspire other horse ownership groups to take a more proactive stance.

To take a peek at the fourteen retirees of 2022, please click here.

In late November and early December, The Horse Fund celebrated the 12 Days of Giving. Each day we featured one of the Wasabi Ventures Stables horses who retired in 2022. As of this writing, Wasabi Ventures has retired nine horses with our assistance, and The Horse Fund has privately purchased five horses in order to retire them. Every day we highlighted one of those horses, sharing information on its career and its path to retirement.

Setting New Goals

As this was a fundraising event, we also asked for donations to help support our aftercare efforts in 2023. We had three WVS club members who offered to be matching donors. The goals were $3,000, $2,000, and $1,500. To reach a total of $13,000 from our club (including the matches) seemed like a huge reach to me, as our total raised on Giving Tuesday 2021 was $4,100.

On the first day, we raised $1,175. That was a fantastic start, but I wondered if the final goal was possible. With the first day most likely having the greatest donations, would there be enough inspiration in the next eleven days to reach $6,500 in matching donations?

On Day 2 I received a pleasant surprise. A club member offered to make a $1,200 donation but wanted to add $100 each day to the total. Beginning every day’s fundraising with $100 definitely made for a good start.

During the campaign, I shared the day’s featured retiree on WVS Slack and social media, and donations would trickle in. On Day 3 we reached our first matching goal of $3,000. We reached our second matching goal of $2,000 on Day 8. Finally, on Day 12, we hit our final goal of $1,500. Once that goal was reached, the donations didn’t stop, as several more were made.

12 Days of Giving Totals

In total, we raised $13,195 from sixty-two different donors. This money should enable us to privately purchase four former WVS horses next year and provide them with safe and secure retirements.

I am truly grateful for every one of the sixty-two donors who helped The Horse Fund reach this incredible fundraising goal. Also, I want to extend an extra thank you to my three matching donors and my $100 daily donor, who made a huge difference in this year’s fundraising.

Words cannot express how fortunate I feel to work with people who believe in thoroughbred aftercare in their words, actions, and donations.

What does TROT stand for?

Commonly referred to as TROT, Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa Inc is a Florida nonprofit organization and 501(c)(3) that specializes in Thoroughbred aftercare.

How did your program begin?

The organization started out as Thunder Bay Horse Rescue in September 2003. In 2009, the organization’s leadership changed. In May 2009, its legal name changed to what it is today. Since that time, TROT has taken in 58 thoroughbreds into its program and rehomed 46.

What makes TROT unique?

Unlike many OTTB groups, they don’t have their own facility. They currently board their horses at two separate locations. Four of the horses, lovingly called the Thoroughstangs, live as a herd on five acres with access to a pond. And right next door to that, their resident curmudgeon Pure Pulpit resides in a more traditional boarding setting, where he is in his stall during the day and turned out at night with the other boarded horses.

What happens when a horse is accepted into your program?

When a horse enters TROT’s program, its ownership is signed over to the organization. TROT then works with the former racing connections to complete the Sold As Retired From Racing form. That fully executed form is mailed to the Jockey Club along with the registration papers and four conformation photos. The Jockey Club logs this info into their database and returns the papers to TROT stamped RETIRED FROM RACING. Each horse is given time to just relax and be a horse. When the horse is ready to start training, it is continually evaluated and eventually becomes available for adoption.

What is the process for interested adopters?

People interested in adopting a retired racehorse complete an application. The team at TROT screens the potential adopter, facility, and references. Typically, they don’t adopt out to first time horse owners unless that person is working with a trainer. If the interested person meets their guidelines, TROT has the person meet the horse to see if it’s a good fit. Adopters sign a contract that includes reporting throughout the first year. (Many owners actually keep in contact with TROT for much longer.) The contract states that if they are going to change ownership of the horse, they have to let TROT know and share information on the new owner. The horse can come back to TROT, if needed.

How many horses do you currently have? 

TROT has five horses. Four of those horses are non-ridable and available for adoption as pasture pets. The fifth, Pure Pulpit, broke his left pastern in the field a little over one year after retiring from racing. He was successfully rehabbed but cannot be ridden. Pure Pulpit also has flare ups of lymphangitis that require specialized care. He is the organization’s only permanent resident.

How does TROT receive funding?

TROT receives funding through a number of sources. These include individual donors, grants, and support from Tampa Bay Downs. They also receive donations via Amazon Smile, Good Search (which uses your online searches to earn money for nonprofits), iGive (stores participate and donate), eBay for charity, PayPal Giving Fund, Network for Good (Facebook fundraisers), Benevity, and company matches. TROT has monthly informational tables at Tampa Bay Downs during the live racing meet. They have a selection of branded items available for minimum donations at these events.

Do you have a story about a horse that we can share with our readers?

Rojo

Veteran runner and fan favorite, El Grande Rojo, was retired to our program by his racing owners, Neil and Laura Barrish, the day after his final race in 2019, which also happened to be his 11th birthday. The Barrishes explored many options for his retirement and chose our organization based on our commitment to individualized care and passion to ensure the long-term care and safety of our program horses. 

After a seven-year racing career that included 18 wins in 84 starts (and $442,813 in earnings), it took some time for Rojo to adjust to life after racing. He had plenty of other OTTBs at the boarding facility to help acclimate and welcome him to his new life away from the racing world he thrived in and was accustomed to. We also gave him as much time as he needed. When we finally restarted him, we discovered that he loved a routine and loved to work. He eventually turned into a foster failure as our equine care manager Summer adopted him. He loves kids and now helps teach the next generation of equestrians.    

A little over a year after his adoption, he was diagnosed with EPM. Summer was devastated but was determined to get him healthy again. He was successfully treated (and will be monitored for the rest of his life). Now he’s back as a lesson horse and winning ribbons in the show ring doing everything from leadline classes with the tiny riders, as well as excelling in both the hunter and jumper ring with more experienced riders. Never ever underestimate those war horses! They have huge hearts and are worth their weight in gold.

If people want to help your program, what can they do?

As noted in the funding question above, there are many easy options for supporting TROT. Please scroll up to see how you can help. You can also visit their How You Can Help page on their website – https://www.tampatrot.org/how_you_can_help.html. 

How did your program begin?

After the Races began in the fall of 2010. It was brought to my attention that there was a growing need for capable rehabilitation facilities to help with retiring racehorses in transition. At the time I was leasing a farm and doing some boarding and training, but my heart had always been with Thoroughbreds. I had worked in most facets of the industry (from starting young horses for the track, to exercising and managing a stable of racehorses including their injuries). With my professional background and medical experience, it felt like a good fit for both myself and the horses.

What makes After the Races unique?

One of the biggest things that I think sets us apart is that we’re 100% full disclosure. All of a horse’s history, including reasons for retirement, old injuries, and current limitations, are outlined clearly on our website and our ads for our horses. There’s no guesswork or surprises when you adopt from After the Races. All of our horses are vetted upon arrival, and we advertise them appropriately right from the start.

We are also never in a hurry with our horses. Each horse gets the chance to let down and rehabilitate both physically and mentally from its time at the track. Even if it arrives to us sound and uncomplicated, it still gets at least 30 days to first focus on being a horse and transitioning to farm life before being put back into work. From there we start them back under saddle slowly and responsibly.

What happens when a horse is accepted into your program?

Within the first week of arrival they are typically seen by both our veterinarian and our farrier. We have them vetted so we can set up a rehabilitation plan, if necessary, or make plans for how to advertise them in the future. We get them set up with their first farrier appointment, making the first effort to get their hooves back on track in terms of shortening the toes and improving their angles. 

Once they’ve had their feet done, if they’re not going into rehabilitative care, they’re introduced to one of our turnout groups and allowed to be a horse for at least 30 days. We believe this to be incredibly important for their psyche. Typically the longer they have off here before going back to work, the more relaxed and positive the experience ends up. Of course, even when in the letdown phase all horses are handled daily.

Do you require new owners to do reporting?

 We require our adopters to stay in touch with us. If we don’t see updates coming through on their own (social media is a wonderful thing), we will reach out for a report on how the horse is doing. We actually maintain a private Facebook group just for adopters. We have created a pretty unique family of people who celebrate in each other’s journey with their horses and can even sympathize or provide advice when the tough times come along as well. It’s a really cool network.

How many horses have you worked with?

We have had over 500 horses come into our program now, with over 491 adoptions at the time of this email. With my past positions working at Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky and also at the racetrack, I’ve probably personally worked with over 1,000 individual racehorses at this point.

Tell me more about the Chestnut Mare Initiative.

The Chestnut Mare Initiative was created to combat the negative stigma surrounding its namesake. Particularly in the last ten years, this myth that chestnut mares are somehow particularly more difficult than other horses has become frustratingly popular. Good trainers and riders know what studies have even begun to show. There is no difference in behavior linked to color.

The CMI is a training program designed to shatter stigmas while boosting the adoption rate of chestnut mares, as well as other stigmatized horses (we have a few bays in the program as well!). We learned a long time ago that chestnut mares often stay with us longer than the average horse. Once they’ve had some training, they begin to draw the attention of adopters. We learned, essentially, that a trained mare is an adopted mare. 

To help with this, approved trainers have the adoption fee waived to take on a chestnut mare as a long-term resale project. The horse gets quality training, which in turn sets it up for better success in its eventual long-term home. We publish updates from the trainers on social media and our website so our followers can see first hand how trainable and wonderful these mares can be. When the horse ultimately sells, it still goes under our no-auction contract. ATR receives 10% of the sale price as a donation.

How does After the Races receive funding?

ATR receives its funding primarily through its racetrack partners and horse donors who donate toward the cost of the horse’s care. It is typically a one-time donation that does not cover the entire cost of the horse’s stay. Adoption fees, fundraising events, and grants ultimately balance the budget. We have a proven business plan and are thrilled to be debt-free and solvent, though it is not without the assistance of our supportive network of donors and fans.

Do you have a story about a horse?

I have lots of stories! Right now we have a very special one-eyed, warhorse mare named “Blue.” We are seeking a therapy home for her, because despite having one eye and racing 50 times and coming to After the Races in rough shape (thin, dull, lame), she’s been nothing but incredibly kind and forgiving from day one. She raced for two years with only one eye, and it in no way holds her back. She leaves an impression on everyone who meets her. We sent her to a trainer briefly, but they admitted they didn’t do much with her as she was perfect on the ground. Ultimately, she won’t hold up for riding. As gentle, kind, and sweet this mare is though, everyone who meets her believes she belongs in a therapy program. Hopefully by the  time this article comes out, she’ll be on her way. 

If people want to help your program, what can they do?

Donate, adopt, volunteer! Those are the big three, but we can’t emphasize them enough. We could very much use volunteers who are interested in helping with creating events or grant writing. Horses are always our first priority, and time is our biggest limitation when it comes to applying for grants.

Monetary donations go a long way and can be given broadly or toward specific needs. We also maintain a charity wish list on Amazon.

When you’re looking for a new horse, adopting helps two in one, as you provide a loving home for one horse while making room for another to come in. We adopt all over the continental US and even into Canada so distance is not a limiting factor.

To learn more about After the Races, please visit their website.