Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Patricia Bewley — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:30:08 GMT

bravo Mr. Moelis for saying what needs to be said. Owner Responsibility ! Why are there people who " rescue" thousands of Thoroughbreds every year from the slaughter pens and the people who benefited from the horses earnings is no where to be found. This problem can be fixed, instantly if the HBPA's and racetrack mangements unite in fudning to retire racehorses and that money is in the purses. A small percentage will ensure horses will be retired instead of brutualy slaughtered. Our own 501 3 C , the R.A.C.E. Fund has a well structured business plan on how this works. The racing industry must stand up and take care of their own instead of expecting people to donate constantly to take care of someone elses horse. Our plan is working at Penn National Racetrack right now and will work at every track. www.racefund.org

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Stanley Gillman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:27:40 GMT

When is there going to be some sanity inserted into this issue of horse slaughter. If there are 100,000 horses that need to be fed and trimmed and wormed the cost assuming $100 per horse per month would be $10 million per month. Where does Herb think this is coming from. Are we in denial that horses die?

Maybe we could start by the Jockey Club restricting the number of TB's that are registered each year. What is accomplished by breeding an unraced mare non-producing mare to an unraced poorly bred stallion?

Maybe if we bred few horses that could race longer we could make a dent in both the unwanted horse numbers and the problem of few starts per horse as hi-lighted in the same issue.

Two issues on opposite sides of the same coin.

Stanley Gillman

Seattle, WA.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Sue — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:41:07 GMT

I think it is a wonderful idea. If an owner does not want to pay then maybe something should be done to stop that owner from breeding or owning anymore horses. There is a responsibility to breeding and owning a horse. It's not just for the glory of winning it is also providing after the racing career is over. Let's make it common practice. Go for it.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Amy A. — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:34:49 GMT

I applaud Mr. Moelis' recommendation that The Jockey Club assess a fee for long term care of a foal upon its registration. Such an assessment, which I would increase to $100, appears the only viable method of assuring that the growing problem of the unwanted horse is addressed, as many breeders and owners seem unwilling to take what should be a primary responsibility.

Thoroughbred Charities, with the assistance of TOBA, with which it is now affiliated, it the obvious avenue for equitable distribution of these collected fees. TCA, having been in existence for 18 years, has a comprehensive and responsible grant approval methodology in place. I would encourage members of The Jockey Club to meet with TCA's Executive Director, Liz Harris, to observe the procedure developed and utilized by TCA's Board of Directors. I feel sure that after observing this process, the members of The Jockey Club would feel confident in assigning the distribution process to TCA.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Sweet Spirits Stables — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:35:35 GMT

Hi:

I could not read all the comments. As a small breeder (we have bred two and are thinking of a third (both well conformed)) we would gladly donate fifty dollars per to know such horses would have a future. And of course the more you breed the more you pay. I like this pay-as-you-use system. (as a matter of fact such a system all around would help the smaller player --make a trainer pay a license fee for every horse he runs and not just a single yearly fee--might just keep Scott Lake from claiming the one or two of our runners a year).

I think the Thoroughbred charities of America could start this without the Jockey Club, on a voluntary basis, (publish names of breeders that do contribute) at least until the Jockey Club steps up. Or maybe hand the funds over to the control of the disability fund for jocks and they could also collect a 10% management fee.

Best Regards,

Jim

For charity, play Name That Foal

see www.sweetspirits.us

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Gina Powell — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:22:16 GMT

Excellent article! Excellent comments and viable solutions. This must be tackled on a multi-faceted level. $50 from the Jockey CLub MANDATORY. Further, 1% of racetrack handle MANDATORY like Woodbine racetrack in Toronto. Since they have implemented this 1% (after vigorous lobbying), many retired racehorses have been saved. Any horse purchased at sales for more than $50,000 a MANDATORY 1% donation with the purchase. If an owner can afford $50,000 than they can afford the 1%. Racetracks should donate wagering handle from at least 1 race per month to the retirement organization. These are all viable options that do not place UNDUE stress on the horse. I have a question for the jockey club - what about the undue stress on a horse on the way to the slaughterhouse.Gina Powell

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Rhonda Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Canada — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:38:30 GMT

I agree fully with Mr. Moelis and would go one step further.

I think in additon to the $50.00 charged at the time of foal registration,that everytime that horse is sold whether by auction or privately, that 1 percent of the sale price should also be mandatorily remitted. In this way, those who can most afford it pay a little more and still leaves room for the less well-heeled owner.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Dawn — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:26:06 GMT

This is an important conversation. Thank you for starting this Mr. Moelis. I am not in a position to have a direct influence on the lives of the horses. I have followed the horse slaughter issue for some time. I am very disappointed that we closed our slaughterhouses, only to have horses being sent on longer more hellish journeys to go to even worse slaughter houses in Canada, and Mexico. Humane euthanization should be required by law. Period. Every horse owner should put aside enough money to humanely euthanize, and responsibly dispose of every horse they own. I agree with those who pointed out that there aren't enough resources to keep the number of horses produced alive. I don't like the idea of euthanizing healthy animals. At least a large number of the unwanted dogs and cats are humanely euthanized.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Rachel — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:56:58 GMT

Ezevans you are so right! Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horse and Paints account for so much overbreeding it's ridiculous, trying to get that Futurity Winner or TC winner, and then by 4 or 5 they are tossed out the window (if it even takes that long) especially if they are geldings.

Suffolk Downs in New England instituted a "no tolerance" policy for a Suffolk horse to go to slaughter...there are some tracking problems to be ironed out, but it sure is a good start and a strong statement to owners and trainers.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Racefan66 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:05:56 GMT

acewendy7777: How many retired racers do you have in your pasture? I agree that good horses can come from "Unfashionable" breedings, but you can't justify breeding irresponsibly because it pans out from time to time. My horses stay with me for life or are placed in second careers with the right of first refusal when the new owner is done, so I make business decisions with that in mind. It changes how I do things and a lot of times that's really inconvenient, but it allows me to love my sport and sleep well at night.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Racefan66 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:58:26 GMT

sixhorsessaved: Ummm... we've had horses "dumped" into our pastures, so I'll have to disagree with you on the propaganda thing. We used to have to control access to prevent horses from getting stolen, now we lock up to keep people from dumping more on us. People just can't afford to keep them and there's no market to sell them.

I'd love to see the industry get to a place where a horse has to be qualified to be bred for racing in order for their progeny to race. Yeah, it is a hardship for the small-time breeder, but I think that they'd find a new way to be a part of breeding and I think that we'd have sounder horses and fewer homeless retirees.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

walaa — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:57:15 GMT

W, your response is the best one so far that I have read. Unfortunately, the breeders will never do it, and I'm sure would go to court to fight any such laws regarding regulating breeding, while not supporting any sort of retirement farms, which the very rich who can afford to breed many mares and actually race horses, can afford to do. I think, which will never happen either, if you breed or race a certain # of horses per year, you should be required to buy 50 or more acres of land, it doesn't matter where, it could be a tax write off for them anyways, and staff it with people to care for unwanted horses. it would create jobs, help horses be rehabbed, retired or euthanized if required. of course that is almost as ridiculous as establishing breeding rules, for all, not just t-breds. In the end, the people that control the thoroughbred industry, as an example, (I know there are many other problem breeders), have too much money, and also own alot of other high profile industries with high profile connections, will NEVER agree to any limit on what they can do with their INVESTMENTS. So I truely believe, in the long run, when the problem gets way past out of control, (it's already that), that what we all dont want, the Government's involvement, will be the only way to put any kind of limit on anything. Which really sucks, because,again, money talks, and the people that most contribute to this overbreeding, at least in t-breds, are the big money farms etc. so in the end, only the small breeder, owner, and the part time horse lovers who really sacrifice alot in their daily lives to keep horses in a good home, will be the only ones "regulated" in my opinion. And so on. Also, while I'm on my ridiculous what rich owners should do thread, (partially inspired by old vine zinfandel:) instead of giving to charities we never hear of, if, again, you race more and breed more than a certain amount of horses a year, in addition to the 50 acres to be purchased for the express interest of retiring and rehoming horses, you should also be required to buy 50 acres of agricultural land ONLY for the purpose of producing hay, oats, or other feed stuff for all grazing animals. Wow that is so ridiculous I'm almost laughing, but if I win the TN lotto tonight, thats what I'm doing!!:)

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

key — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:32:48 GMT

It's a sad state of affairs for the sport of kings when the public has to watch a race and worry about the last place finisher. The industry needs to get a system in place to safeguard thoroughbreds that are in need of help.

A central location..perhaps within the jockey club we're tatoos can be called in and owners/breeders fined if they're charge is found on route to slaughter. They can be saved. We need to stop allowing the industry to dispose of these animals.

I will not vist Mexico or Canada..nor will I buy products produced there. These country's are part of the problem as far as I'm concerned.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

ozzie8820 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:25:00 GMT

The problem lie's with the lack of control over breeding. When Breeders can make twice as much money from selling foal's/fillies then they produce more horses that will probably not have a long career on the racetrack. Every year more and more stallion's and mare's are being sent to breeding farm's around the world in hope's of one of them producing the next PRODEGY of the racing world. With horses such as Street Sense and posiabely Big Brown being sent in to retirement their racing potential has been cut short and the focus thus become's their ability to sire more colt's/fillie's to the racing community. I do applaude all those's who have taken responsibality and do the right thing every day. But for those who still INSIST on breeding for money you should know that most of them will at some point in time wind up going across our border's in to Mexico and Canada to slaughter houses!

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

capridogs — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:10:23 GMT

Interesting concept - Social Security for retired race horses. Sure hope the same administration running the one we have for humans doesn't have a hand in the horse trough so to speak.

One other thing to keep in mind is the other breeds. At least the Thoroughbred mare can only produce one foal per year where some of the other breeds, i.e. Quarter Horse, etc. can be artificially bred using multiple embryo/AI fertilization and produce up to five foals per year. Who's going to set up their social security system???

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

DRB — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:06:43 GMT

Raising the registration fee for each foal is a great start, but I don't think that $50 is enough. While two million dollars sounds like a lot of money, it won't begin to cover the expenses for all of the Thoroughbreds in need of a safe haven upon their retirement from racing.

How about a multi-faceted funding plan in which each person ever connected to the horse pays into a general retirement fund. If, in addition to the breeders, the consignors, bloodstock agents, owners, trainers, jockeys and jock's agents all had to contribute even a minimal amount to help ensure that the horses they depend upon to make a living, the future of our horses would be much more secure. That the industry hasn't already provided a safety net for its athletes is inexcusable and will absolutely become an even bigger issue as the public begins to understand where many of the Thoroughbreds end up.

The entire industry should share the responsibility for the horses. No more sticking its collective head in the sand and pretending that its okay that the horses it produces are not protected. If you can't afford to pay up to help support the horses, then get into a different business.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Lucky — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:17:24 GMT

1.) Fifty dollars, schmifty dollars! How about $100 when registering a foal? If you can't allocate a hundred bucks than you should not be the horse industry! Hell, people spend fifty dollars on lottery tickets hoping to strike it big.

2. Overbreeding. God forbid we put a cap on breeding like Germany does.

3. "Get 'em off the payroll TODAY!" How many times have you heard that from an owner? I just took in a horse that was going to a friend of a friend of the trainer, er, meat man, because the owner wanted him gone. The horse's crime? He didn't like racing.

4. Another breeder/owner had a horse that made him $250,000 while he owned him. Now that horse is 9 years old and running in low level claimers for other people. That breeder/owner publicly expresses interest in the horse's retirement but privately isn't willing to pay anything to get him out of these lllooowwww level claimers.

BREEDERS and OWNERS need to take more responsibility in their horses well being not just when it looks like they could make the breeder/owner money.

PS: Play the lottery if you want to strike it rich without any responsibility.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

acewendy7777 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:13:53 GMT

Please no more "limit breeding " comments. Everyone is entitled to breed any horse whether they can support said animal or not, and plently of ill bred champions (John Henry comes to mind) would not have been born by any limit standards.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

CAN — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:18:09 GMT

a social security system for thoroughbreds. sounds like an awesome idea to me. we can't get the jockey club to go for this? and W, you're right too. imagine the amount of land, feed, care it would take to house thousands of horses! not to mention the time and effort it takes to re-school the sound ones for other careers. and when they are re-schooled, who do you find to want them even then? the market is saturated with ex racehorses. (just look on any website that lists horses for sale.)not that i think we should give up trying - we can never do that. we owe it to the horses. it's just not a simple solution. i own 2 ex racers currently, and it's a struggle,-i'm not a rich person - but i'm committed to them. they've become like my children and i'd be afraid of what might happen to them if i ever sold them or didn't own them anymore.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Bryce Be Quick — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:53:45 GMT

As the owner of a 30-start guy now retrained as an accomplished eventer, I warmly endorse this attention to the single biggest challenge facing the industry.

Your's a good plan, but does it address, as others here suggest, the underlying problem of overbreeding? The recently conducted Blood-Horse study "Are We Losing the Iron Horse", documents horses are now making fewer starts, but it is also the case many more horses are now making it to the starting gate. This suggests, maong other things, overbreeding to me, and there are certainly many other economic factors further suggesting we are no longer in the racing business, we are in the breeding business (look at how few in tact 3 YOs ever see a track at 4)

Bottom Line-- the breeding fee does not adequately reflect the true "life cycle" costs associated with breeding, to include what happens to the horse after the last start. These costs should be internalized into the cost of breeding-- don't wait until its time to register with the Jockey Club (although that fee appropriate as well)-- breeders should be required to collect a per cover surcharge before the mare enters the breeding shed, with failure to collect and remit the fee negating subsequent Jockey Club registration of the foal.

Sadly, just one more area where a badly fragmented industry has failed its four-legged athletes, with the advent of the modern- day "chemical horse" being yet another.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

ASSISTANT HOTWALKER — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:08:40 GMT

the days of running cheap claimers are over. When the public sees that these horses have the same fate as grayhounds,,the squawk to end horse racing,,will be too loud too ignor. The folks that run the industry had better get their ducks, in a row. To your registration fee,,and a small auction fee.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

normajean81258 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:40:59 GMT

Cindy, I support ReRun and Old Friends!! Superb champions for horses!! And I've heard often that the Zito's both are heavily involved with both the slaughter issue and the retiree issues. There are many caring people in the industry, they just aren't "front page news." Unfortunately the negativity is what makes front page news. I don't care what anyone says, you should always do everything you can NOT to euthanize. That should be only the last option.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

normajean81258 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:33:13 GMT

W! As I said, call me a bleeding heart, I can sleep at night. My heart does not bleed, but it aches. Enough said. We are saturated with human elderly in Nursing homes as well, what's your answer there? Nursing homes and Long Term Care were created to ensure the quality of the elderly, it is a booming business. The same could be done for the horses, it would create a new business and new jobs. My Mom has some "infirmities" which will cause her to retire and therefore becoming a burden. Should I give her away, donate her, pension her or euthanize her? Never mind....

Deb, you've made my day!!! There should be more like you.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Lisa Amarino — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:24:59 GMT

Herb,

This idea of a 'social security' system for thoroughbreds is an idea that has been tossed around for years- however it's an idea that needs SERIOUS consideration and can't happen soon enough. I am a private rescue individual and dedicate my time to providing assistance to non-profit rescues focused on thoroughbreds as well as saving thoroughbreds directly out of the NY killpen. I know first hand the difficulties the non-profit rescues struggle with financially to support these thoroughbreds and that burden needs to shift and in my opinion, it needs to be a shared union to include OWNER RESPONSIBLITY.

Often times we discover horses with poultice still on their legs standing in the killpen- and once safely removed discover injuries that had the former connections been responsible humane euthanasia should be the choice instead of squeezing the last dime on the horses life only to ship to slaughter. Slaughtering of this nations horses is not the solution and it is an un-acceptable means of death (in my opinion).

There is a dire need to begin finding solutions to this multi faceted problem. Installing an additional fee at the time of registration paid by the owner to a designated 'retirement fund'- perhaps taking a portion of any fee and establishing a euthanasia fund to assist owners in making the right choice all would be a step in the right direction for both the horses and the equine welfare and retirement organizations. I will continue to await the time when the Jockey Club and the thoroughbred industry unite to embrace a win-win SOLUTION and step in the right direction for this nations thoroughbred horses.

re: Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

cindy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:43:14 GMT

I'd like to applaud the responsible, caring people in this business. I picked up a young nonprofitable broodmare not long ago to reschool as a show horse. She was bred by Lucky Shamrock. Her papers not only have a number for Rerun on them, but they also have Kim Zito's phone number on them. It's great to see that high profile people like these really care about their horses.