Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Mary Rose Smith — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 01:43:14 GMT

Bravo, Mr Biszantz you have make excellent points and suggestions.I have often thought of how to fund retirement for these amazing animals. I have asked my brother, who races thoroughbreds,to at least set aside money from winnings to help when they retire.

I currently have four thoroughbreds that were facing very uncertain futures. They will not go to slaughter. I will see to that.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Becky — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:50:54 GMT

Agree with both this article and those who suggest a fee at registry. Breeders/owners cannot afford the after care of 40,000 new thoroughbreds every year. A fee may help curb the number being bred to a more managable, affordable number.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

AngelaFromAbilene — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:49:23 GMT

People all over the world eat things that we in the US do not. That doesn't make them wrong, it makes us different.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

GoldenBroom — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:34:53 GMT

It's called the sport of kings for a reason. To buy, raise, train, care for a horse, let alone a race horse is very expensive. Too many owners don't have emergency funds or have any plans to cover injuries or retirees, they just want to geth their horse to start a race. They don't belong in the business but as it's a free country, not sure how to keep them out. Common sense ain't so common.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Sunny Farm — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:17:24 GMT

I think this is a good idea of Mr. Biszant's ; in that everyone contributes a very small amount that collectively, will add up. Those who can afford to & don't own a horse, can also send thier own private contributions .

In this way, the burden is shared and not directed at just one person.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

derbyfan — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:00:19 GMT

erhrdt3 well said!

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

erhrdt3 — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:42:05 GMT

I see no one else has anything to say. Let's keep the pressure on.

Let's make a bet. The big "it" horse of this year, the one the media is trying to push up on that already a Derby winning pedestal, Uncle Mo, will be "standing" somewhere next year, if nothing bad happens to him.

He has not even won the Derby yet, and favorites rarely do for goodness sakes. I'm sure there are already farms out there squabbling for his breeding rights. Give me a break. There are already too many stallions "standing" and "shuttling" (where the hell did that term come into the industry?!) to breed breed breed.

Mr. Biszantz, what are the best places to call, write, email, etc. to keep the pressure on? Is there somewhere we can find a list?

To Linda in Texas: I applaud you for your efforts reg. the slaughter issue. Can you please post who the representatives are that are FOR the horse slaughter industry? I'd like to give them a call and chat with them also...thank you for what you do

Breed breed breed = kill, kill,kill

Our four legged friends that run their hearts out do not deserve a horrible end, but rather, a loving, peaceful one when they reach their later years, when the time comes. If you can't afford it, don't breed then!

I heard someone say on a forum that they had to "cull" their older mares, and I asked her if she meant "Kill" her older mares, they are all used up, did their job, year after year, and then they become nothing but "culls/kills"?

Indeed, this industry is in BIG trouble.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

katethegreat — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 03:06:28 GMT

I have owned and cared for horses for 30 years. My oldest horse is 29. While I respect everyone's right to their own opinion, they are my property, my responsibility, and therefore it is up to me to decide when and how they should die. Caring for horses can be joyful and painful if

you are in it for the long haul.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

twtman — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:52:06 GMT

So!who is really this owner that should pay the bills for old slug to live in comfort the rest of his or her life?? Is it the person that makes all this money at conception, the owner of the mare, the person that buys the foal as a yearly,the pinhooker that trains the potential runner to sell as a two year old,the agent that puts the phoney deal together for the trainer,the sucker that pays all the bills while it is trying to win the Kentucky Derby (presented by Yums), the person that buys the horse from the trainer after the sucker owner finds out that old slug can't run,the new guy that runs the horse in a few claiming races before he drops him down in class, the person that claims old slug, who is usually an owner trainer, or as mentioned in many blogs some how old slug ends up going over seas to an owner that for some reason has the responsability to send the horse at some point in his or her life back to the states to be cared for buy the owner. So! who is this owner?? Gary has a great idea, but its just another step in the current movement to slaughter the TB and the TB industry. You Loons are wearing us Sickos out. We love our TB's more than you will ever be able to comprehend. Let us put down our swords and work toward the salvation of the TB industry and not the retirement of every horse.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

erhrdt3 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:55:35 GMT

Great comments. This situation is INFURIATING!

Put MAJOR limits on breeding.

The multimillionaire and billionaire owners know who they are & need to step up. They have enough money from their businesses that they can use the money the horse *aka TOY to most of them, makes to put towards the horse itself. I am starting to HATE this industry. There is money, as the author of this article & others of you greatly have emphasized, to not have these equine athlete's have a damned 4 inch killer buyer's captive bolt get injected into their pretty heads, not all the time this works to render the poor horse senseless. They do not HUMANELY EUTHANIZE them!! They slit their necks open & the poor animal dies slowly bleeding to death that way. While they are strung upside down by a leg. Bet the owners would not like to go that way, would they? So come on, big time owners, TRAINERS, jockeys, reach in your deep pockets when your horse is racing & give back to the animal that is making you that money. Look at the ridiculous stallion industry, for example. The horses are running at age 2, bones not even fully developed yet, so they can make MORE MONEY for the GREEDY owners, & if by chance a colt wins a stakes or graded race, Oh my goodness, here's the next Seattle Slew, bring your poor, tired, constantly pregnant mares to this already over the hill at age 4 new stallion, pay our large fee, and make some MORE horses that a large percentage will end up in slaughter. I did not know Winning Colors died that way, & I am majorly PO'D to learn this. Any mare that age needs to be given a break. This is what poor Zenyatta has to look forward to now. Constantly knocked up, drop a foal safely IF she is lucky, then get re-bred right away. Tell me, owners of such Greatness, what happens if she dies trying to have a foal?! Year after year after year. You will have an uproar like you have never seen before. She is safer at the KY Horse Park. And Lady's Secret dies the same way?! And HOW MANY OTHER mares die the same way? Have your rich wives get pregnant year after year after year and see how they like it. Bet they won't. Now I've recently learned the owners of the gorgeous black Mayakovsky have sent him to Chile, against the farm's wishes as they wanted him kept here safe. They loved that boy. The owners did not even care enough to make arrangements to bring him back if things do not work out. Sickos!

The head honchos of this industry need to get their heads out of their butts & realize there is a MAJOR problem here. First thing, put a hard limit on the Breed breed breed problem first of all. Then pick up the phone & talk to the wonderful author of this blog & have him tell you what needs to be done. I'm sure he will mentione the other great ideas on here as well. Oh, also, forgot to mention, did you all know that a BREEDERS CUP WINNER named Cardmania was found at a feedlot?! Why? Because he was a gelding! If any of you know who his owners were, please do post. He won them over a million dollars. And ends up in a feedlot on the way to slaughter. Thank God he was saved by a great rescue org. I can't believe this is happening in this country. This goes for ALL breeds too. Too much breeding means that YOU the major breeders are putting horse steaks on the plates of the wackos that eat them. This is sickening.

Like others of you great folks here, I donate what I can to the rescues, both housepets and horses. We all can't do this alone, the industry needs to get off their butts and make some serious changes....NOW!!!!

Mr. Gary Biszantz, I commend you so much and thank you for bringing this much needed issue up. Please, PLEASE, keep the pressure on, you have the media outlet to do it. You can see there are alot of us out there behind you. Thank you.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Paula Higgins — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:49:08 GMT

Some excellent thoughts and comments. I donate to Old Friends as well. Escrowing money for their care is something that should be done and soon. It is true that the industry is hurt by the issue of what happens to our horse friends at the end of their careers-and rightly so. It's time to step up to the plate. However, limiting breeding/numbers needs to be discussed as well. It is the crux of the issue. There are just too many horses that end up needing care. Once these beautiful creatures are born, we need to take care of them for the rest of their lives. It is a moral imperative.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

ttimsan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:24:14 GMT

I agree wholeheartedly with the article and with James. And let me add: tack a percentage fee onto EVERY breeding. At the expense of the mare or the stud farm, matters not. The more mares bred per stallion, the higher the fee. 30,000 foals per year is utterly irresponsible.

As an owner of 3 geriatrics aged 27-33 (one retired OTTB) who've been with me between 25-31yrs, I agree it's not always easy maintaining a horse for life. But as an owner, I take personal responsibility in guaranteeing them a quality life. And it doesn't take independent wealth to do it.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Linda in Texas — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:48:28 GMT

Jrg (James 11Feb2011 2:25 AM)

Your veracity is stunning. Your statement "Racing is an industry

based on money" says it all.

Even well known breeding farms and 1 in particular that just received notoriety for their winner, was contacted to help bring one of their stallions home from Japan and offered nothing to help bring him home when contacted, 'said they didn't own him anymore.'

Cc,Cris,Dawn in MN, Mike

Relva, Karen Williams,

James, et al posting for the humane care of all horses,beginning with but not ending with thoroughbred race horses, hang in there.

I totally agree with all who feel that there should be a percentage of every betting ticket go to a super fund to care for these magnificent giving and obedient servants of the public.

Their humane treatment must begin at the moment of their conception.

And peacefully end when their lives have been lived.

They did not ask to be conceived,

they were programed to be so.

Those who breed a horse to another should be required to see that it

is cared for in a humane manner for the entire life of that horse.

And if found otherwise, the breeder should be fined severely.

Slaughter is repulsive and reprehensible in our modern age.

It has been a mission of mine for

many years, all the way back to The Bureau of Land Management running mustangs off of cliffs to thin the herds in the 60's.

Barbaric to say the least.

As Americans, there is no lesser solution, it is imperative we do better. All they require is a little hay and water each day and

maybe a couple of companions to keep them company.

Thank you Mr. Biszantz for your article and suggestions.

I have been involved many years with the closing of the Foreign Owned but American Tax Supported Slaughter plants. What people do not realize is that there is a strong lobby for Horse Slaughter plants in the U.S. and in particular an ex Representative with a ranch in Texas is one of them. They are supported by The Cattle Raisers Assn. and many more because their fear is if the loons (us) who are against Horse Slaughter win, soon we will go after the slaughter of cattle and

try and shut that industry down.

Or that "people who own horses should be able to dispose of them as they wish, since they are their personal property."

Horses are not bred for human consumption, cattle are.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

James — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:25:02 GMT

As an owner and breeder I can personally say I own and care for every racehorse I have ever owned. I have purchased a farm for their care. I would love to donate my facility to retire horses however I am afraid of what might happen if the money runs out and I am unable to feed 20 unwanted horses, therefore I am not able to do so.

I have over the past 20 years offered suggestions such as:

A registration fee and escrow account for every horse bred.

An escrow account paid to every horse entered in a race.

A tracking system by the jockey club for every horse for its' entire lifetime.

Responsible breeding principles.

An adoption day at the races, to prescreened individuals.

Unfortunately most of these ideas fall on deaf ears as the problem is still being discussed. It is a shame.

When owners and trainers can dump horses right off the backstretch at Los Alamitos most nights and at the end of Del Mar it turns my stomach. When owners breed hundreds of inferior horses so the horse can carry their last name, then get caught dumping horses to the killers without a slap on the hand it says volumes of what the industry really thinks of the horses. When trainers drop a filly in class and they breakdown yet no discipline is given it tries your spirit. When prominent owners film a commercial during the Breeders Cup and are asked what their favorite horse is and a week later that horse is sold to Japan it breaks your heart. When a horse is rescued at Los Alamitos running on three legs and after the rescue the prominent couple are contacted and asked for help caring for their first stakes horse they refuse to return the call it tests your faith in folks. When televised racing programs refer to the horses as 4,7,9 trifecta without mentioning the horses names tells all.

Racing is an industry based on money

Gamblers betting on numbers, owners dumping horses that can't pay for themselves, trainers drugging horses so they can collect their 10% and tracks looking at handles.

Unfortunately people like Mr Biszantz are rare. I commend him for everything he has done for the horse and hope that finally someone will listen.

JRG

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Brett — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:39:48 GMT

I think this is a wonderful idea. If someone has already shared this opinion, I am sorry, but I think it will not only help the horses, but I also believe it could benefit the Casinos as people might make an extra bet or two just for the love of horses and to feel as though they have contributed to these farms.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

diastu — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:53:37 GMT

The owners - all of them through the chain of a horse's life - are responsible to step up. If you own a TB that is on the track, you have more money than I do, and yet, I send hundreds to rescues every year because I feel I have to do SOMETHING! And stop overbreeding. When I read in an add that so-an-so stallion covered 125 mares in this hemisphere and 120 more in the southern hemisphere, I cringe! I feel sick to my stomach. When I read of a 20-something mare being bred - again instead of being pensioned, I feel like throwing up. The insanity has got to stop. 30,000 TBs a year is criminal.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

slee — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:36:02 GMT

This statement in the article:

Some had to be euthanized, and all quality horsemen know when death is warranted and appropriate.

has a great, if sad, truth behind it. I support Old Friends, too, and all my cats and dogs are rescues. The people who put their time, money, effort, skill and love into rescue are saints. But one of the hardest things they need to do is also one of the best - "know when death is warranted" - put an animal down when their quality of life is too low.

I was called the other day by a rescue group I work with and they're trying to raise $10,000 for an operation to TRY to save 1 house pet. I don't doubt the heart or special nature of this pet, but at some point it becomes better (and I use that word cautiously) to let one animal go in order to save dozens of others.

A cousin of mine has a retired t-bred and while he's a good looking gelding and nice to be around, he's "pasture candy" because his legs are so bad he can never be ridden again. She loves him and he's safe there forever, but she wonders if spending thousands of dollars on his care every year to keep him pain-free enough to wander the pasture would be better spent on 2 healthy horses instead.

There are many questions to be answered here, and we can answer them best by keeping the channels of communication open between breeders, owners, officials, rescue groups and fans. Love of the breed lives on in many of us - let's use that as common ground to solve the biggest problems.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

JlM — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:33:59 GMT

I agree with Mr. BizantZ. However, there is something that I think that needs to be addressed. How about all these trainers that claim horses and all of sudden they are famous and have won graded stakes. What is heart breaking is to then see them in the claiming ranks again. I have seen this time and time again. These owners made a lot of money with them, it is time to see them give back instead of looking to claim a horse. Why not put the horse on the farm with some of the earnings that he made. p.s tired of seeing horses running for $2500 or less after they have made hundreds of thousands. You claimers know ho you are.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Fuzzy Corgi — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:03:57 GMT

Derblin, I understand your point about Daijin, her problematic foaling history and the perpetual overbreeding in the horse industry. Maybe a horse with foaling problems like what Daijin experienced shouldn't be bred. However, Daijin was a stakes winner and producer so she is what the industry loves to reproduce; Winners to winners to make more winners. Her owners and vet thought it would be safest to perform a C section. Daijin had to be euthanized because of severe colic which was probably related to the foaling or C section surgery. Both foaling and surgery can trigger colic. Unfortunately, like laminitis, horses can colic from a vast variety of reasons and some horses are more prone to colic than others. Horses are so tough and yet fragile at the same time.

The only reason Daijin's death was reported is because she was a stakes winner who produced a stakes winner. The vast majority of broodmare deaths go unnoticed outside of the farm. This is not unlike the latest celebrity/politician brush with the law or death for us humans.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Dr. Richards — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:34:23 GMT

Well said Mr. Bizantz. May I suggest you and others look at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center located in Lexington as a very good model of one way to deal with the explosion of unwanted horses when their careers are over. I believe they were just awarded high honors from the Thoroughbred Charities of America for their work. Excellent organization. They're on to something the rest of us could learn from.

Continue the good work.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

fly — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:28:19 GMT

While all these comments and suggestions may have merit,mankind hasn't even solved what to with their own unwanted children,homeless,and elderly much less animals.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Soldier Course — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:33:11 GMT

Derblin:

And there was Lady's Secret, who died from complications of foaling in 2003, at the age of twenty-one. As a broodmare, Lady's Secret showed early on that she was unlikely to replicate herself in her offspring. So what was the point of continuing to breed this poor mare? Didn't the daughter of Secretariat deserve a dignified dotage?

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

MyBigRed — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:16:17 GMT

HRTV is running the story of Ferdinand this Sunday, Feb 13th at 8:30 pm est. PLEASE WATCH IT!!

I am a proud supporter of Tranquility Farms, Old Friends and New Vocations. I barely make $13,000. a year, but I donate all I can to help the horses. WHY ?? Because I have a compassionate heart, & I want to help the horses have a safe & loving home.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

David — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:07:09 GMT

So many issues stem from a fundamental aspect about Racing – far too many horses are bred to participate in far too many races at far too many tracks. The dynamics of just how and why this continues to happen include greed, alternative gaming, state border wars, horsemen unions, influence from wealthy owners and breeders and more. The law of diminishing returns rules Racing and current demand cannot possibly support the amount of supply. An unintended consequence of all this is the issue Mr. Biszantz addresses. He as usual offers a solution to a problem. I wish there more Gary’s out there, however, to solve the supply issue that created the problem in the first place.

re: Getting a Handle on After Care - By Gary Biszantz

Dawn in MN — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:08:08 GMT

I do not have any original ideas or suggestions, I have read this article and the comments. I have read many previous and similar articles and comments.

I have to admit that I am ashamed to tell people that I love this sport. I see the look that comes across their faces when I mention my love of Thoroughbred racing. I honestly answer the question of what happens to the horses after their racing careers are over. +

It is very true that the demise of the sport is directly related to the quality of care the horses receive after their racing careers. I agree that there are many, many avenues to generate the money needed to provide homes for the horses. I agree that there should be a humane euthanasia fund.

I naively supported the ban on slaughter in the U.S. The transport of horses to Canadian and Mexican slaughter houses is the disasterous outcome. I believe it would be better to humanely euthanize the horses that are not healthy enough to have a second chance, at the track or close to it, than to subject them to the end of life that many of them meet now.

Wouldn't it be nice if they could all be retired and cared for? It won't happen, the number of Thoroughbred horses in need is just too great. I like Cris' idea about providing jobs for grooms who are ready to leave the track. There are so many good ideas here, and so many of them were previously suggested in other previous and similar articles and comments.

The kill buyers need to be kept away from the Thoroughbreds, unless nobody cares whether or not the sport goes the way of Greyhound racing.

It isn't just the Thoroughbred horses that are being slaughtered. If Thoroughbred racing can clean up their act it will set an example for the rest of the breeds, and create a model for horse owners and their horses everywhere.

Just do it.