Nonprofit Helps Horses When Their Racing Days Are Over
CBS4 News is featuring a special series of reports this holiday season called the 12 Days of Christmas. The following story is written by CBS4's Kathy Walsh.
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - There's a nonprofit dedicated to providing new homes and new careers for thoroughbred race horses when their racing days are over. It's called CANTER, Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses.
The mission is "rehab, retrain, rehome." The organization was started in 1998 in Michigan. One of the founders is Detroit news anchor Robbie Timmons, CBS4 anchor Kathy Walsh's friend of 34 years.
Robbie has since retired from TV. Now, her passion for horses has become an unpaid second profession. With Robbie's help, CANTER has grown to 14 local chapters, including CANTER Colorado, run by Jamie Girouard.
"The ones that benefit the most are these guys so they're safe and healthy and taken care of through their life," said Girouard, executive director of CANTER Colorado.
CANTER has two programs. At race tracks, volunteers write descriptions and take photos and video of retiring horses trainers need to sell. The information is posted to the CANTER website for the public to see. Interested buyers contact the owner/trainer.
And CANTER runs an aftercare program. On a recent morning, Girouard showed Kathy a 4-year-old gelding named Double Bonita.
After just one win and five second place finishes in 20 starts, the thoroughbred was retired and donated to CANTER Colorado. The organization takes on all ownership responsibilities.
"He could have another 25 year career," said Girouard.
In early December, Double Bonita began his "rehab." At Littleton Equine Medical Center bone chips were removed from both of the big horse's knees. Once he recovers from surgery, it will be time to "retrain" after his stressful racing career.
"Generally, the biggest challenge is teaching them how to slow their lives down and work as part of a team in a partnership with their rider," said trainer Ashley Gubich.
When the horses in the aftercare program are ready, it's time to "rehome." That means finding the right buyer for these beauties, but monitoring them for life. CANTER Colorado board member Jonathan Horowitz says the oversight will keep the horses out of the slaughter pipeline.
"It's not legal in the United States, but it's legal in Canada and Mexico," said Horowitz.
Double Bonita stands more than 17 hands tall. Some envision his next job as a jumper, but it could be dressage or trail horse. The only guarantee is that the thoroughbred will never be abused or auctioned.
According to Girouard, in the aftercare program, CANTER affiliates adopt out more than 200 ex racehorses every year. In both of its programs (aftercare and trainer listings) combined, Canter has helped transition more than 22,000 thoroughbreds since 1998.
It costs CANTER Colorado on average of $6,000 to $9,000 to care for each horse it acquires. Every dollar donated is spent to transition the thoroughbreds into new homes and new careers.
To donate to CANTER Colorado go to canterusa.org/colorado/donate/.
Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.
