A View From Lost & Found Horse Rescue Foundation: The Unwanted Horse by Kelly Young

For the past 14 years I have witnessed what happens to the unwanted, standing with horse after horse, injured while racing and then dumped at the sales barn when it could no longer do its job. I have stood with many of these beautiful animals when the Rescue Foundation paid for them so they may have their lives end in a humane way, and felt the tremendous sadness that never goes away.

I am reminded weekly of the many horses ending up at slaughter who are young, viable horses that are simply unwanted and dumped. We recently rescued a three-year-old colt out of the meat pen who is by Dansig. We learned the owner's identity and contacted him. He had no idea slaughter was the fate of this young, healthy horse and so many owners just assume their horse goes on to a second career.

Two of our rescue horses recently won their classes at Pony Club Nationals in Kentucky . Other second careers for our retrained horses include eventing, dressage, polo, hunter/jumpers, fox hunting, pleasure riding, companions to children or other horses, therapeutic riding, police mounts, pony club, and the 4-H clubs.

Think about all of the horses whose lives hang in the balance between slaughter and a second career. Instead of slaughter as an option, a process of funding should be in place to insure their retraining and the chance for a second career. Let's have our racehorses have a fitting ending to a life produced for the “sport of kings” or let's humanely euthanize those who can no longer do their job in any career.

Thoroughbred Charities of America proudly supports Lost & Found Rescue Foundation through annual grants for their Thoroughbred retraining efforts and placement.