The Millstone Times July 2020

PANDEMIC TAKES TOLL ON RESCUED RACEHORSES AT STANDARDBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION AS HORSE SANCTUARY REOPENS Donations, Adopters and Fosters Desperately Needed for Rescued Horses

The Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) has been a safe haven for retired racehorses for 31 years. But the pandemic forced the cancellation of all its fundraisers, along with the closure of its farm sanctuary to adopters. Now open to potential adopters, donations are still desperately needed to feed and care for 343 horses. Adopters are also needed so rescued hors- es have permanent places to live out their lives. “This is still an emergency situation for us,” said Judith Bokman, founder and executive direc- tor of the award-winning, national organization. “The COVID-19 crisis hit in March, and we believed we would have relief from the pandemic by now. Sadly, that is not the case. Our fund- raisers remain canceled and it costs approximately $4,000 a day just feed all of our horses.” Before and After Rescued Racehorses at Standardbred Retirement Foundation's Farm Sanctuary SRF has helped, mostly through rescuing, more than four thousand racehorses from poten- tial slaughter. After rehabilitation, the trotters and pacers are placed in loving homes for life. Many are still young horses that are simply no longer competitive on the track. Some are placed with police units in New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, and Texas Sheriff Depart- ments, others are in therapy programs, and most are now loved as adopted pleasure mounts. “We’ve been an extremely productive organization for many years, but COVID-19 has been devastating,” explained Bokman. “SRF does not receive industry or government grants and we rely greatly on individual donations from people who care about this beautiful and ma- jestic horses.” When injured or no longer competitive, nearly all Standardbred racehorses are sold off the track to dealers in rural communities. They are then resold—either for the price of meat in Canada or Mexico, or as work horses to plow fields, haul heavy logs, clear land, and provide street transportation. The care of many of these working horses is inhumane. When in their teens, these horses are resold at livestock auctions for meat, and replaced by younger ones. SRF is headquartered in Cream Ridge, NJ, but the organization provides care for rescued horses in boarding facilities across the United States, including many in the tri-state area. To make a tax-deductible donation, adopt or foster visit: www.adoptahorse.org, mail to Standardbred Retirement Foundation, P.O. Box 312, Millstone Township, NJ 08535, or call: 609-738-3255. ABOUT STANDARDBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) provides humane care and services for horses in need of lifetime homes, and in crises, through rehabilitation, training, adoption, lifelong follow up or life-time sanctuary, and offers therapeutic equine opportunities for children and adults. SRF is a registered 501 (c) (3) organization. For more information, visit: www.adopta- horse.org, or call: 609-738-3255.

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