Show Your Love - fall 2006

Southern States offers a program that allows horse lovers to SHOW how much they care about horses. With our Special Horse Organization Winners (SHOW) Program, you clip the proof of purchase seals off the back of your favorite Southern States feedbags and turn them in to any of over 300 non-profit organizations registered with Southern States. When the organization then submits the proofs-of-purchase to Southern States, they receive cash in return. To understand the impact your contributions make, consider CANTER USA and the Sterlingbrook Farm Dreams Come True Therapeutic Riding Program. The difference these organizations are making in the lives of horses and people makes them winners in the best of SHOW.

Homes For Horses

One of the many things that makes CANTER USA (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses) so special is the fact that it was conceived, developed and implemented by members of the racing industry and community, whose care for these horses is a lifetime passion.

It all started back in 1997 when racehorse owner, JoAnne Normile, a Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protection Association (HBPA) member from Michigan, found herself looking for homes for retired racehorses. Deeply disturbed by the notorious horse auctions and their inhumane consequences, Ms. Normile started giving people who wanted these horses outside the racing venue access to them by posting their stories on a website, free of charge. Beginning with her efforts in Michigan, CANTER USA now has affiliates in Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions, and a CANTER of Texas is in the starting gate.

“We’re there to help racing people do the right thing,” states Nancy Koch, Executive Director of CANTER USA. “Gratefully, we’ve been supported by groups within the racing industry. Racehorse lovers and fans and The Thoroughbred Charity of American Blue Horse, among others, have given a lot back to our industry. In fact, CANTER USA is an all-volunteer organization, there’s not one person on salary. Our payment comes from the satisfaction of knowing we are making a difference in the quality of life for horses and people. The reward comes from seeing horses that didn’t have a place to go, find a home. To achieve our goal, CANTER will buy any horses at risk at the racetrack or from killer auctions, regardless of the horse’s pedigree, size, or history. Then we take them to our farms and start the transition, so they can have long, productive lives.”

Feed For Change

“The horses donated and those we’ve saved from auctions get the finest care at CANTER. We have formed an alliance with Michigan State University. They donate veterinarians to rehabilitate the horses and perform any necessary surgery to help assure our horses are in excellent health,” Ms. Koch continues. “Changing their diets is really important. These horses really need different feed to fatten them up. We’ve found that Southern States Legends^® horse feed is fantastic. The right feed helps the horses out a lot by making it easier to make the transition from racehorse to a career as a riding horse. And, we have taken great strides in helping not only racehorses but all horses. Indeed, we’re at the forefront of the whole campaign because the great advantages in science discovered here are important for other horses.”

Thoroughbred racehorses making the transition with CANTER USA are now making their new owners happy as Mounted Police horses, polo ponies, trail horses and perhaps most important of all, as companion horses. Ms. Koch says, “To see the different areas where these horses have succeeded is rewarding and a lot of fun. We have one horse that was the very best in Barrel Racing for over 17 years. When she got too slow to compete, we found her a new home and a new career.” Her new owner, also retired, shared that she thought “she would do anything” for her. Seems retirement is rewarding for both of them. To learn more, donate a Thoroughbred horse, or bring one home go to http://www.canterusa.org/.

Where Dreams Come True

The emphasis at Pittstown, New Jersey’s Sterlingbrook Farm Dreams Come True Therapeutic Riding Program is on horses healing humans. To accomplish this, they created a program where dreams really do come true. Gabrielle Bolarakis, Executive Director of the program, sums it up saying, “It has been proven that riding horses in a safe, challenging and supportive environment improves the lives of people who are physically, emotionally or developmentally challenged. We started eight years ago with 3 donated horses and now have 15 horses. Most of them are retired show horses donated to the program. We also have 120 volunteers and 154 clients. Dreams Come True receives support from Dr. Dennis Milne, who not only donates his veterinarian services for free, but created the Hunterdon County Education Foundation (HCEF) Art Auction & Garden Party which has raised $300,000 to date for Dreams Come True. He and his wife Joan have helped to make Dreams Come True a tremendous success. We have grown into an innovative program that serves both disabled and able-bodied adults and children. The healing that takes place here is absolutely amazing, especially when you consider that a lot of our riders start out needing leaders and side walkers to ride. With time, encouragement and experience they get physically and emotionally strong enough to ride independently. The joy of seeing them go from needing leaders and side walkers to becoming riders and jumpers who are winning competitions — well, you can’t put a price on that.”

Joys of Connecting

The experience is what the volunteers revel in. “When our volunteers see the faces of insecure riders at the very moment when they make an emotional connection with the horses or when they learn a new skill, it’s absolutely contagious,” Bolarakis says. “First you see it on the face of the rider, then on the faces of the volunteers, the parents, it changes everybody. It’s one of the things that makes our community so special, our ability to teach able-bodied and disabled people to be tolerant and more accepting of differences. Plus, therapeutic riding brings families together. For some of our clients, it’s the only activity they can do with their parents or siblings. At many facilities therapeutic riding is only for the disabled populations, but here we do not separate disabled and able-bodied people. To ride and compete with able-bodied riders gives a boost to the disabled rider’s self esteem and confidence. And, they take that into other areas of their lives.”

Maureen Domal, a parent with one able-bodied child and one with physical challenges, shared her family’s experience. “Both of my daughters joined the program seven years ago. Not only did it give them something fun they could do together, it really helped my daughter with her struggles. Riding strengthened her muscles, helped with her balance and coordination, and really boosted her morale and self-esteem. Because of riding, she was later able to play on a soccer team, and is now running track at her high school. She laughingly tells me that she’s all over her lane, but she’s doing it. It wouldn’t have been possible without Dreams Come True.”

While there can be no denying the success of Dreams Come True, they have even bigger dreams. They are in the process of implementing an indoor riding facility. Not riding during the winter causes the riders to lose the muscle strength and endurance they’ve gained. The new facility will allow them to keep improving all year long. To make a donation to Dreams Comes True, go to http://www.dcttr.org or call 908.735.5912. For more information about the annual Art Auction & Garden Party, visit http://www.sterlingbrookfarm.com.