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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) – Reindeer may be the animal most traditionally associated with the holidays, but this year, think horses. If you or someone you love dreams of owning a horse, a happy ending – for you and a lucky horse -- may be closer than you thought possible.
For as little as $500, you can adopt a retired race horse through The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). The group helps save unwanted horses who might otherwise be hauled off to a slaughterhouse once their racing days are over. More than 1,000 horses are available for adoption. After TRF approves an individual for adopting a horse, the group searches for a horse that will fit the adoptees' needs and desires. Adoption fees range from $500 to $3,000, depending on the horse.
The group found a perfect match for Garan Wilson of Bristol, Vt. At 14 years old, he had outgrown his beloved pony and was looking for a new horse. A representative of a TRF farm in Granville, Vt. told Wilson’s trainer about Jovial Belle, a horse needing a new home. When Wilson rode Jovial Belle for the first time, he knew this was the horse for him. “It was so cool being on a thoroughbred right off the track,” he says. “I fell in love with her. She was awesome.” Wilson’s mom agreed, and Jovial Belle now has a loving home. Wilson hopes to attend the University of Vermont and to take Belle with him so they can compete on the intercollegiate hunter/jumper team. “Thank you, TRF for giving me Belle. I think everyone should adopt a TRF horse,” he says.
To help new owners take the best possible care of their horses, Straight Arrow Products, makers of the famous Mane ‘n Tail horse care products, presents each new owner with a starter kit of products worth over $80. “We at Straight Arrow care very much about horses,” says company president Devon Katzev. “Ours is a family-owned business born on my father’s farm in 1970 from a love of horses and a desire to produce the finest possible products for their care.”
New owners receive Mane ‘n Tail shampoo and conditioner, medicated shampoo, detangler, Shine-On, Hoofmaker and Mineral Ice. “These products will fulfill many of the new owners’ immediate grooming and horse care needs,” says Katzev.
There is a special bond between horse owners and their horses. That may be even more true if the horse has been rescued from dire circumstances. “It really is a win-win situation, and we’re happy to be there in support right from the start,” says Katzev.
If you don’t have the space, time or means to care for a horse, yet still want to feel connected to an individual retiree, the best option may be to sponsor one of the hundreds of TRF horses who are infirm and unlikely to be adopted out. There are three levels of sponsorship, from $250 to $1,000 or more. You can also sponsor a horse for a friend as a gift. Recipients will receive the special keepsake items along with a personalized gift message. What a perfect holiday gift for any horse lover.
To make a donation, or to find out more about adopting a horse, contact Straight Arrow Products at www.straightarrow.com, or visit www.trfinc.org.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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