Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program
Since I love horses and would love to own one someday (which will only actually happen if the stars align just right), this post made by Marci Diehl on Google+ caught my eye. I live less than 50 miles from the race track, but had not heard about this award-winning program until today. I plan to read more about FLTAP, but what I've learned of it so far fascinates me. Enjoy!
(Originally posted by Marci Diehl on Google+)
The new issue of Canandaigua Magazine is out and I have an article in it about the award-winning Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (#1 in the country), Wanda Polisseni (their angel donor) and adopted racehorse Rio Dinero, sired by River Keen ($1.7M career winner) and great-great-grandson of Secretariat. But we didn't have enough room for some of the pictures they sent, so I'm putting them up myself. Loved writing about you all. Racehorses are awesome athletes!
FLTAP Retired racehorses only go to very experienced horse owners with the means to give them the life they deserve. They range in age from 2yr olds to about 10yrs. FLTAP is the only adoption program located on a racetrack and with the support of the track and the Horsemen's Benevolent Protection Association.
Shots below:
(Top) Rio Dinero was saved by FLTAP after 1st adopter turned him in claiming he had a central nervous system disease and "should be put down immediately" (they wanted a show jumper). With donations, Rio was examined by 5 equine vets who each came back with a negative diagnosis for the disease. Rio was adopted afterwards by Barbara Havill, who owns retired racehorse Top Shotta, as a companion for Shotta -- who was so lonely he began to withdraw in his stall and wouldn't eat. Today, they are best buddies at the Finger Lakes home of Havill. Havill hopes to train Rio for eventing. He's starting to compete again. Rio in plaid, Shotta in purple.
(2nd) I'm Agador -- raised by hand as a foal after he lost his mother, Agador is a favorite at FLTAP for his affection and sweetness. Turned out he didn't have the speed in him for racing.
(3rd) The handsome and charming Vibrance swept me off my feet when I went to the Purple Haze Center barn (Wanda Polisseni was the angel donor for this center & funds many of the horses' surgical needs after racing). He's since been adopted.
(Bottom) Full Marks was a stallion who was so aggressive toward other racehorses he needed gelding to be able to live a new life with an owner. FLTAP donors paid for his surgery, and he's now a laid-back gentleman who has won the heart of owner Mary Barnes, a Rochester NY police officer.
Each thoroughbred at Purple Haze has a story and I wish I could write them all! For more information on FLTAP's work, check out www.fingerlakestap.org
August 12, 2011 (4 photos)
(Originally posted by Marci Diehl on Google+)
The new issue of Canandaigua Magazine is out and I have an article in it about the award-winning Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (#1 in the country), Wanda Polisseni (their angel donor) and adopted racehorse Rio Dinero, sired by River Keen ($1.7M career winner) and great-great-grandson of Secretariat. But we didn't have enough room for some of the pictures they sent, so I'm putting them up myself. Loved writing about you all. Racehorses are awesome athletes!
FLTAP Retired racehorses only go to very experienced horse owners with the means to give them the life they deserve. They range in age from 2yr olds to about 10yrs. FLTAP is the only adoption program located on a racetrack and with the support of the track and the Horsemen's Benevolent Protection Association.
Shots below:
(Top) Rio Dinero was saved by FLTAP after 1st adopter turned him in claiming he had a central nervous system disease and "should be put down immediately" (they wanted a show jumper). With donations, Rio was examined by 5 equine vets who each came back with a negative diagnosis for the disease. Rio was adopted afterwards by Barbara Havill, who owns retired racehorse Top Shotta, as a companion for Shotta -- who was so lonely he began to withdraw in his stall and wouldn't eat. Today, they are best buddies at the Finger Lakes home of Havill. Havill hopes to train Rio for eventing. He's starting to compete again. Rio in plaid, Shotta in purple.
(2nd) I'm Agador -- raised by hand as a foal after he lost his mother, Agador is a favorite at FLTAP for his affection and sweetness. Turned out he didn't have the speed in him for racing.
(3rd) The handsome and charming Vibrance swept me off my feet when I went to the Purple Haze Center barn (Wanda Polisseni was the angel donor for this center & funds many of the horses' surgical needs after racing). He's since been adopted.
(Bottom) Full Marks was a stallion who was so aggressive toward other racehorses he needed gelding to be able to live a new life with an owner. FLTAP donors paid for his surgery, and he's now a laid-back gentleman who has won the heart of owner Mary Barnes, a Rochester NY police officer.
Each thoroughbred at Purple Haze has a story and I wish I could write them all! For more information on FLTAP's work, check out www.fingerlakestap.org
August 12, 2011 (4 photos)