from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association has joined TheHorse.com to create a Standardbred Adoption Service that is designed after TheHorse.com’s successful Thoroughbred Adoption Service. The Standardbred Adoption Service will provide an Internet-based bulletin board for registered Standardbred racehorses seeking new careers. The Standardbred Adoption Service is absolutely free to all who use it — both those offering a horse, and those seeking a pleasure or companion horse. All adoption groups seeking to place horses are encouraged to list their horses on this site as well. So far, 12 Standardbreds have been listed on the site.

The Standardbred Adoption Service can be found on the home page of www.TheHorse.com. Its Thoroughbred counterpart, which has been in existence since November of 2008, has already helped more than 125 Thoroughbreds find new owners from equine fans seeking athletic, versatile animals with many useful years ahead of them, or even just pasture pets or companion animals.

Horses must be offered for free; transactions are the responsibility of the owner or person listing the available horse. Potential new owners will contact the designated person directly. Horses offered can be of any age or gender, but those offering a horse are urged to check references and verify the intentions of the potential adopter. TheHorse.com’s Web site lists some guidelines for assuring that horses are in secure homes.

“We are very excited about teaming up with TheHorse.com, a part of the Blood-Horse Publications family, a major Thoroughbred publisher,” says USTA Communications Director Nicole Kraft. “Both breeds are very attractive prospects for the pleasure horse world. The addition of Standardbreds to this site expands the audience of potential new owners to those interested in driving and riding. Standardbreds already know how to drive and learn to carry a rider with minimal training. Coupled with their endurance and demeanor, they’re a very viable option for many pleasure uses.”

“The USTA came to us right after we launched the Thoroughbred Adoption Service and wanted to create the same kind of program to help find new homes for retired Standardbreds,” stated Kimberly S. Brown, Publisher/Editor of The Horse magazine and TheHorse.com. “I’m only sorry it has taken us so long to get the technology up and going. We’ve been amazed at how many horses have gone on to wonderful new lives through the Thoroughbred Adoption Service, and we hope to help Standardbred horses the same way.

“I applaud the USTA for being so pro-active in working for the welfare of retired Standardbreds.”

Standardbred owners and trainers are encouraged to add horses to the listings now available by clicking on the following link. The service is free! Questions can be directed to editorial@TheHorse.com.