by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Williamsport, PA — The Retired Equine Adoption Society of the Northeast, or R.E.A.S.O.N, is a non-profit 501-(c)(3) organization, located in Harvey’s Lake, Pennsylvania, devoted to providing all horses, but predominantly retired Standardbred race horses, a new lease on life.

Founded in 2001, by Lisa Smith and a group of her friends, many of which work at nearby Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, R.E.A.S.O.N has found homes for more than 250 horses.

“Most of the Standardbreds I get are young and have been retired from racing with an injury,” Smith, the program’s director, explained. “But that is not going to prevent them from having a life as a pleasure horse. We start them under saddle and they trail ride. That increases their chances of being adopted.”

In order to be accepted to the program, a horse must be generally healthy and sound for riding or have a prognosis that would allow them to be ridden in the future.

A potential adopter must provide references from a veterinarian and a farrier, sign a contract stating the horse cannot be bred, sold or raced and fill out an equine management questionnaire. Since the facility operates entirely off donations, an adoption fee, usually around $600, is required.

If adopted, there is a 30-day guarantee for the horse and unlike many other rescues, the adopters are encouraged to speak to the horse’s former owners and/or trainers.

“If they are not happy the horse isn’t happy and the horses come first for us,” Smith said. “Also, the trainers and owners know more about the horses than I do. It only benefits the horse.”

After a horse is adopted, R.E.A.S.O.N continues to monitor their care and will take the horse back if they are not satisfied with its treatment.

“Every February we send out a form to every adopter,” Smith said. “It’s a form that needs to be signed by a veterinarian and if we don’t get it back, we start bugging them and then we go out and see them.”

Currently filled to capacity with 17 horses, the program has a waiting list and while it does accept other breeds, Standardbreds are the priority.

“We have three waiting to come in and it has been longer than that many times,” Smith said. “About 85 percent of our horses are Standardbreds and the other 15 percent are riding horses. I have had about everything but Standardbreds come first. They are my favorite breed and I want to promote them because they make wonderful family horses. They are so willing to please.”

Smith wishes the program could take every horse that is offered but takes comfort in the fact R.E.A.S.O.N is making a difference.

“We have really taken a lot of horses that would have went to the Amish or to slaughter but are getting donated to families,” Smith said. “To me that’s wonderful.”

If you would like to learn more about R.E.A.S.O.N and their horses, they are having an open house on October 6, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a new and used tack sale, a silent auction, a pet CPR class, pony rides and various home-baked goods. For more information or to make a donation please call (570) 333-5266 or visit their Web site at www.reasonhorserescue.com.