by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — The first horse to be helped by the USTA’s Support Our Standardbreds program has arrived at the Standardbred Retirement Foundation for training as a riding horse.

SRF photo

Horseshoe Bay has arrived at the Standardbred Retirement Foundation and will be trained as a riding horse.

Horseshoe Bay (Sealed N Delivered–Pacific Flirt–Western Hanover) was seized by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture in May of 2010, after she and other animals were found in a state of severe neglect, emaciated, with thrush and lice. She has been in their care since that time, gaining weight and recovering from her maladies.

The SOS program provides financial assistance to horses that have been seized, surrendered in lieu of prosecution or abandoned to some legal authority, such as an animal control officer, sheriff or humane officer.

Horseshoe Bay, who was been nicknamed “Skye” by Department of Agriculture caretakers, arrived at the SRF’s small leased farm in central New Jersey on March 28. The 6-year-old mare is expected to begin training as a riding horse in mid-April and will be offered for adoption when she completes that training.

The SRF will provide lifetime follow up and take Horseshoe Bay back for replacement if her adopters are ever unable to continue her care.

The SOS has now provided assistance to 24 Standardbreds whose care fell to a criminal level since the program’s inception in May of 2010.

For more information about SOS, contact Ellen Harvey at ellen.harvey@ustrotting.com, or 732.780.3700. Those who might like to adopt Horseshoe Bay can contact Jennifer Nagle at the SRF, Jennifer@srfmail.com, 609.324.1500.