retired from racing, not from life
Friends of Ferdinand
A Retired Horse's Best Friend
By Alicia Howe
Most of today’s race horses are in peak condition, receiving premium care from their owners and trainers. However, what happens once race horses surpass prime racing age?
If they’re lucky, they’ll be passed over to Friends of Ferdinand.
Located in Indianapolis, Ind. Friends of Ferdinand (FFI) is a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and retrains retired racehorses. Since the emergence of FFI in 2005, the organization has placed over 250 retired thoroughbreds in non-race homes.
Friends of Ferdinand is named after Ferdinand, a thoroughbred who won the Kentucky Derby in 1986, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was named Horse of the Year in 1987. He was the fifth leading money winner of all time when retired. Ferdinand was sent to stud in Kentucky, and then Japan. When his offspring did not perform on the track, shockingly, he was sent to a Japanese kill pen in 2002.
Sara Busbice, president and foster coordinator of Friends of Ferdinand, said FFI strives to make sure that no retired racehorses end up in unfortunate circumstances. “Guys take good care of their horses on the track. When you donate, you ensure good care after the track,” said Busbice.
One of FFI’s first volunteers, Busbice helped those who founded the organization and eventually took over as president. The all volunteer organization now includes approximately 45 seasonal volunteers. On weekend mornings volunteers visit Indiana racetracks to meet people in the backside with horses they want to donate. “We always have a presence there,” Busbice said.
Volunteers take pictures and gather information about the horse needing new owners, and this information is put onto numerous Web sites for interested buyers to view. The FFI Web site shows all horses available for adoption directly from FFI, as well as those for purchase through track listings. Horses donated for adoption are vet-checked and evaluated for physical soundness. Track-listed horses available for direct purchase from the owner are not evaluated by FFI.
Because FFI does not have a central facility, all horses donated to FFI need foster homes. These carefully screened foster homes care for horses like one of their own, and FFI reimburses direct expenses related to these horses, such as hay, feed, vet bills and more. Foster homes can decide to adopt the horse if they grow a tight bond.
All of FFI’s money comes from grants, adoption fees and fundraisers. In March, FFI received a grant of $20,000 from the Tony Stewart Foundation, one of FFI’s major grant donators.
According to Busbice, retired horses are frequently given to people who lack the knowledge of how to care for thoroughbreds. More than half of the calls that FFI receives are from people who bought horses off the track and cannot handle them. “The horses suffer,” Busbice said.
For those wishing to donate to ensure that
retired horses find the best homes and care available to them
after retirement, contact Friends of Ferdinand. To donate
supplies, volunteer, foster a horse or adopt a horse, visit
www.friendsofferdinand.com, call 888-612-7402 or email
contact@friendsofferdinand.org. 