By Jess Hallas-Kilcoyne

Wanted! Loving Horse Owners: LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society Gives Racehorses a Dignified Retirement. For a horse lover, visiting the website of the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society can be an emotional experience.

There you will find the seven-year-old dark bay gelding, Alezzandro, Canadian champion three-year-old of 2007 and winner of $767,919, now waiting for a sponsor or an adoptive home. The 13-year-old dark bay/brown gelding Tuxedo Gold, with 97 starts and 9 wins to his credit along with “some wear and tear in a knee,” hopes for a second career as a loving hack horse. A gorgeous gal who “has had a few setbacks in her life,” the nine-year-old dark bay mare, Crafty Angel, is best suited to a home as a companion horse. Then there’s Mensch, a five-year-old bay gelding described as “a cuddlebug,” just beginning new adventures as a pleasure horse at one of the LongRun foster farms.

These beautiful thoroughbreds, at one time celebrated for their speed and promise, are now looking for second homes, and for some, alternative careers. Their racing days are over, and they have earned the right to a happy retirement and a loving home.

To learn about the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, I talked with Morgan Chapman, LongRun Office Administrator; Sheri Van Sickle, Adoptions Coordinator; and Vicki Pappas, Chairperson and one of the founding members of LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.

HJ: What are the goals of the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, and what services does it offer?
LT: LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society works directly with trainers and owners at racetracks across Ontario to help retire, restart, and re-home ex-racehorses. Our goals are to provide a dignified retirement for thoroughbreds, and to educate owners, trainers, and the general public about the potential for ex-racers to go on to successful second careers.

HJ: When did LongRun start, and what area does it serve?
LT: LongRun became a registered charity in 2000 after the Board of Directors had financed the retirement and re-homing of the horses for many years prior to that. LongRun primarily places horses in Southern Ontario, but we do have horses in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

HJ: How does LongRun function financially, and how is it managed?
LT: LongRun receives one quarter of one percent of Ontario Thoroughbred purse money, along with monies from private donations and our fundraisers. LongRun is overseen by a ten person volunteer board of directors, who generously donate their time and experience to us. We currently have two devoted full-time employees, an office administrator, and an adoption coordinator.

HJ: What area do the majority of the horses come from?
LT: We receive horses from racetracks in Ontario, but in some cases the horses we receive were born and bred in various places across Canada and the United States.

HJ: What sort of events and activities do you put on?
LT: LongRun puts on a variety of events and activities each year. In previous years we have hosted barbeques and fashion shows. This year, we are hosting our LongRun Legends Gala in September, honouring the four legged legends that we work with every day. We always invite new and interested people to contact us regarding our ongoing or upcoming events.

HJ: What do you enjoy the most about being involved with LongRun?
LT: Watching adopters find their new horses. There is no greater pleasure than seeing these deserving horses get their second careers, and then receiving the updates on their progress and continued journeys.

HJ: What are the future plans for LongRun?
LT: Our biggest goal for the future is to acquire our own facility. We feel that this big step will allow us to help even more horses going forward.

HJ: Who are the key members without whom LongRun could not operate?
LT: LongRun could not function without the support of Ontario’s industry leaders, horse people, and all of our generous donors and volunteers!

HJ: What can people do to support LongRun?
LT: Aside from donating or adopting, one of the best things you can do for LongRun is spread the word. Whether it is through your own local fundraisers or putting out brochures in your local tack stores, feed mills, and even small cafe’s, it all helps. The other thing is, if you own one of these lovely off-the-track thoroughbreds (OTTB’s), tell your friends and stable mates how much you love the versatility, kindness, and loyalty your partner offers up each and every day! Most of our adopters find us through word of mouth!

HJ: Is there anything you would like our readers to know about LongRun?
LT: From our adoption coordinator: “LongRun has a horse for everyone who has room in their barn or their heart!”

To learn more, visit: www.LongRunRetirement.com.
 

Main article photo: Courtesy of LongRun