SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED RESCUE

Lovely Free House gelding, Free Sammy, was rescued at auction for $85 bidding against a kill buyer in June 2009, just two days' after his racing owner gave him away. Sammy was once worth $77,000 as a two year old in training. Super sweet and very sound, Sammy is adopted by Lisa as her pleasure horse prospect - but mainly just to love and adore. Thank you Lisa, for offering Sammy a loving lifetime home 

Texas bred Colorful Angel raced six times and had five registered thoroughbred babies in California, before being rescued by SCTR at auction in April 2009 for $210. Angel was terribly thin, but recovered quickly to become a plump, lively, and happy horse. Angels' rescue and care was fully sponsored by Lynn and Lloyd Wells of the Toby Wells Foundation. In November of 2009, they were able to offer this lovely mare a permanent home and sanctuary at the beautiful new rescue ranch of the Toby Wells Foundation, Blue Apple Ranch. Thank you so much, Lynn and Lloyd     

Colorful Angel in November 2009, after several months of rehabilitation:

Native Pretentious, a former California racehorse after eight starts and birthing five thoroughbred babies, was rescued at auction in April 2009 for $230, thin and unkempt - her owners present to tell us that they had "accidentally" bred her to a running quarter stallion. While two subsequent pregnancy checks were negative, we very much suspect that a baby may be on the way. Her rescue and care with SCTR was fully sponsored by Lynn and Lloyd Wells of the Toby Wells Foundation. In November 2009, they were able to offer this sweet mare a permanent home and sanctuary at the beautiful new rescue ranch, Blue Apple Ranch, of the Toby Wells Foundation.  Thank you Lynn and Lloyd  

The very lovely Native Pretentious in November 2009, after several months of rehabilitation:

Gorgeous 9yo gelding Footloose Louie by Unusual Heat, we rescued at auction for $270 bidding to prevent him from shipping to slaughter, and funds for his rescue and care have been generously donated by Lynn and Lloyd Wells of the Toby Wells Foundation. Patricia visited Louie in October 2009, and it was love at first sight for them both. Pat and Louie are now playing Parelli games together at a beautiful horse farm in North Las Vegas. Thank you Pat   

"Bam Bam" (as he became known very quickly at SCTR) was rescued at auction preventing him from shipping to slaughter in December 2008. His rescue was supported by Ron Charles, COO of Magna Entertainment Corp under Magna's new "anti-slaughter" policy. Bam Bam took time to "come back" in condition and spirits, but fully rehabilitated, he has finally found his forever home as Kaitlin's hunter jumper prospect in October 2009 with Sabrina and Kaitlin. Thank you Sabrina and Kaitlin  

This beautiful, gallant and hard knocking Fit to Fight gelding earned over $220,000 in 77 starts, before retiring sound. It has taken almost a year to find him the perfect home, but he was simply waiting for Sabrina and her family to come into his life. "Flash" has found his lifetime home with them as a dressage prospect for Sabrina, and we couldn't be more thrilled for all of them. Thank you Sabrina 

Magic Route was advertized for sale on craigslist, and when a prospective buyer showed up to see him she was horrified to find a very starved young gelding. She called SCTR distraught to ask if we could help, and Norco animal control transferred the, now, impounded horse to our care. Magic recovered, blossomed, and when Peter and Rhoda visited him in September it was love at first sight. Rhoda adopted Spirit (Brent's Last Dance) from SCTR in July; now Peter has adopted Magic as his special horse.

Thank you so much, Rhoda and Peter, for providing Magic and Spirit with loving, lifetime homes   

For the record, this was Magic when SCTR volunteer Laure showed up in Norco following an urgent phonecall about a starving horse...

Magic in August 2009, a beautiful healthy young horse, photo courtesy of Laurie Taylor of TMA Photography...

Peter and Magic meet for the first time, and a magical and peaceful connection occurs...

Magic's arrival at his new home with Peter...

We found young Moscow Ballet gelding, Cascade Mtn., at auction in March 2009, thin, sore and depressed. "Red" gained back his spirits, confidence, and health in a few months, turned out to be quiet and kind under saddle, and is now loved, adored, and adopted by Virginia. Thanks, Virginia and Todd, for providing "Red" with his forever home  

This was Cascade Mtn the day after we rescued him -

and this was Cascade Mtn. this summer - a stunning and quietly confident young gelding enjoying his new health and life -

Red with adopter Virginia, on his first day in his new home...

Trato was donated to SCTR by two of his former racing owners, Jeff and Janette, in order to ensure his welfare and safety after he sustained a career ending injury. Those same remarkable owners became Trato's sponsors, and his monthly visitors, throughout his time in rehabilitation with us. In August 2009, Trato was adopted by them! Thank you so much Jeff and Janette for caring about Trato beyond his racing days, and ultimately giving him the permanent loving home he deserves 

Trato and Janette at Golden Gate Fields, shortly after Trato's injury:

Trato and Janette, arrival at an SCTR foster home:

Trato and Janette in June 2009, at his foster home in Brentwood:

"Rainbow" was found on a local feedlot by SCTR's founder in February of 2009, with badly swollen knees, just weeks after her last race. Caroline fully sponsored Rainbow's rescue, veterinary care, and rehab, and in August - following the loss of one of her older horses and the immediate need for a companion for her own young mare - she decided to adopt this lovely filly. Rainbow is "home"...

Hasty was rescued as a two year old at auction in November 2007, just weeks after his first, and last, race at Del Mar. Clean legged, and athletic, with a terrific mind, Hasty was placed in full training by SCTR for 15 months before the perfect adopter was found for him. Melanie is now providing Hasty with the loving home and athletic career that he deserves. Look how cute they are together! Thank you Melanie  

We rescued Luis's Especial at auction on Kentucky Derby Day 2009 for $250, after he raced successfully in California to earn $183,000. That same weekend, SCTR was connected with lifetime equestrian, grand prix rider, trainer, and horseshow judge, Gay Talmey, who offered a retirement home for a deserving racehorse at her beautiful ranch in Cottonwood CA. Luis is that lucky horse, and although still recovering from a fractured medial sesamoid, Luis should recover to be a light riding horse and live out his days at beautiful Rancho Alegre. From all of us at SCTR, and Luis's many fans, thank you Gay! 

Brent's Last Dance (Spirit) we rescued at auction in April 2008 days after she aborted her foal. After a lenghty rehabilitation, we were finally ready to list her for adoption when Rhoda and Peter contacted us, looking for a trail horse and companion for their Arabian gelding. They met Spirit, and it was love at first sight! Spirit is now adopted, and enjoying her new life with Rhoda and Peter at their beautiful ranch in Valley Center, San Diego County. Thank you Rhoda and Peter 

Here is a letter from Rhoda which we thank her for sharing with us all:

In late June, my beloved 12 year old TB, Spirit, ended his journey on this earth. He was bitten by a rattle snake. Our vet did all he could but told us the venom was just too powerful. I was devastated. Spirit was my first TB and he originally came from the racetrack in Tijuana. He then was owned by a woman in a town near us but she had died of cancer and he was left unattended with only a pot-bellied pig for company. Once we got him, it became obvious Spirit had some punitive training, but with time and patience, he began coming out of his fears and was less unpredictable. Despite Spirit's "quirks," we had developed an amazing spiritual bond within 8 months that only horse people can understand. I would admire him endlessly and he would breathe softly down my neck and nudge at me if I didn't pay attention to him. Every night, we would "smooch" and he'd get his treats. It didn't seem fair that he couldn't have been with me longer and I cried for several days.

After Spirit's body was removed the following day and I was cleaning out the corral, I noticed a piece of his mane by where he took his last breath. I got a red ribbon (symbolic of love) and braided his mane with the ribbon. I said a silent prayer and asked Spirit to find me another horse I could love as much as I did him. Shortly thereafter, I got on line and researched rescued thoroughbreds. I found photos of two potential horses through the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue web site. That weekend, my husband and I drove up north to the Norco area and looked at both horses. Although lovely, both horses weren't suitable candidates. Just as I was about to leave, a voice said "ask the foster mom if she has any other horses for adoption on her property." She pointed out a few other horses, and the last one she pointed out to us was when my hairs stood up on end. The horse looked so much like my other Spirit. She then informed us her name is "Spirit." Now, I have come to know over the years that there are no accidents. Since we didn't know the last time she had been under saddle (probably 8 years ago), we decided to put a saddle on and try her out. When I got on her, I felt like I had just sunk into a classic cadillac. She was so smooth, no hesitation. I knew at that moment she was mine and knew that my Spirit boy brought me to her.

Spirit girl has been with us a month now, and I have the same spiritual bond that I had with Spirit boy. She is a treasure and easily accepted our extended family of dogs, cats, pigs and chickens and our other Arabian horse. She has carried on the tradition of my Spirit boy and breathes gently on the back of my neck and gives me gentle nudges when I'm in the corral with her. We enjoy our nightly ritual of "smooches and snacks." I am so grateful of the incredible work done by these dedicated folks who rescue these beautiful animals and give them a second chance, or perhaps for some a first chance, at love. I know if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have been given a second chance at loving such a magnificent TB again. Special thanks to Caroline Betts, Kathy Fisher - Spirit’s foster mom - and John Chun, CFO and photographer.

Rhoda

Lovely young mare Timeless Wager's owner was seeking a great new home for her at the conclusion of her racing career in March 2009, and asked if SCTR could help. Within twenty four hours, a perfect match had been found, and Timeless Wager was adopted by Kathy and Johanna as Johanna's show horse prospect. Thank you Kathy and Jo  

Swing's Lew, a lovely 18 year old gelding by Swing Till Dawn and from a Seattle Slew mare, was rescued from slaughter at auction by SCTR in March 2009, and adopted by Casey O'Connor on behalf of The Golden Carrot Horse Sanctuary in April 2009, where he will remain safe for the remainder of his life. Thank you Casey 

Icanmakeitrain was rescued from slaughter at auction by SCTR in March 2009, and was adopted by and returned to a former owner that cared about him before the month's end! Thank you, owner that cares

Silky Goose, a lovely 11 year old Darn That Alarm mare, was rescued from slaughter in February 2009, adopted in March of 2009, and is now enjoying her life with Tina, in Orange County, California. Thank you Tina