Luis

[Laurie Taylor]

He is a young horse. He has the majority of his life still ahead of him.

He earned well in excess of $ 150,000 on the racetrack.

[Laurie Taylor]

Then, he suffered an injury.

[Laurie Taylor]

He found himself in a stockyard alongside goats, cattle, and other livestock about to be auctioned. He was at great risk.

His obvious injury, being race-trained only, and other factors gave him little "resale" value and made a “soft landing” for him, highly unlikely.

[Laurie Taylor]

He got lucky.

Thankfully for him, volunteers from the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue (a 501(c) 3 organization) were there at the stockyard auction that day. They were able to be there on that particular day as a result of generous donations from the Fans of Barbaro and The Toby Wells Foundation of San Diego County.

Those volunteers found him and were able to tentatively ID him.

They bid successfully for him; a total of $ 250, bid only against the kill buyers/feedlot and dealers, secured a future.

From the auction yard, he went to the SCTB quarantine facility. Once he cleared quarantine, he then moved to the SCTB Rescue rehab location.

This is where I met him. A noble, handsome, quiet, willing boy. Loving human attention. Definitely enjoying life.

While he was with the SCTB Rescue, he was further evaluated, and received additional treatment by veterinarians and SCTB Rescue volunteers. And he developed quite a fan club - including many who had watched him race.

The story of this horse continues.

Enter Gay Talmey.

Coincidently, on the very same day that he was rescued at the stockyard auction, accomplished equestrian Gay Talmey of Rancho Alegre (http://www.ranchoalegre.net/index.html ), contacted someone prominent with Thoroughbred racehorses, offering to provide a safe home for a deserving, retired Thoroughbred racehorse, and looking for assistance in locating such a horse.

She was matched with SCTBR. Gay’s extensive experience with horses, her experience with rehabilitating them, along with her facilities, made her a great prospective match for Luis.

[Laurie Taylor]

He has since been adopted.

I was fortunate to be able to see him off, on to the new chapter in his life. While all were sad to see him board that trailer that day, all are happy knowing that he was heading on to new adventures and a more positive future.

[Laurie Taylor]

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[Laurie Taylor]

He needs more time to heal from the injuries. But in time and with continued care, it is hopeful that he may eventually return to light riding duties. He has a secure (and well earned) retirement home, regardless.

I have since met many others, with similar stories. All horses in need. All given another chance, by the wonderful people involved with the SCTB Rescue. All cared for. All loved. All, now, with a much improved opportunity for the future, whether it includes riding, being a companion, or just enjoying retirement. Or for those very few, at least, a quiet, dignified end.

[Laurie Taylor]

Unfortunately, there are always many more horses that need help. In California alone, in "normal" times, figures indicate that an average of 2,000 + Thoroughbred horses are retired from racing each year- directly from the racetracks, for various reasons. This figure is not believed to include Thoroughbreds also retired while at training facilities, at layup facilities and more.

Some of them find second careers in the breeding shed. Some go to private homes, and have second careers as trail horses, hunter/jumpers, in dressage and more.

These are not "average" times with the economy, record unemployment, foreclosures and more.

Unfortunately, many more horses fall through the cracks.

[Laurie Taylor]

One final note: the state of California does have on it's books, a law prohibiting the transport of horses for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. Unfortunately, the enforcement of this law, prosecution and convictions for violations of this law are extremely rare, to non-existent. There are, unfortunately, loopholes that allow ways to circumvent the law as well.

The reality is that many "unwanted" California horses find their way to Mexico or Canada on a daily basis.

[Karen Bayerl]

Thank you for sharing Luis with us and your beautiful photos Laurie. It is so nice to know there are places out there like SCTB who can help stop these horses from falling through the cracks.