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.
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