The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced Aug. 12 that 23 equine rescue organizations from across the nation have joined the ASPCA Rescuing Racers Initiative, now in its fourth year. The ASPCA Rescuing Racers Initiative is a major grants program which aids in the rescue and rehabilitation of retired racehorses, repurposing the horses for other areas of the equine world, and giving them a new lease on life for events or pleasure riding.

“Thoroughbreds frequently end up at livestock auctions … when their racing days are over, and it is through organizations like these recipients that retired racehorses are cared for,” said Jacque Schultz, senior director of the ASPCA Equine Fund. “These rescues are committed to aftercare for retired racers, and we are thrilled to provide this opportunity to help them as they work to transition ex-racers out of the racing stable and into someone’s show barn or farm paddock. Additionally, they provide sanctuary for horses who are no longer physically fit for riding or adoption.”

The organizations joining the list of thoroughbred rescues and sanctuaries as part of the ASPCA Rescuing Racers Initiative for 2013 are:

• Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Va.
• The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) National
• CANTER California
• CANTER Michigan
• CANTER Ohio 
• Equine Outreach, Inc., Ore.
• The Exceller Fund, Ky.
• FL TRAC, Fla.
• Humanity for Horses, Calif.
• Friends of Ferdinand, Ind.
• Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Calif.
• MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, Md.
• New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Ohio
• Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program, Okla.
• Racer Placers, Wis.
• Red Bucket Equine Rescue, Calif.
• Second Chance Ranch, Wash.
• Second Chance Thoroughbreds, N.Y.
• Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, Calif.
• Standardbred Retirement Foundation, N.J.
• Thoroughbred Placement and Rescue, Md.
• Thoroughbred Retirement Network of Louisiana, La.
• United Pegasus Foundation, Calif.

The selected recipients include a wide range of equine rescues from 14 states and will each be awarded a grant ranging from $2,500–$25,000. The grant funding helps the groups increase capacity for rescuing more horses and primarily focuses on training and rehabilitation costs such as dental care, therapeutic shoeing, and boarding to recover from career-ending injuries