MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
The mission of Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc. is to rehabilitate, retrain, and re-home off track Thoroughbred horses and afford community youth the opportunity to experience the process.
      
     Our work promotes growth and learning in both horses and youth.  Horses receive a solid training foundation for a second career prior to adoption into their new homes while our young volunteers learn valuable skills. Our youth program teaches a solid work ethic with an emphasis on teamwork, responsibility, confidence, and service to others.
      
     By teaching our horses a new skill set, we are able to provide them with a future after their work on the track is complete. Whether you are looking for a show horse,  a pleasure riding horse or a companion; we are certain that you can find what you are looking for here at Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue & adoption
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation, Retraining & Re-homing:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     Horse Racing is big business in Oklahoma, as it is in many other states. What does an owner or trainer do with a racehorse that has proven not to be successful on the track, or is past his prime? Often they do the easiest and cheapest thing to do – they sell them off to a “kill lot”, where these beautiful horses will find their way onto a packed truck heading to Mexico, where they may end up as dog food, a glue factory, or worse, a family meal!
     
     At Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc. we take these horses into our program and, after ensuring their health and retraining, we, find them a second career and a long-term "forever" home. TAI has been serving the Off the Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) community since 2012. In 2020, alone, we were able to adopt out 42 horses to their “forever” homes. Of these 42 adoptions in 2020, at least fifteen were rescued from an undesirable situation, and worked through the TAI process. After rehab and retraining, these horses now have a better home and a second career.
     
     Consistent with TAI's mission, our purpose is to rehabilitate, retrain, and re-home OTTB horses through our process and our TAI volunteers. To do this, we provide veterinary services throughout the horses stay at TAI, gently retrain the horses for second careers and develop responsibility and accountability in our community volunteers, through their work with the horses. This promotes growth and learning in both horses and youth.
Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     At TAI, we look for opportunities to get our message of "Responsible Retirement" out to the community (both local and regionally).
     
     We advocate the concept of "Responsible Retirement" at our various functions.
     
     For example, the Sport of Kings Challenge brings community interest in the versatility of retired racehorses. We bring in clinicians to help show the public various methods of retraining these horses.
     
     We also have a program which involves providing "At Risk" youth the opportunity to participate in the horse-related chores and in the retraining process.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has made equines available for research studies or medical training.
Please explain where and for what purpose equines are/were provided to use in research or medical training. 
     The organization transferred one horse (during 2017) to Oklahoma State University for an EPM study. Out of hundreds of horse that have come through Thoroughbred Athletes, this is the only case we can recall of a "medical or research transfer".

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered. 

Auction Donation:
Our organization allowed, or would consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 
Describe the circumstances where your organization has allowed, or would consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 
     In 2015, TAI had a horse that was auctioned following a competition, called the "Battle of the X's", in Texas. The horses competing were auctioned at the end of the event, however - those wishing to bid must complete an adoption application, and undergo reference check in order to bid on any of the horses.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    Return  
    Surrender  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Lease  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
At TAI, we have specific Intake protocols for each type of acquisition (Donation, Rescue, Relinquished, Return, and purchased). Each involves specific "In-take procedures" (History, vet evaluation, vaccines, etc.). These, TAI specific, "In-Take Protocols" can be furnished on request.
     
     We restrict our In-Take horses to Thoroughbreds only.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are not taken on trial

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Jumping
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually
Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
    Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   2-3 times per week

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
TAI has numerous In-Take Protocols that we can share, on request.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

Additional information about our breeding policies and practices:
At TAI, we have a Castration Protocol. Stallions brought into the program go through castration and are re-homed as Geldings.
     
     In all adoption contracts, TAI horses are prohibited from breeding operations.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
    Veterinarian
    A certified euthanasia technician
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Veterinary student under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian

Additional information about our euthanasia policies and practices:
At TAI, we only euthanize a horse when we feel that there are no longer any treatment options, for whatever condition afflicts the horse. We prefer to do them at the vets office, but if a horse dies or is euthanized on location, we remove it immediately, to prevent any contamination.

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization does NOT re-home an equine to first time equine owners
    The distance of a potential adopter/purchaser's home from our facility is a consideration for when re-homing an equine

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
    The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines cannot be bred
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make scheduled visits
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization free of charge
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization for a fee

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Personal/Other

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
$751 to $1,000

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
Typical TAI Adoption contracts are available for review, on request. Our contracts have several provisions, including:
     1) No future racing
     2) No future breeding
     3) TAI has the right to do follow-up check-ins
     4) After 4 months the adopter has the option to sell or re-home the horse
     
     We have attached a representative adoption contract.