2021 Platinum Performance
Horse Welfare Award Recipients

Animal Health is the Platinum Performance® Mission. Platinum Performance® believes in the power of nutrition and supplementation, and is committed to providing formulas that produce superior results. For more information, visit www.platinumperformance.com

2021 Recipients

Clyde

Official Name: Clyde
Birth Year: 1994 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Pony

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Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy, Inc.
Clyde is a pony cross that has been an extraordinary herd member at Pegasus TRA for the past 22 years. Over the many years Clyde has been with Pegasus he has been able to serve a wide array of clients from beginner riders through those that independently walk, trot, canter. At 28 years old Clyde is one herd member that has begun to slow down a bit and enjoys taking first time riders in therapy pads safely around the arena for their lesson. Whether it be riders who are scared or those very excited,Clyde's personality ensures every rider that gets off him leaves with a big smile on their face. Being a lesson horse for 22 years has been both physically and mentally taxing for a horse like him. In order to keep Clyde at his peak performance ability he is given monthly Adequan injections. Also suffering from Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance, Clyde regularly receives Prascend and Thyro-L to ensure healthy metabolic function. In order to ensure future years of success from Clyde to the Pegasus TRA program he would benefit greatly from Platinum Performance products that aid in joint health, bone health, skin & coat, weight management, and hoof care.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
As the former Executive Director of Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy (Clyde's owner), I had the pleasure of working with Clyde for many years in many different capacities. -- Barbara M Wertheimer

Cool Man Walking

Official Name: Cool Man Walking
Birth Year: 2012 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center
Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit located in Miami, Florida. We offer therapeutic horseback riding and horsemanship lessons for individuals with disabilities, ages 5 years old and above. We have programs for children, adults, and veterans. In early 2019 we had to retire one of our long-time program horses. This left a big hole in our program. Bringing a new horse into a therapeutic riding program takes time and we were in the middle of a busy school season.
As fate would have it, around that time we had a visit from Gulfstream Park’s Director of Sponsorships and Community Relations. She put us in contact with Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC). The manager at TRAC introduced us to two horses she thought would be good program horses. We immediately fell for Cool Man Walkin, a 7-year old chestnut gelding. Cool is a quiet, gentle mannered horse who had run his last race in 2016.
In early January 2019, Cool joined our herd at Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center in Miami. After a few weeks of settling in, he started training. It quickly became apparent that Cool loved attention and enjoyed working with the participants and volunteers. His big, gentle personality immediately drew everyone’s attention. Cool is striking horse, standing at just under 16 hands, everyone notices Cool as soon as they walk onto the property. Even the smallest riders wanted to ride Cool in class. He slowly picked up a regular class schedule and in no time he was carrying a full load.
Cool has now settled into his new career and is a wonderful member of our herd. He takes great care of his riders. Riding a big, gentle horse like Cool helps the riders to build independence, confidence, strength, and skill. Whether the rider is a beginner, just learning how to steer, or a more advanced rider practicing posting trot, Cool is patient and helps the rider towards independence.
In case there was any question that Cool was meant to be at Whispering Manes, we recently learned that Cool’s last race was a benefit for a permanently disabled jockey who is paralyzed from the waist down. Cool won that race, so his career helping people with disabilities actually started long ago!
Cool’s racing career left him with joint stiffness, especially in his hind legs. He has benefitted from chiropractic adjustments and stretching. Slow warmups and walking helps to keep him feeling comfortable. He would benefit from adding Platinum Performance joint supplements to help keep him moving freely. At 9 years old, Cool can have a long career at our therapeutic riding center, but his comfort is of primary importance to us. We believe Cool is deserving of this award from Platinum Performance because of the work he does and lives he touches.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the Program Director at Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center. Two years and a half years ago we were looking for a new horse to adopt and train to be part of our therapeutic riding center. We found Cool at Florida Trac, a thoroughbred retirement program. His calm, friendly demeanor made him the perfect addition to our herd -- Robin Bramson

Elmer

Official Name: Elmer
Birth Year: 2016 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Mule

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Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center
Elmer is a young rescue mule that came to the therapeutic riding center in May of 2019. We were told he was a five year old, but we later learned during a veterinary exam that he was actual two years old. When he arrived he was very untrusting. It was a struggle to put on a halter and he was very skittish and shy. He arrived after a winter of neglect where his ears were frost-bitten and he had little human contact since birth. He was very concerned about food, always "dancing" around when fed to be sure his food wasn't stolen. After he arrived he suffered from an extreme skin condition where his hair was falling out in batches, while there was no underlying disease, we believe it was stress related and the result of neglect. He has since grown and lost his coat very nicely.

In the two years that Elmer has been at the center he has become a visitor, volunteer, participant and staff favorite. He has a stall in our small barn with access to a pen around the barn so that he can move in and out freely. He has become a companion and best friend (over the fence line) to our very stable therapy horse, George. He keeps an eye on the entire herd, communicating news, such as dinner time and when horses are being brought to the barn for program. He is a good babysitter for those who might otherwise be alone in our barn for a short time between programming. His appaloosa spots couldn't be more special with his red coat.

His "whimper" is unpredictable yet adorable and welcoming. All guests who he calls to feel special. We have begun partnering him with our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program as well as with Youth Development and Equine-Assisted Learning. He is especially responsive to youth who ADHD and ASD. His movements and communications are very clear and youth often relate to him.

Elmer has come a long way in his two years at the center. He is now easily halter and leads well to and from the rings. The herd of ten therapy horses have grown to appreciate his uniqueness and enjoy watching him. We will continue working with him in our unmounted programs.

Elmer would benefit from Platinum Performance products as he grows and matures. We are planning on him being with us at the farm for several decades more. He is a special creature who deserves all the love and attention he gets. Go Elmer!

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am nominating Elmer as a staff member at Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Inc. He cam to the farm two years ago in May as a very neglected young mule rescue. -- Shelly W. Pope

Pepper

Official Name: Pepper
Birth Year: 2012 Gender: Gelding . Breed: Paso Fino

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South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
We are nominating Pepper because Pepper is a very anxious and fearful horse. We feel that Pepper would benefit from one of the Platinum Performance Equine Calming Formulas. Pepper has been with us since October 2019. It took two days to capture him so that we could rescue him. He was extremely thin and too afraid to even consider accepting treats. For a very long time we couldn't catch him if he was turned out in a paddock or pasture. When he first arrived he was so fearful he wouldn't even interact with other horses when turned out with them. He would find a corner of the pasture and back into it so he could watch the other horses be horses. In order to accommodate Peppers anxiety, we instituted a training program of "clicker" and positive reinforcement practice specific to Pepper so that he can develop a level of trust with humans. Pepper has gone from standing in the corner of his stall, to willingly hanging his head out his stall door. He no longer snorts every time a human enters his stall, but will still take a few steps backward. He has graduated to beginning to ride him. Pepper’s basic nature is to be anxious and fearful, but he has shown that he is doing his best to meet us half way in working on being able to relax more. He’s a pretty boy, and a kind boy, who really needs something that could help take his edge of anxiety off. It would be helpful for Pepper to have a product that doesn’t “medicate” him, but that helps him settle just a little more.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the Executive Director of an equine rescue and rehabilitation facility. We were called to a grove to capture an “at large” loose horse that could not be caught and that no owner claimed. It took us two days to catch Pepper due to his level of fear of humans. -- Chris Septer

The Deputy

Official Name: The Deputy
Birth Year: 1997 Gender: Stallion. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Remember Me Rescue
The Deputy is an Irish bred, 24 year old retired Thoroughbred racehorse. The Deputy was a very successful racehorse, earning $817,270 during his career, including winning the Santa Anita Derby. The Deputy's final race was the 2000 Kentucky Derby. Upon retirement, The Deputy had a breeding career and eventually ended up in Iowa. Unfortunately, in March 2021, The Deputy was located in a feed lot in North Texas. The original racing owners of The Deputy immediately bailed him out and sent him to Remember Me. We are honored that he is with us as a permanent resident. The Deputy is a senior horse but he is extremely playful and enjoys challenging his paddock mates to races. The Deputy serves many roles at Remember Me, from entertaining guests on tours to assisting veterans in our veterans program. The Deputy would greatly benefit from Platinum Performance products because of his age. At 24, and being a retired racehorse, The Deputy can always benefit from joint support. Additionally, we have been working on The Deputy's hooves to get them back in excellent shape. The Deputy would definitely benefit from Platinum Performance's hoof supplement. The Deputy is a kind, patient and playful horse that we are lucky to get to have in our program.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
The Deputy is a 24 year old, retired Thoroughbred racehorse that arrived at Remember Me in March of 2021. I am the adoption and grant coordinator at Remember Me. The Deputy and I have spent a lot of time together getting to know each other and learning to adjust to his new lifestyle. -- Molly Herod

2021 Runners-Up

Bear

Official Name: Bear Bryant
Birth Year: 1997 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Belgian Draft

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Inspire Equine Therapy Program
Bear is such an amazing equine assisted services horse. He is 24 years old now and started in my program, Inspire Equine Therapy Program, when he was 19. Before I purchased Bear he had many different careers from being a carriage horse in New Orleans to a 4H horse showing dressage. Bear is a 17.2 hand Percheron gelding and is the oldest and most kind horse in my herd. Bear is the rock of the program. He does everything. He takes riders to compete and win at Special Olympics, has riders from the most involved adults to the smallest 10 year old working with him. He also is so steadfast that he is the only horse I have that I can trust with our participants in our wheelchair accessible carriage. He loves to do everything. Since he is older, we want to keep his joints and body in the best health so it would be great if we could get him on Platinum Performance Joint supplement. He is our "Bear, Bear" and we could not have our program without him.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Executive Director and owner of horse -- Melissa Yarbrough

Borrowed Bucks

Official Name: Borrowed Bucks
Birth Year: 2013 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Standardbred

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Gerda's Equine Rescue, Inc.
Like so many Standardbreds B.B. had a racing career then went on to become an Amish buggy horse. We found him in rough shape standing in a killpen in November after a buggy accident in which he had been impaled in the back leg by one of the shafts. This poor horse was thrown away to be slaughtered, standing in pain in need of medical care. We rescued him, brought him to GER and got him the medical attention that he needed to make a full recovery! He went to a foster for the month of January and was on his way back to GER to meet his new adoptive family! On the way back he fell in route and got his hoof stuck in a small gap under the trailer’s back door. He managed to free himself but cracked his hoof in half in the process. We immediately rushed him to the Myhre Clinic where he underwent surgery to wire his hoof back together. He spent two weeks in the hospital followed by 4 weeks of stall rest. We have spend the last 3 months rehabbing his hoof with daily care and he has new growth starting to grow in and he is expected to make a full recovery. Nutrition is vital to achieving good hoof growth and B.B. can really benefit from Platinum Performance's CJ + Platinum Hoof Support supplement.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am a volunteer at Gerda's Equine Rescue where B.B. is. -- Danielle Brown

Hamilton

Official Name: Hamilton
Birth Year: 2002 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Pony of the Americas

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Shining Hope Farms
Why we are nominating Hamilton to receive a Platinum Performance Horse Welfare Award
We are nominating Hamilton to receive a Platinum Performance Horse Welfare award because of his incredible story of survival and purpose. As you will read below, Hamilton is a very special horse that we are so glad overcame his past so that today he is able to bring so many individuals joy and serve such an important role in our programs.

Hamilton’s background
We were contacted by a police woman in our county and asked if we would be interested in a yearling for our program. She explained that she had been called out to investigate five horses that had been left in a junk yard. When she arrived, the animals were tied up to vehicles. The owner of the animals had passed away and the equines were left to fend for themselves. There was only one that would make it out of that tragic situation. The other four were in such bad shape that euthanization was the most humane option for them. The officer took the one survivor pony that had not been gelded yet, to her home to try to save him. She called him Buddy. The poor animal had permanent scars on his hind legs from being tangled up in rope and trying to escape. His halter was embedded in his skin on his face above his nostrils so deep that it had to be removed with tools. By the time we were contacted, Buddy had been gelded and was not so gauntly skinny. Typically, we would not even consider going to look at a so called “yearling” for our EAAT programs, but the officer lived only two miles from us and we were curious about him. Jessi Culberston, our Equine Professional, and Executive Director, Milinda Kirkpatrick went to check out Buddy. They were quite surprised to find this cute little pony that had phenomenal movement! He had the movement of a fancy European warmblood only in a small package. After less than half an hour with him, we told the police officer that we would take him. After the officer delivered him to our farm, we thought a name change was in order. Jessi decided to name him “Hamilton”. Humorously, she thought it might help with his image instead of being known as a junk yard discard. A few days later, Milinda became concerned about him and called the vet to come out because Hamilton would lay down for hours during the day in his stall. He would lay flat out and appeared to be dead most of the time. After the examination, the veterinarian indicated that the animal was in very good health and was certainly not a yearling, but rather approximately 6 years old. His appearance of being a yearling was due to the malnourishment, possibly even stunting his growth. The vet also indicated that he thought Hamilton was laying down because he had not been able to for so long and it just felt good to be able to sprawl out. To this day, even though Hamilton is well into his teens, he lays down in his stall much of the day…feeling very content, safe, and happy.
Training Hamilton was much different from the other equines that we started and trained from scratch. Rather than having to teach him how to respect us, we had to teach him how to trust us. Getting a halter on or reins over his head was quite a challenge initially. He was not afraid of anything except people. Jessi took Hamilton to many USPC clinics to give him some good experience in a different setting. He absolutely loved cross country schooling and water complexes! He has also competed at local Hunter shows, dressage shows, and fun shows. He has taken good care of our athletes, participants, and patients. No one has ever fallen off of him. Hamilton is now one of our star therapy ponies and is used often as a favorite by both therapists and patients. We are so thankful to the Lord for sending us Hamilton!

Hamilton’s personality and temperament
Hamilton is very fun-loving and easy going. He is very playful in the herd with the other pasture mates, always demanding their attention in some sort of fashion. Hamilton is never afraid of his surroundings or objects. He never spooks at anything. He occasionally will fear a new adult human until he gets to know and trust them.

The type of services, disciplines or activities performed by Hamilton
Hamilton works in all of our Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies programs including hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, equine assisted psychotherapy, and our program for veterans. He loves his job!

Why Hamilton would benefit from Platinum Performance products
Hamilton would greatly benefit from the Platinum Performance products, particularly the Bio Sponge and the Platinum Gastric Support supplements. He was a rescue pony and has always had a leaky gut due to the poor nutrition and lack of nutrition he had during his early years. We are always washing his tail due to the leaky tail.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am a staff member of Shining Hope Farms and have gotten to know sweet Hamilton over the years working for the farm. -- Jessamyn Farrell

Shadow

Official Name: Shadow
Birth Year: 2015 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Racking Horse

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Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. (GAIT)
Shadow has spent his entire life never receiving quality nutrition. The daily stress of living in a human world with no ability to understand or cope has decimated his immune system. He will need months to just recover physically as we also help him to recover mentally and learn new skills. The Platinum Performance products will help us to help him through this recovery and we hope you will choose Shadow as you consider all of the worthy nominees.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
We were contacted by another rescue in our area and were made aware of a feral Spotted Saddle Horse that had been sold to a local kill buyer. They had a sponsor willing to pay his bail and transport to us, if we would be willing to take on the challenge of a nearly 7yo horse that wasn't even halter broke. This beautiful young horse had been failed by his breeder, who had no plan for his future. He had been failed by his owner, who gave him no means to cope in the world of humans as a domesticated horse. We decided he would be failed no more. We have taken on the responsibility of this horse. He will need to be gentled, learn to lead, learn to trust humans on the ground so that just basic work like farrier and veterinary work can be done with him. He will eventually then go on to a professional trainer where he will some day be a riding partner for an adopter. This process could take months, it could take years, but we will make sure this horse will not fear humans and will have a quality of life that a feral horse is not able to enjoy. -- Denise Parsons

Venezuelan Beauty

Official Name: Venezuelan Beauty
Birth Year: 2013 Gender: Mare. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue
Beauty boke down in her last race, needing to be hauled off the track Yet she still managed to earn a paycheck for her owner, who then gave her away to a dealer, who sold her at auction and purchased by a kill buyer Beauty was the 5th horse to land in a kill pen out of this trainers barn via owners Beauty earned in her racing career $79,215!
Beauty has had months of rest, treatment and excellent feed. She has been brought along slowly and ready to be a magnificent riding horse She has given pony rides to small children afraid to ride and has been a thrilling ride to those more advanced Beauty is calm, confident and sometimes full of beans She has a herd of friends in her pasture and is easy to get along with
Beauty is ready to do more, under careful watch Platinum Performance is just the supplement product needed to help keep her in best condition due to her extensive injuries

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the co-founder of Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue I was told about Beauty from a friend that had paid to keep her from shipping to Canada to slaughter. She said she had no idea what to do with her My family to this day is in racing I galloped 2 yr olds in training at the Hobeau Farm in Florida as a youth My grandfather had a draft horse, named Beauty. So I shipped Beauty to our Rescue after her quarantine Beauty had a fractured sesamoid bone that splintered into her suspensory She has had many months of rest, treatment and care -- Phyllis Marie Elliott

2021 Honorable Mention

Aldi

Official Name: D.L.R. Aldi
Birth Year: 2010 Gender: Mare. Breed: Norwegian Fjord

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National Center For Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT)
Aldi’s Background:

Aldi was bred by a Norwegian Fjord breeder in Wisconsin in 2010 (NFHR 10-6391-M) and found her way to Sunnyside Farm where she gained extensive therapy and driving experience. She went on to join a lesson program at Footnote Farm in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. There Aldi was part of their lesson program but the program was not what Aldi enjoyed. Her owner felt Aldi was better suited returning to a gentler life with a focus on therapy and the owner reached out to NCEFT to see if we would be interested in Aldi for our physical therapy and occupational therapy programs.

Having just lost one of our Fjord therapy horses to colic, we were anxious to bring another Fjord into our herd. Aldi seemed like a good prospect. We evaluated Aldi at her home in British Columbia and knew very quickly she would be a good fit for our program. We arranged for her to be transported to California and she arrived just one week prior to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order going into effect.

Aldi’s Life as a Therapy Pony:

Our plan when Aldi arrived was to spend two weeks getting her acclimated to her new home and training her for her new job as a therapy pony. Since our facility was closed for a few months (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), we were able to take our time letting Aldi adjust to her new surroundings and introducing her to her new job. Aldi had been long lined (ground driven) previously, so we practiced with her on a regular basis, teaching her new maneuvers and increasing her repertoire. Aldi settled in easily and was amazing to work with. Frequently our therapists use toys in sessions, so we introduced a variety of toys. She was confident with all of the balls, rings and other toys. We did mock sessions to get her accustomed to having sidewalkers in sessions. Since Aldi is very personable, she enjoyed having more people around her. Once NCEFT was able to resume therapy sessions, we used Aldi on a regular basis and it became clear she will be a part of our team for a long time.

A year later, Aldi is well settled in her life here and enjoying her job. She is a very sweet mare who loves attention and responds well to positive feedback. With regular work she has become a consistent, reliable partner. Additionally, Aldi’s natural movement at the walk provides a great deal of input for patients offering them unique physical challenges, a great asset for our therapists.

At NCEFT, and other therapy centers, we ask our equine partners to do a very special job. They help treat patients with physical, learning, emotional and social disabilities. Many of the patients are not well balanced or may have behavioral challenges that affect the therapy horse. Aldi, and our other therapy horses, work each day to help improve the lives of our patients. It is challenging to find therapy horses that are mentally well-suited for the job, and sound. NCEFT is lucky to have Aldi in our program.

Aldi’s Health History:

Well bred and built for therapy work, Aldi is a very solid pony with good conformation. At age 11 she has had few health issues. She does have a regular labored breathing that is unrelated to her work level. This has been diagnosed and no cause has been found. This Spring, she presented acute lameness in her right hind leg. After a veterinary exam we determined she had strained the patella. Ten days of rest resolved the lameness.

Aldi is a very valuable equine partner and she is loved by the many patients she helps treat. We strive to give our horses the best care possible, and would love the opportunity to supplement her diet with Platinum Performance to provide her with excellent nutrition to keep her healthy and enjoying her job.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
The description below was written by Marty Raynor, NCEFT's Barn & Facilities Manager. Aldi is owned by and used in NCEFT's equine-assisted therapy programs.

This application is being submitted by the Development Team at NCEFT. Thank you very much for your consideration! -- Cherie Hammer

Barnaby

Official Name: Barnaby
Birth Year: 2001 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Mixed Breed

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Drifter's Hearts of Hope
Barnaby is not the most typical of nominee for an award: he oozes personality, and this personality occasionally manifests itself in grumpy faces and pinned ears.

However, he is one of the most deserving horses we have ever seen at the rescue. He entered our facility severely underweight, with dozens of cuts and scrapes, and his teeth bared. He learned how to protect himself in any way he could, and that protection came in the form of his teeth and hooves.

Several months after his dramatic entrance into the rescue and our lives, Barnaby has learned quite a bit about kindness, love, and compassion. Instead of being greeted with bared teeth, you are now greeted with a (mildly) begrudgingly friendly hello. Instead of being half-dragged to the pasture at the end of his lead rope, he calmly walks alongside you. He is well-trained under saddle, and is a beautiful mover.

Barnaby will be available for adoption to a fantastic and forever home, that looks past the tough exterior and sees him for what we see in him: a horse that had a rough life and needs to know he can trust you. He is gaited and enjoys trail rides, and hopes his forever family does as well!

This quirky and endearing horse would greatly benefit from Platinum Performance products due to the toll that his previous life took on his body. Recovering from malnourishment is no small feat, and products like Platinum Performance Equine and Platinum Performance GI. Thank you so much for considering Barnaby for your amazing products!

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am a volunteer at Drifter's Hearts of Hope and met Barnaby upon his rescue. -- Colleen O'Hara Fitzpatrick

Cash in the Ticket

Official Name: Cash in the Ticket
Birth Year: 2014 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation
Cash was a good racehorse, earning $145,578 in his 16 starts on the track. Unfortunately, the injury has made him unfit for a racehorse now and he is cleared only for flat work. We feel he will make a great companion horse or trail horse. Cash has a great personality and has endured a month of stall rest being a perfect gentleman. Because of his injury, Cash will require maintenance for the rest of his life to keep him from becoming unsound. Cash is a great nomination for Platinum Performance Horse welfare.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation received Cash in the Ticket from Remington Racetrack after he has suffered an ankle injury. -- Nelda Kettles

Official Name: CJ
Birth Year: 1998 Gender: gelding. Breed: Paint Horse

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Purple Pony Therapeutic Horsemanship Inc.
CJ is a well-loved pony who has worked in Purple Pony Therapeutic Horsemanship's program in LeRoy, NY for seven years. CJ is a humorous pony with tons of personality. He is used for rider evaluations, educational events, and therapeutic lessons. CJ adores snacks but is also very happy to work for hugs. His lips are always moving when he is working. CJ playfully rolls balls to other horses and riders. CJ is also known for photo bombing our Pony Tale video recorded book reading sessions. CJ made his "appearances" as volunteers read to a horse during the COVID lockdown.

CJ is getting older and is starting to show his age more. He has had two bouts with serious laminitis. One required specialized care from a farrier to fashion a set of glue on shoes. CJ wore Easy Cloud boots for a year after that. As he is aging, we watch what he eats carefully and want to be sure that CJ has the appropriate supplements. Our riders adore CJ. We want to keep this little guy happy and healthy as long as possible. Platinum Performance products may help him thrive in his senior years.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
CJ is a senior member of our equine therapy team. He participates in lessons, community events & socialization with riders and other horses. -- Rebecca Donohue

Dollar

Official Name: Dollar
Birth Year: 2002 Gender: Mare. Breed: Quarter Horse

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National Riding Stables Horse Rescue
Dollar is a former western cutting horse, whom we purchased at auction in 2015. She is extremely sweet and lovable and was so highly trained in the specialized skills of a cutting horse that inexperienced riders confused her and she didn't know how to respond. Consequently, Dollar was not used for trail ride customers, but only by our wranglers.

However, it soon became apparent that the hard life of a cutting horse had taken a permanent toll on Dollar's joints and ligaments. Consequently, we retired her from active use in 2017 and she is now trying to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

On good days, Dollar happily trots from the pasture into the barn for her daily feeding and grooming, but on bad days she can barely make the half-mile journey. We have tried all sorts of joint supplements but none seem to have any lasting effect. We would dearly like to try "Platinum Performance® CJ" but the price is almost prohibitive for our budget.

Dollar is only 18 years old and should be able to look forward to many healthy retirement years. We certainly hope that Platinum Performance CJ will help.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Dollar was purchased at auction in 2015 and is owned by National Riding Stables Horse Rescue, a 501c3 horse rescue and sanctuary. -- John A Latschar

Ducky

Official Name: Ducky
Birth Year: 2000 Gender: Mare. Breed: Mixed Breed

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Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
Although she is now in excellent condition and is very lively, Ducky is no longer young. She won’t see 20 again, but given her overall robust health, her prospects for longevity are excellent. While we can’t say for certain, it appears Ducky may have enjoyed a good bit of trail work and ring performance during her prime. She knows her way around an arena and also enjoys a brisk walk about the farm property with an unmounted companion. She has developed arthritis, together with a general “creakiness,” and a prominent bone spur that prevents her from being even pasture sound without the support of Platinum Performance CJ. Ducky has been receiving the joint support formula since early spring of this year and her comfort level has dramatically improved as a result. When Ducky is adopted from the shelter, her new family will be encouraged to keep providing her with Platinum Performance CJ. We believe when something good is going on, keep it going!

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
As Chief Executive Officer of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, a nonprofit horse shelter, I am privileged to be personally acquainted with every horse who comes through the barn doors. Unfortunately, a traumatic barn fire is how I made the acquaintance of Paint mare Ducky and her companion, a mini donkey named Pearl.

It was a bitter cold and windy February night when a fire fully engulfed the barn in southern Maine where Ducky, so-called because a beautiful duck profile is prominent on her forehead, and Pearl were stabled. Thanks to the good work of local officials, including the animal control officers involved, the MSSPA was able to immediately respond to the need for safe shelter for the animals. Truck, trailer, and experienced horse handling staff were dispatched to the scene where, with the help of their distraught but relieved owner, Ducky and Pearl were loaded for a quick trip to New England’s premier horse shelter in Windham, Maine. Both horse and donkey were safely transported and settled into their temporary quarters without incident.

Over the following months, as Ducky and Pearl settled in on the MSSPA farm, their owner dealt with the blow of completely losing his restored 1800s post and beam barn. The devastating loss of the barn also included losing expensive equipment and all the accouterments for the equines and poultry that had been housed within it. Given his personal circumstances and the challenges of re-building, their owner realized that the well-being of both animals was best served by rehoming them. He surrendered them to the Society to facilitate finding the best possible new homes for his girls. Ducky is a great favorite here and I have taken a particular interest in this lovely mare as she has comfortably settled into the routines of life at the River Road Farm. -- Meris J. Bickford

Equinox Declaration

Official Name: Equinox Declaration
Birth Year: 1997 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Lippitt Morgan

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Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Hey! Dobbs is a delightful sturdy registered American Morgan Horse who has been part of our organization since he was 4 years old - and he is now in his 20's. He primarily teaches our more advanced students, some who can how ride without leaders or side walkers, because of his patient and steady nature. He also serves our PARA equestrian athletes and they are so PROUD to train with him! Hey! Dobbs is a kind, handsome, gentle but athletic horse that is adored by everyone that gets to know him.

He has a metabolic issue which makes it difficult to offer treats even though he so deserves them. Hey! Dobbs also has a lot of allergies. For example, a simple mosquito bite swells to the size of a tangerine and renders him itchy and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, most insect repellants create an allergic reaction and give him a rash. Platinum Performance Products would benefit him in so many ways, particularly Platinum Performance® CJ and/or Platinum Skin & Allergy. It would be delightful to reward this amazing horse with better nutritional support as he ages and allow him greater comfort during insect season! He is so worthy of this wonderful opportunity for greater health and comfort through the use of such well regarded and researched equine products.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am executive director of Therapeutic Riding, Inc. and was intrigued by this horse because of his stable name, "Hey! Dobbs" It seemed like such a homely name for such a beautiful horse - and such a deviation from his proper name, "Equinox Declaration". -- Tammera Bollman

Explosive Cloud (Vander)

Official Name: Vander
Birth Year: 2014 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Second Wind Thoroughbred Project
Vander was an accident-prone youngster. As a weanling, he was playing with other young horses, reared up and came down on the top of a fence post, and literally got stuck there! He now has slight thickening of the muscle right between his front legs. Despite that, he is a very lovely hunter-type mover. When he was a two year old, he was rolling near the fence, got his hind leg stuck under the bottom board, and ended up with a huge piece of wood splinter right through his gaskin. This required surgery to remove. The day he arrived at our farm, he cut his neck almost down to the jugular vein, and had many stitches. When he was just a four year old, he was teaching kids to jump x-rails, and he was amazing out on trails. He has a puppy dog personality, although he is big, lanky 17.1 hand guy. As a five year old he was diagnosed with EPM, and was successfully treated. This spring he got pasture-associated string halt and sporadic pharyngeal paralysis from a plant called False Dandelion. This poor, sweet gelding has had a hard time! He is on the mend now, and is currently on Magnesium, Vitamin E, and Thiamine. I am sure Platinum Performance products would really help him to heal faster and get back to being a wonderful hunter prospect.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
This horse was placed in our program 11/15/2017, as a two year old. -- Dayle Eldredge

Hamish

Official Name: Hamish
Birth Year: 1984 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Quarter Horse

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Horse Feathers Equine Center Inc.
Hamish was abandoned on a property in Tuttle Oklahoma and left for years from what the new property owner can tell. He was emaciated and in very poor shape on intake. He has come a long way and when having his dental done we found out he is 36-38 years old! How he lived that long we don't know. He stands around with his tongue out all the time and has such a personality. He has no voice so when he tries to whiney it comes out as a whistle. He has gained a LOT of weight and such a sweet old man after all he has been through. Hamish will live his life out here at Horse Feathers and be utilized with the Ole Timers Seniors Program so the elderly can groom on him.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
President of Horse Feathers, Caretaker of Hamish daily. He was surrendered to us and I was there to do his intake -- Cheri White Owl

Haynesfield Best

Official Name: Haynesfield Best
Birth Year: 2014 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Friends of Ferdinand Inc
Earlier in 2021 Friends of Ferdinand (FFI) received a thoroughbred named Haynesfield Best into our program from our TAA partner, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA). We are so excited that Haynesfield is in our barn. Haynesfield Best, out of Don't Tsacha Me, by AP Indy started his life at the renowned WinStar Farm. He went on to race 46 times, earning just shy of 95 times, mostly racing at Penn National. Haynesfield Best ended his career in Puerto Rico running once at Camarero in PR after a rough shipping transport in a group shipping container to the island. After that start where he came up lame, he was placed on the euthanasia list and CTA intervened on his behalf.
When horses retire from racing in Puerto Rico, their next step is uncertain. There are not many riding stables on the island, and really the best chance these horses have to find a home is to get back to the mainland. Friends of Ferdinand and CTA shared our plans and raised the funds from racing enthusiasts, connections, as well as horse lovers and advocates to get him a comfortable flight and transport to Indiana. This is our second year running our fundraiser "Ponies of the Caribbean" to save horses from Puerto Rico and it has been rewarding for everyone involved in their care. The horses receive a great deal of positive attention from the local community and Haynesfield Best was lucky enough to fly back to the continental US. ,Every horse that enters the FFI program receives a veterinary intake exam and his exam determined that he would not be approved to be a riding horse without surgery to remove a chip and clean up and mitigate the arthritic damage in his knee. This surgery was completed at Purdue University at the end of April and he is just getting cleared for the round pen turnout phase of his rehab. He would greatly benefit from supplements to shorten his recovery time and transition him to his training! CTA and FFI have invested in Haynesfield in order to get him righted onto a path that he is sound and has a non-racing skill set that will help keep him safe for the rest of his life. His foster mom thinks he will be a great trail mount or a 4-H partner because he is so calm, easy going, and lovable. Haynesfield has shown great appreciation for all of the love and attention and has even benefited from Masterson bodywork classes being done at his farm. The tension release has been so helpful to him. Although he is only 7years young, his body has been pounded. FFI wants to give him all available opportunities to smoothly transition to his next career and find his match. We hope you are moved by his journey and find the partnership a good match to provide him Platinum Performance products as a part of his success story.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Haynesfield Best is a horse in the Friends of Ferdinand organization. I am a board member and coordinated his transfer from the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare organization in Puerto Rico to give him a chance to find his match on the mainland through our process to rehab, retrain and rehome. -- Diana Cooper

Lady

Official Name: Lady
Birth Year: 2003 Gender: Mare. Breed: Belgian Draft

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HETRA - Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy
As one of the only draft horses in our program, Lady holds a special place within the hearts of the HETRA community. She is kind, peaceful, and always willing to learn new things. Lady would benefit from the Platinum Performance products specifically for hoof and gastrointestinal health. Below is more information and an inspirational story about Lady, as told by HETRA’s CEO, Therapist, and Instructor, Edye Godden.

“Lady is an 18 year-old Percheron mare who joined the HETRA Herd in 2016. Lady quickly has found her place as the gentle giant of our program. Her height and enormous size gets her noticed by all that come through the barn. Her kind and caring eyes and gentle demeanor allows those that meet her to remember her. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Lady in our Adaptive Riding and Therapy Services programs. Often when people first meet her they are awe of her size and beauty but nervous due to how big she really is. It does not take Lady long though to convince them that she truly is a gentle giant. Whether it be Veteran doing grooming or an individual with a disability riding, participants always walk away from Lady with a greater sense of confidence.

“I can think of one situation a few years ago when I had a young rider that really wanted to ride but was afraid to get on. Due to his fear, our first attempt was with a smaller Haflinger in our program named Waldo. Although Waldo did everything he needed to do, we were just not able to overcome this young boys fear and get him mounted onto the horse. We decided to have him come back during a time when the barn was quiet. After a short period of time, he was able to overcome his fear and mount and ride Waldo for that first session. At the end of that first session, Lady came around the corner and he said I want to ride that horse next time! I was very surprised by this request and a little reluctant to grant it given his initial fear, but he was insistent so I said ‘let's give it a try!’ Lady as always stood stock still for her mount and was steady as could be throughout the session. The smile on his face was priceless and, once again, I was in awe of how this amazing horse helped this young boy conquer his fear.

“That was a few years ago and that boy rode with a leader and two sidewalkers. Today he rides Lady completely independently and together they are starting to trot! They truly have an amazing bond.

“I have one more story to share about Lady. Our organization was called upon by Make-a-Wish Foundation for a young girl. The girl's wish was to ride a unicorn. We could not think of a better Unicorn than Lady. Lady had to go through some additional training as her "role" as a unicorn was going to require her to walk through fog, go into the magical forest and make a wish at the wishing well! As always, Lady took this training in stride and was ready when the day came. It truly was a magical day and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when Lady ‘the unicorn’ walked through the fog and made her entrance and the young girl saw that her wish was coming true. Lady made the entire wish so special, she was a rock star as always - calm and steady and amazing! Not every horse gets to be a unicorn but we feel Lady is a unicorn for sure in our herd.”

Attached is a photo of Lady as a unicorn with the Make-a-Wish participant, her family, and our staff members. It was truly a day to remember.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I came to know this horse as a staff member at HETRA. I became the Development Specialist at HETRA three years ago, but have gotten to know her much better as I became a PATH Intl. certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor this past year.

However, the quote below comes from our CEO, Edye Godden, who has worked with Lady as an Occupational Therpaist and PATH Intl. certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor since 2016. -- Lucia Charvat

Leon Royale

Official Name: Leon Royale
Birth Year: 2007 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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R.A.C.E Fund, Inc.
We are nominating Leon because first of all he is one of the smartest and kindest horses we have ever met. He is a gentle giant. Leon is built like a tank and he is the alpha horse of our sanctuary herd. Nothing gets by Leon, he supervises everything that goes on in his pasture territory from the farrier, the vet and anyone coming through the gate. Everyone loves him and gets a kick out of how he is on top of everything. He is very sweet and loves carrots and peppermints. Leon was very fast during his racing career and unfortunately sustained knee injuries. He has inoperable chips in both knees and has arthritis. We have him on a natural joint supplement but we are always open to trying new supplements so we thought Leon might benefit from a Platinum Performance joint supplement product.

Thank you for allowing us to nominate Leon Royale.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Our organization rescued Leon Royale aka Leon from going to slaughter in 2012. Leon was adopted in 2013 as a companion horse until 2016 when his adopter could no longer afford to keep him. We brought him back home and he is now a sanctuary horse and the alpha horse and leader of our sanctuary horses. -- Marlene Murray

Lightning Bolt

Official Name: Lightning Bolt
Birth Year: 1991 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Pony

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The Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc.
We don’t know much about Lightning’s background prior to coming to The Shane Center. He was 8 years old when we got him, and he had been used for the family’s kids to ride. When the family couldn’t keep him any longer, they reached out to The Shane Center. Their hope was that he would be able to continue to do what he loved most, serving as a trusted and reliable mount for children.
Lightning is akin to a Jack Russel Terrier. He doesn’t view himself as a small, 10-hand pony. Lightning holds his own with the other horses and if there is something worth being the boss over, he makes sure the 16 and 17-hand horses know that he is the boss! Lightning is very friendly, yet astute, and he appreciates being called “handsome” rather than “cute”.
Along the way we taught Lightning to drive so he could pull an adult and child around in a two wheeled cart. He excels at both riding and driving and was used in Pony Club and 4-H. Lightning will carry the tiniest of riders around as if he is walking on eggshells. He will help the older kids learn to steer and stay balanced when they are learning to ride independently.
On more than one occasion, we had a tiny girl who had to ride mostly prone (lying on her stomach facing the tail) because her trunk was so weak and Lightning would go along nice and slow and easy and then just refuse to move. Moments later the child would have a seizure. I believe Lightning could sense the electrical field of the child and knew to stand still, even though we were trying to make him keep walking. We learned after that to listen to Lightning and consider that he was feeling or sensing something we were not.
Lightning is now 30 years old and in great health. He is a little slower than he used to be, and he does occasionally have a stifle that locks up. He would benefit greatly from Platinum Performance Products for supporting his overall wellness, performance, and longevity.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the Executive Director of The Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship. Many years ago, I received a call from a lady about a pony she wanted to donate to a therapeutic riding program. I scheduled a time to go see the pony. It was just far enough away that I decided to take the horse trailer, along with a volunteer who is much shorter than I, with the hopes she could actually ride the pony for a thorough evaluation. I also brought along my 3 yr. old daughter, Gabriella, who loved all things involved with horses.
The owner had the pony out in the yard when we arrived and my daughter immediately asked, “That my pony?” I explained that if this pony was a nice pony, then he would be used in our lesson program, but that she would also be able to ride him if we decided to take him home. As we were getting out of the truck, Gabriella immediately went to the back of the trailer and tried to reach the handles saying, “put my pony in!”
Unfortunately, the pony was way too small for my volunteer to ride, so I evaluated him with groundwork and tested his reactions to pressure. I saddled him up, lunged him, and decided he was quiet enough to put Gabriella on with me holding her tightly, just in case. But the pony was a gem. He was respectful, yielded well, and was obedient. He had a bit of pep to his gait, and I could tell he would benefit from being put back into a program of regular riding and training.
Fast forward 22 years and that same pony, which we named Lightning Bolt, (because Gabriella wanted him to be fast like lightning), is STILL giving lessons to the tiniest of riders at The Shane Center! He is sound and healthy, although a little slower and wiser. -- Karen M. Sanchez

Midnight

Official Name: Midnight
Birth Year: 1999 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Pony

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Ridin' High, Inc.
Midnight is a gentle and unassuming 12 hh black pony and has had an incredible impact on countless lives.

His former career included being a fair pony, where his stellar temperament and exposure to many things made him absolutely bombproof.

In his current career, he is used at our therapeutic riding center as an incredible and well-loved therapy horse. He has taught dozens of children to safely ride at our center, including those who are 'challenged' with autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and other conditions. Additionally, he is our 'go to' pony for any person who is anxious or nervous about meeting horses for the first time. We use Midnight to let the person safely interact with an equine, including brushing, leading, etc.

Furthermore, Midnight is a great advocate for our therapeutic riding program and travels to numerous events for persons with disabilities. Wherever he goes, he is surrounded by many fans, including those with severe disabilities. At times, he's has 2-3 wheelchairs surrounding him and never moves a muscle!

Midnight is also used for our equine literacy program, "Pony Partners," where he travels to local schools so that challenged children can interact with him there. He is able to be safely used for all groundwork activities / horsemanship lessons, and can be led from both manual and motorized wheelchairs in any setting.

We have a myriad of stories about Midnight--but his impact might be summed up by the fact that the family of his young fans (who very tragically passed away from her condition) has a photo of Midnight on her grave.

His incredible temperament and huge impact on literally hundreds of people through the years. We feel that this qualifies Midnight for this award.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Director/Riding Instructor at Ridin' High Therapeutic Riding Center. Midnight is used for therapeutic riding lessons, as a traveling representative to various events, and for our "Pony Partners" literacy program. -- Linda Joyce Bird

Misty

Official Name: Bells Misty Meadows
Birth Year: 2001 Gender: Mare. Breed: Quarter Horse

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Nature's Edge Therapy Center
I am nominating Misty for the Platinum Performance Horse Welfare Award because of her fantastic temperament and wonderful work as a therapy horse. Misty was born here at Nature’s Edge and has been used for showing, both WSCA shows and 4H, hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. Misty is a very calm, steady, level-headed mare. She is loved by everyone here at Nature’s Edge and is one of the favorites due to her loving and calm personality and temperament. I believe Misty would benefit from Platinum Performance products greatly. Misty is one of the main therapy horses so she is still very active day to day. Due to this, we like to help her with joint, hoof, and digestive supplements to ensure she is still healthy and feeling her best.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the barn manager of Nature’s Edge Therapy Center. I came to know Misty back in 2013 when I first started as a volunteer at Nature’s Edge before moving into the barn manager position. As the barn manager, I am in charge of the care of Misty. This includes feeding, scheduling vet, farrier, chiropractic, exercising, and general daily care. -- Cassandra Niederhauser

Noffy

Official Name: Noffy
Birth Year: 1997 Gender: Mare. Breed: Icelandic Horse

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Dreams on Horseback
Noffy, our smallest horse at the barn began her life in Iceland. Brought to this country as a child's riding pony, Noffy found her greatest calling as a therapeutic riding pony. This amazing mare's demeanor makes her the target of more affection than she probably needs by the countless riders and volunteers that cannot resist her wild "hair do" and the hearts that her groom creates on her hind quarters each time she is body clipped to remove the formidable coat that Icelandics are known for. Noffy, though advancing in years, does her job joyfully. She not only carries our "littles" but also pitches in for smaller adults with cerebral palsy that require a narrow horse to accomodate their spastic pelvic girdle. Her short stature also helps sidewalkers support our riders with the greatest need for physical support to stay on the horse. Each week Noffy participates in twelve hours of therapeutic riding lessons and has the perfect demeanor as pool noodles swing over her head, basketballs are shot from her back, and children do "the macarena" with great enthusiasm while sitting atop her. Noffy embraces her work as if she knows the importance of what she does. If she does not, we certainly do and would love to be able to treat her with the extra comfort that Platinum Performance supplements can bring to an aging horse. Platinum Performance joint support products would be used to pull Noffy's phsyical age in line with her mental age of being "a filly at heart". We hope you will consider this hard working pony to become the recipient of a platinum performance award.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Noffy came to us a lease from one of our most vivacious therapeutic riding instructors. Noffy was her childhood pony that was purchased for her by her mother. Since then she has become a beloved therapy horse, first at a center in North Carolina and then moved to Columbus, Ohio with her owner. The two continue to work together every Wednesday evening in her owner's therapeutic riding lessons. -- Ellen Elizabeth Lee

Orion

Official Name: Orion
Birth Year: 2013 Gender: Gelding. Breed: American Saddlebred

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New Mexico Horse Rescue at Walkin N Circles Ranch
I chose Orion because he truly deserves a bright future. He has so much to offer a new forever family. Just because he isn't considered top show quality, it doesn't make him any less of a perfect partner for someone.

Orion was born in 2013 and raised to be a national Saddlebred show horse. Due to incorrect farrier work, over time he developed one front club foot (very upright hoof). Unfortunately, this eliminated any possibility for Orion to be a top level show horse. Realizing this, his owners sought us out to find him a forever home where he would be given a purpose and be loved.

Thankfully, his condition causes him no pain, but it requires him to have shoes done by a reputable farrier who understands proper technique for managing this type of condition. This has scared some potential adopters away, though his condition doesn't stop him from having three solid gaits and a friendly willing demeanor. Most of Orion’s experience has been in the arena and he's quite suitable for an intermediate/advanced rider seeking a willing horse partner to grow with. He has a very gentle personality and loves being with people, so we're doing everything we can to find a place where he'll have a purposeful life and a bright future.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Orion was recently surrendered to New Mexico Horse Rescue at Walkin N Circles Ranch when it was determined he was not going to meet the stringent criteria for the Saddlebred show circuit. As President of Walkin N Circles Ranch, I was approached by Orion's former owners as they were seeking a way to ensure a bright future for Orion with a new forever family. They knew our history of successful adoptions and felt Orion would be in good hands with us. -- Lauri Michael

Repeat

Official Name: Just After Dark
Birth Year: 2000 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Quarter Horse

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Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite
Repeat is a beautiful bay AQHA trained in Western, English, Driving and provides lessons to individuals with disabilities in a range of activities from barrel racing to dressage and trail patterns.

He is an older gentleman at the age of 23 and requires excellent care to provide equine therapy for his clients.

Repeat has provided thousands of hours of equine therapy to fragile riders. With every step he has kept them safe, built their confidence and given them wings. We are so grateful for this wonderful horse and his generous spirit.

Repeat would benefit from Platinum Performance Products supporting his health and welfare. Platinum Performance Products would give him optimal nutrition and development.
Thank you for this opportunity Platinum Performance Products!

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I met Just After Dark, aka Repeat, 4 years ago when I began instructing individuals with disabilities at Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite. Being a PATH certified instructor for riding & driving, I was impressed by Repeat’s intelligence, communication and ability.
Repeat is a strong minded but gentle horse with strong opinions. He made it clear that certain tack, riders and jobs were preferred by being willing and amiable, yet unapproved activities made him a big old grump. We started our driving program in 2018 and Repeat was my top choice as he was so much fun to ground drive. He excelled at driving and is calm, safe and a great mover under harness.
Repeat’s other favorite role is babysitter to the little riders. He loves the littles and moves delicately to support them from barrels to the obstacle course. Repeat’s whole demeanor changes when a small child enters the barn. He brightens up and shows them so much love.
I’ve never met a more versatile and intelligent horse than Repeat. He truly is a legend. -- Jennifer Mathis

Romeo

Official Name: Romeo
Birth Year: 1984 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Arabian

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The Horse Protection League
Romeo has been at the Horse Protection League for over 18 non-consecutive years. He recovered from mild behavioral issues and a broken neck to become a favorite horse in our community. He is used for our summer Pony Pals Camp, as well as our Devereux (high-risk children) partnering and has helped many other humans in his time here. As any proper Arabian would be, Romeo can be sweet and friendly, or spicy and full of tricks! He was a 2nd level dressage horse at one point, but with his neck injury he was retired and surrendered to us to find a new life path. Romeo is available for adoption, but if he isn't adopted, he will live here for the rest of his life in comfort and among friends. Romeo is in his late twenties to early thirties and with his age he can seasonally struggle to maintain a healthy weight. We would love the opportunity to manage his weight more effectively with the Platinum Performance products so he may continue to live comfortably while helping the individuals this ranch welcomes.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
This horse was nominated by the Horse Protection League's head trainer, Margaret Blaha, who has known and worked with Romeo for years. I am the League's grant writer who is submitting the information. -- Tana Orman

Sebastian

Official Name: Sebastian
Birth Year: 2004 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Belgian Draft

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High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Sebastian joined our herd in June of 2018. This unassuming 16.1 hand Canadian Warmblood gelding did not come with an impressive resume - just your average "family horse". While he was dearly loved by his family, his asthma had become a problem for their high activity level and they needed to find him a job where'd he be active but not overworked.

Being younger than our average intake (14 years old) and sound made him an attractive candidate for our therapeutic riding programs. We are experienced at managing horses with equine asthma (24/7 turnout, feed tailored to minimize dust and medical intervention as needed), so that was not a deterrent for us. Sebastian's asthma has a seasonal component, so managing his allergies is key.

Luckily, not only is Sebastian's asthma fairly mild and easily controlled with management including supplements but he has turned out to be a huge asset to our programs.
Being of good bone and weight carrying ability, while not overly tall, he has become the "go to" horse for our larger adult riders who need more significant physical support from staff and volunteers on the ground. Many of these riders also mount via a mechanized lift that hoists them from the mounting ramp out over Sebastian's back, where they are then lowered to be sitting astride. He is perfectly mannered for all the goings on that the mounts and rides can involve, including having a rider who may be unbalanced or have very high or very low muscle tone and support staff who are leaning on him as they reach to help the rider from the ground. He's a gem.

Finding these special horses is no easy thing. So once we have them, we want to keep them as healthy and well as is possible. Donations of supplies to help us attain this goal are critical to keeping our operating budget reasonable while not ever leaving our horses in need of any resource that will help them feel their best.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Equine manager at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Inc. -- Holly Sundmacker

Sequana

Official Name: Sequana
Birth Year: 2012 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Second Chance Thoroughbreds Inc.
Sequana is a thoroughbred who raced 70 times, his last race was in February 2021 in Puerto Rico. Thanks to public pressure, he was retired to the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare organization (CTA). Sequana originally raced at the Finger Lakes Race Track in New York until 2018. He was then listed for sale, but was sold to continue racing in Puerto Rico. Sequana did win one race in April of 2019, but in his remaining 27 races he finished at the back of the field, consistently racing twice a month. In Puerto Rico, there are no medication rules and horses can race on pain killers. Sequana's journey back to the states was not an easy one. He developed shipping fever on his trip from Florida to New York. Sequana was very sick and was put on high dose antibiotics, it was touch and go for a couple of days; but Sequana is a fighter and he pulled through. Sequana has osselets in both ankles and limited flexion, he is suitable as a pleasure, trail horse and even occasional jumping. Sequana travels soundly and wears front shoes. Sequana is very willing under saddle with a happy go lucky attitude, although not for a beginner rider (he definitely feeds off the rider's energy and appreciates a confident rider). Sequana is very sweet and sensitive, he loves attention and getting to roll in the mud, but grooming not so much. Sequana is very sensitive to insects, so an allergy/skin supplement could be helpful. Sequana would also benefit from a joint supplement after his long racing career.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am director of Second Chance Thoroughbreds, Inc. and came to know Sequana working with the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare organization. -- Collette Duddy

Shiloh

Official Name: Shiloh
Birth Year: 1997 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Quarter Horse

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Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy
Shiloh joined the Southern Reins team on a cool, crisp day in November of 2019 - and from the moment he stepped off the trailer, we knew he was going to be a great addition to our program. Shiloh came to us as a loan from his owner, and he had previously been a trail mount for public tours of Shelby Farms Park. This adorable 14-hand chestnut Quarter Horse was the horse we had been looking for for quite a while, as we had been searching for a smaller horse with a sturdy build. Shiloh has the most expressive eyes that share his kind heart and gentle nature, and though he may be a bit older, those eyes shine bright because he loves what he does.

Over the past year and a half, Shiloh has been one of our most trusted and consistent therapy horses. He has a kind disposition that puts his participants at ease, and our staff and volunteers love him for his easy going nature and versatility. Shiloh is used in our adaptive horseback riding program, Occupational Therapy incorporating Hippotherapy program, Making Strides Recreation Therapy Program, Unbridled Horsemanship, and our PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes program.

As an older gentleman, he requires special care to make sure he puts his best hoof forward every day so that he can serve people with disabilities and hardship to celebrate their ABILITY. Shiloh is on a strict no-hay diet due to age-related dental issues and requires daily Equioxx to help with inflammation from arthritis. To keep Shiloh feeling his best, he would benefit greatly from Platinum Performance Metabolic Support. If chosen as a Platinum Performance Equine Welfare Award recipient, Shiloh will benefit greatly in maintaining healthy metabolic function so he can help his participants SHINE as bright as his copper penny coat.

Thank you Platinum Performance for considering the incomparable Shiloh!

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Executive Director of Southern Reins. I came to know Shiloh on day one when he arrived, and he has been a valuable part of our program since his first lesson! -- Jill A. Haag

Smokin Blackjack

Official Name: Smokin Blackjack
Birth Year: 2016 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Win Place Home, Inc.
Smokin Blackjack, or BJ, broke his leg at Santa Anita at then end of 2020. He had arthrodesis surgery to repair it which included a plate, screws, and a wire. His chances for survival were slim, but he had a chance. He was donated to Win Place Home December 14, 2020 and has been rehabbing with us ever since. He will never be able to be ridden but we will try to find him a home as either a companion pet or as a non riding therapy horse. He is very sweet and kind. He knows that he hurt himself so he understands that we are taking care of him. He went from a very successful racing career to being stall bound in a blink of an eye. He won 3 out of his 12 starts. He was a barn favorite at the track and he is a barn favorite here. All the volunteers love to spend time with him and groom him. Because of his injury, he would benefit greatly from the Platinum Performance products, especially the Platinum Performance CJ which not only will help with his bone health, but his joint and soft tissue health.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the founder of Win Place Home and we acquired Smokin Blackjack December 2020. -- Chandra Jolie Marinaccio

Street to Indy

Official Name: Street to Indy
Birth Year: 2013 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc.
Street came to us from Arkansas, following his racing career. He was a champion, winning 6 races in 40 starts over his racing career. He came to Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc to begin a second successful career - consistent with our Mission.

Out Mission is to: Rehabilitate, retrain, and re-home off track Thoroughbred horses and afford community youth the opportunity to experience the process.

We begin work with Indy today! I led him to the Jogging Machine, and he happily jumped in and began his training program.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
Streetto Indy arrived at Thoroughbred Athletes, just yesterday. He is a "War horse" having raced 40 times over his racing career, from 2016-2020. He won 6 races, and earned over $236,000, during his career. -- Charles S. Tanner

Thomas

Official Name: Thomas
Birth Year: 2006 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Norwegian Fjord

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High & Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center
I am nominating Thomas because of the exceptional versatility he has shown over the last ten years that he has been used as a therapeutic horse. Below is a list of how he is used in program:
-Riding- some of our most challenging participants ride Thomas. They are people who use a wheelchair or have severe mobility issues. Thomas can use a traditional dressage saddle or an adaptive saddle with a back and arms for people who need the additional support. Thomas can also be used with our SureHands Full Body Support Lift. This lifts a person out of their wheelchair and gently lowers them on the back of the equine. It is a machine and is suspended from the ceiling and runs on a track, so it takes a special horse to stand still for this.
-Driving-some of our participants who use a wheelchair prefer to start out driving. We have a custom made, wheelchair accessible driving carriage. Thomas excels at driving and many participants enjoy the benefits that carriage driving brings.
-Working with veterans-We have programming for combat veterans, and some of them use a wheelchair. Thomas is a favorite in this program. He has the confidence and strength that appeals to this population. The picture I have chosen speaks volumes about who Thomas helps. Recently this rider gave a speech that was printed in our local papers. Below is a portion.

Ian Delaney, who is a participant at High & Mighty, also spoke. He is a combat veteran who uses a wheelchair and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injury. Ian noted, “Regardless of having the worst of days, to the worst of weeks, both physically and otherwise, it all seems to subside the second I pull up to the barn.” When addressing the challenges of riding a horse he states, “After all, who wouldn’t want to go from a seat with four wheels, to a saddle with four legs, eight feet up in the air?”

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I am the development director at High & Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center. I first met Thomas in 2012, when I was a volunteer with program. -- Dianne Ortmann

Zee-Oh-Six

Official Name: Zee-Oh-Six
Birth Year: 1999 Gender: Gelding. Breed: Thoroughbred

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Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc.
Zee is a classic War Horse, having won 12 of the 47 races he was entered in, over his racing career. He was voted Oklahoma Horse of the Year three different years! He the went onto have a second successful career as a Hunter/Jumper.

Today, Zee is a "farm favorite" and our Ambassador at Thoroughbred Athletes, inc. He turned Twenty One this year, as is still the dominant horse out in our pastures!

I have included a profile of Zee Oh Six with this application.

Relationship of Nominator to Nominee
I have worked with Zee Oh Six, at Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc. in Guthrie, Oklahoma for 5 years. He is our resident Ambassador - showing the longevity and flexibility of Thoroughbreds for many career options - even after their racing careers are over! -- Charles S. Tanner

2021 Platinum Performance
Horse Welfare Award Recipients

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2021 Platinum Performance Horse Welfare Award Recipients

2021 Platinum Performance
Horse Welfare Award Recipients