Retired horses find new
homes on Adoption Day
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), Freehold, held its first adoption day on Aug. 8, in conjunction with the Festival of Horses at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Upper Freehold Township.
Nearly 20 SRF horses looking for homes were brought to the event, with about 1,000 of the 5,600 people in attendance visiting them in their stalls. The horses were also ridden, driven or led by volunteers in the park’s main arena to show them to potential adopters.
Pre-approved adopters could select the horse of their choice and take them home that day, and eight horses left the park for a new home that day. Three more were adopted within a few days of the event, and 100 applications were requested by those interested in adopting a horse in the future.
Though 39 horses have been placed for adoption since July 1, more than 100 remain to be placed. Many of the horses remaining are older or not sound enough to be regularly ridden, and thus unattractive to potential adopters. Those horses are cared for at a network of foster homes at a cost to the SRF averaging $150 per month. Of the 11 horses placed at the Horse Park event, only one was less than completely sound.
Those who might like to adopt or help sponsor a horse awaiting adoption can contact the SRF at www.adoptahorse.org or (732) 462-8773. SRF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.