The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) has made it the group’s mission to increase education and encourage awareness for the Indiana horse racing industry. As the nonprofit group prepares to host its third annual Stallions and Services Auction in mid-December, it reflects on the efforts of the board members in support of that mission.
Educational pursuits including free webinars on nutrition and an eye-opening seminar on barn fires were offered to not only members of the horse racing community, but horse owners in the Midwest region looking to continue their education. The seminar focused on not only prevention of barn fires, but how owners can best prepare their farm for rescues, how they can protect themselves with insurance and the legalities of such disasters. To end the year, the ITA sponsored a seminar to help breeders prepare for foaling and breeding season at Breakway Farm.
It’s only fitting that a group of breeders are passionate about their broodmares. Because of this, every year the ITA donates towards the Friends of Ferdinand’s Broodmare Bunch, a program to help retrain and rehome broodmares. The program was introduced in March 2021 and has since expanded to now be a division of the Retired Racehorse Program’s Thoroughbred Makeover.
“We are so grateful to receive this generous donation,” says Erin Smith, vice president of FFI. “It will be used in servicing our broodmares that stand in the program for rehabilitation and retraining to further the process of working towards their third career and find them their forever homes.”
The donation will be used to continue offering services for approved retired Thoroughbred broodmares in their efforts to be retrained for a third career.
A donation of $2,000 was made towards Children’s TherAplay, a foundation that provides assistance to Central Indiana children with disabilities. Innovative therapies using horses as a treatment tool for physical, occupational and speech therapy. A special tie-in for the donation was to see a retired Thoroughbred racehorse working his third career as a therapy horse.
“It’s amazing to see a retired Thoroughbred thriving in the role as a therapy horse,” says Sharon Baker, ITA board member who personally made the donation. “Children’s TherAplay has helped so many children, including my own nephew.”
The ITA recognized retired jockey and current leader of backside ministries at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Otto Thorworth, for his tireless dedication to the men and women working alongside Indiana racehorses. For the third year in a row, the ITA’s donation towards the Otto Thorworth Ministries are just a small way to thank him for sharing his passion.
Each year the ITA works to utilize the funds generated from its Stallions and Services Auction, an event that highlights premier stallions from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida, as well as desired services such as stallion photography packages, veterinarian services and marketing. All proceeds from the auction go right back into the Indiana horse industry. The ITA board is comprised of Indiana Thoroughbred breeders, owners and horsemen who are dedicated to not only the betterment of the Indiana industry, but the horse racing industry across the country.
“The board is forever grateful for the farms, owners and businesses that continue to support the ITA in its one-of-a-kind mission,” says Christine Cagle, ITA board member and chairperson of the ITA SSA. “We hope to continue to grow the ITA’s outreach in the years to come.”
The 2022 edition of the ITA Stallions and Services Auction will be hosted on Starquine.com and will kick off on Friday, December 16 at 10:00 am EST and end at 5:00 pm EST December 19. More information on the ITA Indiana Breeders Crisis Fund, the Broodmare Bunch and the Third Annual ITA Stallions and Services Auction can be found on the ITA website: https://www.indianatb.org
