Thanks to you, PonyUP! Kentucky Donates $500 to Old Friends

As much as we love talking to you on Facebook and posting new blogs on our website, this is our favorite type of communication: Sharing the story of our latest donation to a terrific horse rescue organization.

In late March, our founder Rallie sent a $500 check to Old Friends. From all of us at PonyUP! Kentucky, thank you for helping us help Old Friends do what they do best. Caring for horses.

Old Friends began as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. Then news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002. The discovery gave even more impetus to the organization.

“We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds,” noted President and founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must never happen again. And so the plan became to bring at risk racehorses–those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end–to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.”

Old Friends is the only Thoroughbred rescue/retirement facility that accepts stallions, and they take exceptional pride in their pensioned champions, which include 1988 Eclipse-winning Turf Champion, Sunshine Forever and one of the last great sons of Damascus, Ogygian. In addition to the pensioned stallions, Old Friends is home to some very deserving retired mares and geldings. (See Our Horses).

Old Friends hosts tours daily at its Georgetown, Kentucky, farm. While their guests come to visit a few retired racehorses, they leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero. Learn more about Old Friends at www.OldFriendsEquine.org.