Poor Sylvester, no one wants him!

[Laurierace]

Sylvester was reluctantly retired from racing last fall at the age of 12. He retired completely sound, and was placed on the waiting list at the rescue. He was introduced to the gelding herd and spends much of his time outside with his new buddies. We tried that for a couple of months, but it was clear that he was unhappy. He is an athlete and needs a job to do. So I had the trainer start him in full training for eventing. I thought it would make him more adoptable as the perfect home is very important to me.
He has been in training 6 days a week for five months now. This is easily the fittest he has ever been in his life. I can't even get anyone to come take a look at him.
So now I have a fit, healthy horse that wants an activity. He is going back to the track tomorrow. He will remain on the waiting list, and as soon as he has a new home he will be re-retired.
I hope I am making the right decision, but I don't know what else to do. Here goes nothing!

[ragsdaj]

not sure what rescue list he's on, but have you considered donating to a police department?

[summerhorse]

Have you tried listing him on various sites like the one that comes up above here or rescue groups pages. Where are you located? You could also offer him on lease to a junior rider or 4-Her maybe. I'm sure someone would be happy to have him, they just don't know about him. Chronicle of the Horse has paid advertising forums as well as free horses (I would assume that includes free leases) forums at no charge and that would def. reach more of your target audience. You could post links in the hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage and racing forums. But be sure and include where the horse is and some full body pictures. Can't tell much from a head shot or racing pictures. They all look pretty there but his conformation would have to suit whatever discipline someone is participating in. From what I see he looks like a pretty boy! So I think maybe you just haven't reached the right audience yet.

[BJ]

Sylvester was reluctantly retired from racing last fall at the age of 12. He retired completely sound, and was placed on the waiting list at the rescue. He was introduced to the gelding herd and spends much of his time outside with his new buddies. We tried that for a couple of months, but it was clear that he was unhappy. He is an athlete and needs a job to do. So I had the trainer start him in full training for eventing. I thought it would make him more adoptable as the perfect home is very important to me.
He has been in training 6 days a week for five months now. This is easily the fittest he has ever been in his life. I can't even get anyone to come take a look at him.
So now I have a fit, healthy horse that wants an activity. He is going back to the track tomorrow. He will remain on the waiting list, and as soon as he has a new home he will be re-retired.
I hope I am making the right decision, but I don't know what else to do. Here goes nothing!

Laurie,

Please post a picture of Sylvester and how much you are asking for him. I'm not in your area (and I don't ride), but I'm sure if he's as nice a horse as you say he is, someone nearer to you would be interested, especially if he's already been in training for a second career.

I checked your website out and only saw this little article, which is apparently from a couple of years ago, if he is 12 now.
http://www.mcdowellracingstables.com/article.gif

[BJ]

not sure what rescue list he's on, but have you considered donating to a police department?

Hi Jon,

I'm not too sure I would wish a police career on any horse. They are walking on concrete a lot and it is incredibly hard on their feet and bones. Not to mention, they aren't exactly taken care of. Most cops aren't McCleod, unfortunately

[Laurierace]

Here is the link for the rescue that Sylvester is listed at. To qualify for adoption the adopter must live within a four hour drive of York, PA. There are several pictures of him on there, just scroll down until you get to his name. He is NOT for sale, I don't want any money, I want a signed contract guaranteeing his safety for life. That is what I do with all my horses when they are done racing.
Thanks for the suggestions anyway.

http://www.lfhr.org/mainadoption.htm

[Jolene]

Have you considered placing a basic line ad in your local paper, or hang an ad up at the feed store? It may sound simplistic, but sometimes simple gets the job done.

The general public, IMO, can be intimidated by anything affiliated with rescues*. There can be what feels to be overwhelming rules: no breeding, no selling, no leasing, no moving more than X miles away, be prepared for random visits, provide letters of reference from veterinarians...so going through a rescue site might not be working for that reason.

An ad in the paper might bring out folks that you can talk to face to face, and you can also stress what's important to you: that the horse be cared for, and if for some reason they can no longer provide that care, that they should let you know.

*not all rescues are so draconian, I realize. I have seen all these requests made by rescues at one point or another.

[ragsdaj]

I grew up in the St Louis Vicinity where horse patrol is generally a park assignment. I don't know enough about the horse units to say there are no McLeods out there. I have read where the horse units are not well funded which probably does equate to minimal care. Animal Planet only shows the good stuff. I was just trying to think of job for the horse instead of stall time and an ocassional rider.

I admire Laurierace for what he's doing. The adoption group that he is using has the 4 hour limit so they can keep track of Sylvester plus they will always take him back for placement if necessary. It may take longer to place him that way, but Sylvester should end up in a nice place. I guess I would let the agency do what they do until they find him a good home.

[Tairaterces]

Sylvester was reluctantly retired from racing last fall at the age of 12. He retired completely sound, and was placed on the waiting list at the rescue. He was introduced to the gelding herd and spends much of his time outside with his new buddies. We tried that for a couple of months, but it was clear that he was unhappy. He is an athlete and needs a job to do. So I had the trainer start him in full training for eventing. I thought it would make him more adoptable as the perfect home is very important to me.
He has been in training 6 days a week for five months now. This is easily the fittest he has ever been in his life. I can't even get anyone to come take a look at him.
So now I have a fit, healthy horse that wants an activity. He is going back to the track tomorrow. He will remain on the waiting list, and as soon as he has a new home he will be re-retired.
I hope I am making the right decision, but I don't know what else to do. Here goes nothing!

Have thought about having him retrained as a pony at the track, since he doesn't crib there which means he is most comfortable there . . . . . it sounds like the perfect solution. It seems to me they retrained Kona Gold in 6 months.

Tairaterces

[ak1]

you might also try cross listing with mid atlantic horse rescue in maryland as they seem to have a good waiting list of people and place their horses quickly.

another idea would be to "donate" or loan to a college equestrian program (thinking donate, you receive tax write off and include a string that if they no longer can use him, he comes back to you). if he is athletic as he appears, he could have a great home at goucher, sweet briar, hollins, rmwc (my alma mater), etc. not to mention he'd not be too far away for you to visit. i rode several ex-racers while in college and they were wonderful boys who had a great home. we did ring work, cross country, trails and they had big pastures for turn out.

[BJ]

I grew up in the St Louis Vicinity where horse patrol is generally a park assignment. I don't know enough about the horse units to say there are no McLeods out there. I have read where the horse units are not well funded which probably does equate to minimal care. Animal Planet only shows the good stuff. I was just trying to think of job for the horse instead of stall time and an ocassional rider.

I admire Laurierace for what he's doing. The adoption group that he is using has the 4 hour limit so they can keep track of Sylvester plus they will always take him back for placement if necessary. It may take longer to place him that way, but Sylvester should end up in a nice place. I guess I would let the agency do what they do until they find him a good home.

Hi Jon,

I apologize if I didn't sound appreciative. I do appreciate your suggestion. I know you were trying to help.

Unfortunately, I've read an article in the Blood Horse (and heard other horror stories) and from the sounds of those stories, the police horses are not much better off than being owned by the Amish.

Sylvester looks like a beautiful, intelligent horse that needs an individual who is good enough and smart enough to appreciate his special spirit.

I am happy Laurie has placed him with a group that actually does follow-up. So many don't. It may take longer to place horses with "rules" attached, but unfortunately we see what not having these rules can mean for the horses.

[Gerry]

Laurie,

I just called my sister who lives in New Freedom..my neice takes lessons at a barn outside of New Freedom that specializes in eventing. She is going to call the trainer at the barn tomorrow and tell her about Sylvester. They are very familiar with Lost and Found..so maybe this will work out.

He is such a special horse he deserves the best lifetime home ever!

Gerry

[Laurierace]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Gerry, I will let you know if I hear from the people in New Freedom. I think Sylvester would get adopted in a heartbeat if they had him at the rescue. They have an open house every sunday with lots of traffic. It isn't that people don't like him, they just haven't seen him.
I am going to gallop him for a week or so and then give him an easy breeze to see where his head is. If he is into it, we'll go on with it. If not, he'll come back to the farm.
I have always let him tell me what's what. No point in stopping that now.
Lost and Found is the only rescue I work with anymore. I used to work with a couple of others but stopped. TRF for example requires a $2500 donation fee when you give them a horse. Another one I was using got in over their head and the horses are severely neglected to the point that I have called the Humane Society and even the TV stations to report them to no avail. I prefer to stick with what works.

[ragsdaj]

no offense was taken and I better start calling Laurie "she" instead of He or she will take offense.

[Heidilady]

I was in a college equestrian program that had a horse adopted to us and just from an administrative standpoint, not as a rider, that horse was a legal pain in the butt. I'm not sure if they still own him but he ended up not being suited to people using him as a lesson horse and nobody wanted to lease him as their own horse for the year or whatever. The mess of its upkeep fed into splitting with our longtime trainer which was upsetting. I'd be careful who it went to and studiously vet the program and level of the riders involved if you go that way.

Just a word of advice, if you consider that (and I'd be wary myself having been on the receiving end) it tends to be something to have to 'handle' and might get problematic if there's a contract attached. I'm glad you have it frankly and if I were adopting out a beloved horse I wouldn't back down from putting him in rescues that people were intimidated by. It's off-putting sure, coming my intention of being an adopter but looking at how I've heard about horses people thought were safe ended up neglected by their adoptee or sent to New Holland, I can see why they're so anal. I personally wouldn't want to not officially own the horse and I know some have that you've basically got a lifetime lease. It's not really mine it's borrowed. A contract that covers the horse's safety and future transfers of ownership,etc is fine by me. I like how ReRun is set up. Have you thought about them? www.rerun.org