More about Pious

On November 9, 2010, in a blog entry entitled Saving Pious, you saw the first chapter in the story of the rescue of Pious. Here is a photo of Pious when he arrived at Tranquility Farm one day after being found at a livestock auction by Caroline Betts of Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue. Pious was depressed, severely dehydrated, and facing god knows what fate that night. We just couldn’t leave him there.

If you have any doubts that horses have knowledge of their fate, take a good look at Pious. Little by little we pieced together his past. A $250,000 Keeneland yearling in 2006, by the popular sire Forestry, and out of a stakes producing mare, Pious had legitimate star potential. But something happened to him as a two year old and he never made his mark on the track. He dropped from sight for two years and until that November night when he suddenly reappeared at a killer sale.

We know from his condition that he was well cared for in the interim. His hooves were good, his coat was still brilliant, and he seemed to bear human beings no ill will for the terrible betrayal he had suffered. Pious was a total sweetheart. How anyone could simply abandon a horse like this is the cruel mystery that horse rescue people face every time they summon the courage to walk in to another auction to save Thoroughbred horses. No matter how many times you do this, it is impossible to comprehend why.

Here is Pious after two months of love and care at Tranquility Farm. He will soon be leaving us for a home where his wonderful qualities as a stallion will be appreciated forever. His stay here was inspiring, and to Taylor Made Sales and everyone who contributed toward his rehabilitation, we thank you so much. Look what we did.

2011 SPRING ADOPTION PREVIEW

Tranquility Farm's website is being freshened and updated, and while that work is going on we have had a lot of inquiries regarding horses that will be offered for adoption this spring. Here are a few of the adoptable horses we will be featuring on our updated website! Please give us a call or e mail if you are horse shopping as we have many more lovely young horses that will soon be photographed and posted.

BuckySue, 2007 16 hand mare by Touch Gold out of Way Up. BuckySue is a most kind and naturally quiet young mare who simply was not cut out to be a racehorse. She will make a wonderful all around pleasure horse for someone who wants a true pet as well as riding horse, and she has no physical problems that would prevent her from any challenge.

Callthewindmariah, 2007 16 hand filly by Kasparov out of Ventilation. Mariah has beautiful sleek lines and a catty way of going that make her a natural for the hunter ring. She is a friendly, extroverted filly who is already a "pocket pony". Born and raised at Tranquility Farm she will make a fabulous prospect.

Margaret's Image, 2007 16.2 hand dark bay filly by Skimming out of Margaret's Native. This gorgeous young mare has been raised with lots of love right here at Tranquility Farm and she is now ready to go into training for dressage or eventing. Margaret is a kind and classy filly with a wonderful kind dispositon, one of a kind!

Tanta Pasion, 2002 15.3 hand Chestnut Mare. This Chilean bred beauty is very lightly raced, and she has taken time out to have one foal prior to her donation to Tranquility Farm. Tanta is a very friendly,athletic, and agile mare who would undoubtedly take to hunter work or all around pleasure riding.

Switch It Up, 2006 16.2 hand, dark bay mare by Lido Palace out of Call an Audible. This mare is a big impressive mover and would make a great prospect for dressage. She is kind, calm and very well mannered, and she is relaxed and friendly with other horses. All in all an extremely pleasant horse!

Deification, 2006 15.2 hand gelding by Empire Maker out of Adoration. This little man is one of the most playful, affectionate and congenial horses you could ever imagine. If you are looking for a horse to be a family member, trail partner and all around pleasure horse please come to meet Deification, he is waiting so patiently to be your best friend.

HOMAGE TO ZENYATTA

No one could have been more suprised or honored than to have a quote from Tranquility Farm's In The Presence of Champions calendar read as a part of Jerry Moss and Team Zenyatta's Horse of the Year acceptance speech.

For all of Zenyatta's many fans who have called and wished to order calendars today to have the whole text of our piece honoring Zenyatta, we deeply regret that 2011 In the Presence of Champions has sold out. Below you will find the complete piece, which was written on the evening of the Breeder's Cup.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Calm has returned to Tranquility Farm this evening. It is a crisp, clear night and I can still hear some of the retired gelding trotting happily away in the darkness, savoring the mountain air. Walking through the barns and paddocks there is everywhere the familiar comfort of horses munching their evening hay. The phone has finally stopped ringing. The tears have dried. Zenyatta has lost, or so they think.

If you love Thoroughbred horses you go through life hoping that you can see just one more in whose presence the clouds fall away to reveal the mountaintop. It can take a generation or infinitely longer for such a horse to arrive, a horse that is capable of carrying the human heart. For the last one hundred years we know them all by name, but Zenyatta brought to us a beauty that was a tonic for the soul. She allowed us to believe in the impossible, and it was the light of her being as much as the thrill of her races that got us dancing. Zenyatta was transformative.

And what do we take away from this? In the year ahead there will be thousands of young horses who will come away from racing and they will not be legends. Many will be injured, most will be unwanted, and unless we who love the Thoroughbred act in concert for their protection, there will be no storybook ending.

To join together to insure that retiring Thoroughbreds everywhere can have a future could be the final and perhaps the greatest legacy of America’s love affair with Zenyatta. She showed the world without question that Thoroughbreds have great depth of feeling and a true affection for humankind. She proved beyond measure that horses are worthy of our respect. It is impossible not to believe that because of her there are young people all across this country waiting with open arms to bring one of these marvelous creatures into their lives. It is our duty to make that connection.
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If we can rise up, and we can rally, and we can be fearless in overcoming the tremendous obstacles to achieving this goal, then we can perhaps be worthy of the marvelous gift that Zenyatta was to all who saw and loved her. We owe it to her, but of course she is a horse, and it was all for free.

CALENDARS ARE SOLD OUT!

Thanks so much to everyone who supported our 2011 In The Presence of Champions calendar fundraiser for their support! We had a great response to our 2011 calendars and will not be able to accept further orders at this time. If you have already submitted your order you will receive your calendar. Thanks again to everyone who sent in donations or purchased our calendars for making the holiday season bright for the horses of Tranquility Farm!

Tranquility Farm Thanks CARMA

The Board of Tranquility Farm would like to express our thanks to the hard working people of CARMA who have done so much to support the non-profit organizations caring for California's retired Thoroughbreds.

The retired horses of Tranquility Farm have participated in 2,011 races and earned more than fifteen million dollars in purses. We deeply appreciate CARMA's effort to secure a portion of each horse's earnings for their retirement.

Happy Holidays!

This was too good not to share! Thanks to Sandy Milby for the cute photo of her adopted horse, Don'tbeatattletale. Happy Holidays to everyone!

IN THE PRESENCE OF CHAMPIONS 2011!

IN the PRESENCE OF CHAMPIONS 2011 featuring Zenyatta, Boys at Tosconova, Super Saver, EZ's Gentleman, Pretty Unusual, Stevie Wonderboy,Papa Clem, the Keeneland 2010September Sale Topper,Caracortado, and beautiful scenes from the world of quality Thoroughbred racing.

ORDER ONLINE NOW! CALENDARS WILL SHIP THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 15.

A GIANT THANK YOU!

Tranquility Farm wishes to thank everyone who contributed to our stallion season auction, all of our season purchasers, and most especially Auction Chairman Barbara Corey for a successful auction. Thanks to all of you for helping us to continue to provide for the 110 horses in the care of Tranquility Farm. In a year which has been difficult for everyone in the horse world, we are most particularly grateful for your help and support!

2010 STALLION SEASON AUCTION

2010 Annual
Stallion Season Telephone Auction
To benefit the 100 horses in retirement, rehabilitation or awaiting adoption at Tranquility Farm will take place on:

Nov. 21 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Nov. 22 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Nov. 23 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

To donate a season or submit a bid contact Auction Chairman Barbara Corey by phone or fax at: 909-887-9067.

2011 SEASONS OFFERED:
ALYMAGIC
ATHLETE
AWESOME GAMBLER
AWESOME SPIRIT
BEDFORD FALLS
BEHRENS
BLAKES PASSION
BLAZONRY
BOLD CHIEFTAIN
CAPSIZED
CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR
COMIC STRIP
COUNCIL MEMBER
CYCLOTRON
DECARCHY
DEFY LOGIC
DRUM MAJOR
FLAME THROWER
FORMAL GOLD
FREESPOOL
FULLBRIDLED
GAME PLAN
GLOBALIZE
GOLD KNUCKLES
GOOD JOURNEY
GOTHAM CITY
HELD OVER AGAIN
IRON CAT
LASERSPORT
LUCKY PULPIT
MANY RIVERS
MARINO MARINI
McCANN’S MOJAVE
MR. NAPPER TANDY (GB)
MUD ROUTE
PAMPLEMOUSSE
PAPA CLEM
PURE THRILL
RIVER GAMBLER
RIVERGRADE BOY
SOUGHT AFTER
SOUTHERN IMAGE
SPENSIVE
STORM WOLF
STORMY JACK
SURF CAT
SWISS YODELER
TANNERSMYMAN
TEN MOST WANTED
THISNEARLYWASMINE
TOUGH FAME
UNCLE DENNY
UNDER CAUTION
VRONSKY
WESTERN FAME

Saving Pious

Saturday, as the racing world held it’s breath for Zenyatta, a lovely 5 year old chestnut stallion named Pious passed through the ring of a southern California livestock auction that is often the last stop for horses before a Mexican slaughterhouse. Even on Breeder’s Cup Day, the attrition of former Thoroughbred racehorses continues unabated. Pious is a son of the great sire Forestry, and he was sold at the January 2006 Keeneland sale for $240,000. He raced three times without success at Del Mar and Oak Tree as a two year old in 2008, and yesterday afternoon he was rescued for $300.



Pious arrived safely at Tranquility Farm today thanks to Caroline Betts of Southern CA Thoroughbred Rescue who spotted him at the sale, and to Denise Smith who bid for him and provided transportation. We can only save horses like Pious because of the donations of our supporters, so PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TODAY TO HELP PIOUS Pious is a gentle soul and he seems to be quite sound. With a few months of rehabitation and gelding he will make someone a wonderful horse!

Honoring our Cal Cup Stars

Saturday is Cal Cup day at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park, and time to remember and appreciate the stars of past years who have made this such a special day in California racing. Tranquility Farm was the retirement home of the very first Cal Cup Sprint winner, Valiant Pete, and throughout the years many more horses who have reached the pinacle of California racing have joined us. With the exception of Lennyfromalibu, whose retiremet is sponsored by his owner, all of our retired Cal Cup stars are entirely dependant upon Tranquility Farm and our supporters for their retirement. CALIFORNIA'S HORSES NEED TRANQUILITY FARM AND TRANQUILITY FARM NEEDS YOU! Please help us continue to provide these California racing champions with the long and happy life they so deserve!
Lennyfromalibu, Winner, Cal Cup Mile.

Hemet Thought, Second, Cal Cup Mile.
Areyoutalkintome, Winner Cal Cup Sprint.
Full Moon Madness, Winner, Cal Cup Sprint
Patriotaki, Placed Cal Cup Mile.

Running Free, Second, Cal Cup Mile.

Saving Mananan Mclir

Today is Oak Tree Derby Day, and we honor the career of our retiree Mananan Mclir, who placed in the Gr. 2 Oak Tree Derby in 2006. It is a perfect moment to reflect upon the fate of racehorses who are literally abandoned at the racetrack every day. Mananan Mclir started 47 times, and his record was 9-8-4. He was already a stakes winner in England before embarking upon his American career that earned him more than half a million dollars. Among his achievements were winning the Gr.2 American Derby, and placing in the Gr. 2 Oak Tree and Hollywood Derbys. But it seems there was no way Mananan Mclir could do enough to earn the loyalty of any of his former owners, and in the end he was traded down the claiming ranks until he broke down at Hollywood Park on July 4th of 2008. Cast aside and "unwanted", Mananan Mclir became a ward of charity.

Mananan Mclir at Tranquility Farm.

To prevent the exploitation and abandonment of horses at the racetrack is the challenge of our time. But until this is achieved the only thing that horses like Mananan Mclir have to depend upon is charity. The kindness of strangers. California's horses need Tranquility Farm, and Tranquility Farm needs you. We are caring for more than one hundred former racehorses, and the great majority of them have shared the fate of Mananan Mclir. No matter how difficult, they have done everything that was asked of them, because that is the nature of a Thoroughbred. What we have yet to determine is how much longer racing will allow the abandonment of injured horses to be considered nothing more than just the unfortunate nature of a human being?

Our Morvich Handicap winner Geronimo

Rescue takes many forms, and sometimes even the best and brightest in the racing world find themselves in need of a friend. So it was that Geronimo (Chi)came to Tranquility Farm after being vanned off in his forty-fourth start in a claiming race at Del Mar in July of 2006. Geronimo had a record of 11 wins, 10 second place finishes and 6 times third with earnings of $464,150. Among his many accomplishments are running in three consecutive Gr.3 Morvich Handicaps, which will be run tomorrow at Oak Tree. Geronimo placed third in the 2003 Morvich Hcp, forth in 2004, and he won it by a head in 2005.


Geronimo and his pals Stormin Away and I Love Silver are living the good life today at Tranquility Farm thanks entirely to the help of our supporters, which include the Oak Tree Foundation. We thank them so much for their faithful support of these former stars.

Update: Pregnant Mare Rescue

There has been a very good response to the plight of the 20 Thoroughbreds that were sold to a Chino, California feedlost from the Euclid Auction last Saturday night. Many rescues and private individuals have stepped forward, but there are four broodmares and one nice four-year-old-bay colt by Compelling Sound that still need homes. Please see below:



PLEASE forward this posting to as many people as possible who may be able to provide a home for one of these horses. Thank you.
CONTACT: CAROLINE BETTS, Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue at 661-305-9021

Lochanara (1986 mare?, possibly in foal to Chachacharlie) - sold for $100 at auction
Unnamed 06 bay colt (Compelling Sound - Whisper Wildley) - sold for $185 at auction
Bay mare, 7yo, pedigree unknown - sold for $175 at auction
Chestnut mare, 10yo, pedigree unknown -sold for $75 at auction
Dark bay mare, 10yo, pedigree unknown -
These mares are believed to be in foal to the stallion ChachaCharlie. The paperwork for the unidentified mares is being researched.