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Navigating horses to an alternative track

October 12,  2023, InternationalUSA 

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It all started when a group of people, including LaVonda Williams, Heather Dyer, and Leslie Long, with varying expertise came together to make a difference. Standardbred breeder and former standardbred trainer Judi Jannuzzelli offered up her property, Birch Creek Farm, in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, to help keep Standardbreds out of the kill pen.

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At For the Love of Standardbreds, retired racehorses can be fostered or adopted into new loving homes. “Judi has opened up her farm and cares for these horses each and every day,” Grbelja explains. “Without her, this whole project would be nonexistent. Judi is so incredibly welcoming, and she really has a gift when it comes to mixing horses and bringing a new horse into the herd, so to speak.”

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“What we want to be able to do is take horses off the track, train them to be under saddle, and put them into a good lifestyle,” Grbelja says. “They worked very hard, and we want to continue a good life for them. Our main focus is the horse, and everything that we do is for the horse. And I think that’s really what sets us apart from other nonprofit organizations. We’re at the farm every week making sure that our horses are well taken care of and happy. We want to make sure that they’re putting on weight, that they’re growing, and that they’re exercising, too. Everybody who’s involved with the organization really has a true love for the horses and their welfare.”

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Grbelja has been involved with horse racing since 2004. She currently serves as vice chair of the New Jersey Sire Stakes.

Since For the Love of Standardbreds was founded in the spring of 2023, several success stories have been written, including a horse named Reprieve. “He was trained by us to be a pleasure horse, and we found him a great home,” Grbelja shares. “We also have a very high-profile horse, Mach It So, who has won nearly $3 million that will be entering the program shortly.”

It all started when a group of people, including LaVonda Williams, Heather Dyer, and Leslie Long, with varying expertise came together to make a difference. Standardbred breeder and former standardbred trainer Judi Jannuzzelli offered up her property, Birch Creek Farm, in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, to help keep Standardbreds out of the kill pen.

At For the Love of Standardbreds, retired racehorses can be fostered or adopted into new loving homes. “Judi has opened up her farm and cares for these horses each and every day,” Grbelja explains. “Without her, this whole project would be nonexistent. Judi is so incredibly welcoming, and she really has a gift when it comes to mixing horses and bringing a new horse into the herd, so to speak.”

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“What we want to be able to do is take horses off the track, train them to be under saddle, and put them into a good lifestyle,” Grbelja says. “They worked very hard, and we want to continue a good life for them. Our main focus is the horse, and everything that we do is for the horse. And I think that’s really what sets us apart from other nonprofit organizations. We’re at the farm every week making sure that our horses are well taken care of and happy. We want to make sure that they’re putting on weight, that they’re growing, and that they’re exercising, too. Everybody who’s involved with the organization really has a true love for the horses and their welfare.”

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Grbelja has been involved with horse racing since 2004. She currently serves as vice chair of the New Jersey Sire Stakes.

Since For the Love of Standardbreds was founded in the spring of 2023, several success stories have been written, including a horse named Reprieve. “He was trained by us to be a pleasure horse, and we found him a great home,” Grbelja shares. “We also have a very high-profile horse, Mach It So, who has won nearly $3 million that will be entering the program shortly.”

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“We love racehorses, and we aspire to give them a positive life after harness racing. That’s where the idea came to develop For the Love of Standardbreds, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that strives to provide retired Standardbreds meaningful new careers and an excellent quality of life,” Nancy Grbelja, treasurer of the organization, shares.

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Mach It So won almost $3 million racing

and is now in For the Love of Standardbreds’ adoption program

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The adoption fees will vary depending on the individual horse. Generally, adoptions will cost approximately $1,000 for a sound, healthy horse which can be used for eventing, trail riding, etc. For those which are primarily companion horses, the fees can range from a simple donation to as much as $500.

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“We are interested in making the appropriate connection to match a horse and adoptee considering all aspects of what each can offer the other, and what our foundation can realistically expect,” Grbelja says.

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“The responsibility of owning a horse is almost like having a child,” Steve Chinni, For the Love of Standardbreds trustee, says. “When I was racing, one of the things I noticed was that I was the only owner in the paddock area who would give my horse a pep talk before the race. I was the only owner in the paddock that came after the race to make sure my horse was okay. I was kind of shocked by that because you spend a lot of money taking care of and owning and training these horses.”

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“I’d like to take more responsibility to understand the beauty of these animals because the joy that these animals bring is so immense,” Chinni continues. “If you only go into the sport to make money, I don’t think you’re going into this business for the right reason. Success for me isn’t the number of horses that we save, it’s raising awareness of the responsibility of the horse owner to take care of them after they’re done racing.”

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Still a new organization, For the Love of Standardbreds is working on getting funding from the USTA’s Standardbred Transition Alliance program. In the meantime, the organization has raised funds and awareness through social media, collaboration with industry leaders, and by passing out informational brochures and business cards at events such as the Hambletonian and Goshen Yearling Sale.

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“All funds raised have gone directly into the care of the horses that we have in the program, which would include the trimming of their feet, worming, feed, etc.,” Chinni comments. “Everything that comes into the fund goes directly to the horse. Owners and trainers can contact us and know there’s a place for their horse when they’re finished racing.”

 

There are countless opportunities to get involved with the foundation, whether it be through adoption, sponsorship, volunteerism, or donations. To learn more about For the Love of Standardbreds, or to make a donation, please visit https://www.fortheloveofstandardbreds.org/.

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by Nicolle Kain, for Harnesslink

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https://harnesslink.com/usa/navigating-horses-to-an-alternative-track/

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