The Issue

No matter their age, accolades, pedigree, or beauty, every year thousands of Thoroughbreds, and tens of thousands more of all breeds of horses are packed into livestock trailers and shipped across borders to be ‘processed’ in Canada and Mexico. They come from all walks of life: training centers, racetracks, breeding farms, riding stables, camps, and backyards. The menagerie of Thoroughbred castoffs includes fresh off-the-track racehorses, OTTB riding horses, senior broodmares, barren mares, and mares whose offspring have not performed to expectations. For the discarded horse, the semi-conscious euphemism ‘processed,’ means violently forced to die.

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The economic reality of sustaining the 30-year-plus natural lifespan of the horse is immense. When Thoroughbreds, or any breed of horse are no longer viable for financial gain the majority of the unwanted enter the slaughter pipeline and the worth defaults to sixty-cents a pound.

​​With the help of compassionate supporters, UNBRIDLED has saved the lives of hundreds of Thoroughbreds who otherwise would have been slaughtered in Canada or Mexico. When our Team identifies a Thoroughbred at-risk of slaughter, we reach out to past connections; breeders, sales agents, trainers, and owners for help with funding. We have 24 to 48-hours to save his or her life. With such a short redemption period, access to immediate funds becomes a matter of life and death.  

For the Horses we redeem, we provide each with a safe space and the sacrosanct gift of time necessary to restore health, and to reclaim his or her dignity. Recovery from the mental and physical trauma that horses endure in cases of neglect, or while in the slaughter pipeline is long, arduous, and expensive. At Unbridled, the Horses set the timetable. We listen to their needs and honor their readiness to move on or not. When they are ready to progress and trust, we pair them with appropriate Adopters, Foster Partners, or Trainers. For those with special needs we provide permanent residency in our Sanctuary.

When you give to UNBRIDLED, YOU SAVE LIVES.

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