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February 24, 2007
Thoroughbred
Racehorses Beat the
Odds, Retire to Florida
Seven-year old
Panimetro, a
thoroughbred racehorse,
suffered four major
fractures in his left
front ankle, an injury
similar to Barbaro’s—the
Kentucky Derby winner
that was recently
euthanized.
“Metro” could have met
the same sad fate, but
was able to heal himself
by lying down for long
periods over the last
year and a half and
allowing caretakers to
attend to him.
Now
Metro and three other
thoroughbreds will be
coming from the Virgin
Islands to their new
home in Florida.
Habitat for Horses, the
largest equine
protection organization
in the United States
will welcome Panimetro,
Boch One, Brimstone Tough, and Smooth Distinction at Ravenwood
Farm in Keystone Heights
on Monday, February 26.
This will be the largest
shipment of rescued
racehorses from the
Virgin Islands Community
Cooperative Thoroughbred
Retirement Effort (VICCTTRE),
a nonprofit 501( C)3
organization that has
rescued, rehabilitated
and adopted 28 horses
since its 2004
inception.
All
four horses raced both
stateside and in the
islands. All suffered
serious injuries, from
Metro’s broken leg to
bruised soles, damaged
hooves and arthritis.
With the medical care,
love and dedication of
the VICCTRE volunteers
they now have a new life
to look forward to.
Kate Grimsley,
VICCTRE’s founding
director and barn
manager was in tears
before sending Metro to
his new Florida home.
"It's amazing to me, on
the heels of Barbaro,
who had to be
euthanized, to see his
will," Grimsley said.
"I'm a different person
for knowing this horse."
Habitat for Horses will
be looking for loving
families to adopt Metro,
Boccie, Brimstone and
Smoothie. They can be
contacted through the
website at
www.habitatforhorses.org.
About Habitat for Horses
(HfH) and North Florida
Horse Rescue (NFHR):
HfH
(www.habitatforhorses.org)
and the Regional
Division, NFHR (www.NorthFloridaHorseRescue.com)
are non-profit equine
protection
organizations. HfH is
dedicated to changing
the lives of horses and
humans. Our goal is to
create a world where
horses are respected for
their intrinsic value
and for their ability to
help us fulfill our
emotional, behavioral
and spiritual needs. We
provide equine rescue
services to law
enforcement agencies, an
active equine adoption
program, an equine
education center, and
equine assisted services
to youths and adults.
NFHR will provide
evacuation assistance if
animals are threatened
by any hurricanes, fire
or flooding. NFHR
provides education on
the preparation and
procedures before,
during and after a
disaster needed for all
animals on a farm.
Emergency rescue classes
are available and taught
by experienced Hurricane
Katrina rescue teams.
NFHR will strive to not
leave any animal behind
unless it is in a secure
and safe environment.
NFHR encourages and
recommends proper
identification on all
animals such as
microchipping or
tattoos, and will
provide assistance with
other information on
identification.
Smooth Distinction, one of four
Thoroughbred racehorses
from the Virgin Islands
coming into the care of
Habitat for Horses.
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