Heading for Home: Race Horse Retraining and Adoption Center, Inc

Heading for Home Racehorse Retraining and Adoption Center provides transition training and placement services to off the track Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Different than an equine sanctuary, Heading for Home focuses it programs on training, rehabilitation, adoption and advocacy.

Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Heading for Home's governing body is comprised of professionals experienced with serving successful not-for-profit ventures and also having the ability to provide ideas based experience specific to our particular mission. Those individuals representing our Board of Directors serve without compensation with fund raising efforts directed toward supporting our program activities.

Initiatives. Founded in 2011 by individuals concerned over the fate of retired racehorses, Heading for Home champions four distinct program initiatives:

Training and Rehabilitation
Adoption
Equine Therapy
Education and Advocacy

1. Training and Rehabilitation Services. Managed by Kristin Sprague, Director of Equine Services, Heading for Home’s training and rehabilitation program is unique among racehorse transition programs. Unlike many of our competitors, who occasionally hire contract trainers, Kristin works full-time to ensure that our training programs are well designed, carefully implemented and overseen in such a manner that the ensure that the animals in our charge are thoughtfully taken care of and properly rehabilitated. This service is not outsourced.

Qualification. Heading for Home restricts the number of animals simultaneously enrolled in the program to ensure program quality and success. All applicants are screened prior to admission to ensure that the animals are sound, of good temperament and free of vices. A thorough veterinarian examination is required.

Training. Lasting a minimum of 90 days, the Heading for Home training program includes a variety of disciplines ranging from extensive ground work, work under saddle, gymkhana, trail riding and pleasure driving!

Our goal is to ensure that Heading for Home horses become adequately prepared to enter the next chapter in their lives by demonstrating the readiness to be adopted into loving secure homes and given meaningful ‘employment’.

Stewardship. Once a horse is accepted into our program, it will remain in our care until it is placed in a loving home. Heading for Home does not use foster care facilities.

2. The Adoption Program. Our adoption qualification process is rigorous and potential owners are extensively scrutinized. The process begins with the submission of a formal application that is accompanied by list suitable of references. A personal interview follows where applicants are expected to display the requisite degree of experience as a horse person and be able to demonstrate the financial where with all to provide proper care. All applicants must agree to an on-site inspection of their facilities. Registration papers are retained by Heading for Home.

3. The Equine Therapy Program. Presented in cooperation with ECS Psychological Services of Saratoga, Heading for Home offers equine therapy to family’s coping with mental health issues at little to no cost. This project has the capacity to reach large numbers of children, adults and veterans while also creating a venue for successfully moving a retired race horse into a positive and rewarding new career.

4. Education and Advocacy Program. Education and advocacy are integral part of the Heading for Home mission. Education initiatives support our commitment to the community and they complement our therapeutic endeavors; advocacy programs champion the plight of the horses and provide a forum for discussion concerning transition training and adoption.

As such, our permanent facility shall include an Education and Resource Center hosting a variety of different initiatives seminars and lectures, workshops and special events. Topics will range from equine related issues (management and care), transition training and the racing industry, equine facilitated learning programs (communications and management training) and natural horsemanship. Workshops and demonstrations will be staged in both the indoor and outdoor facilities with community activities and seminars occurring on multiple locations on the grounds.