FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Horse Competition Aims to Help Ex-Racehorses
STAUNTON, Ill., June 23, 2012 – A horse competition held this Saturday, June 23, 2012 will be held in order to raise money for retired thoroughbred racehorses.
Only thoroughbred horses are allowed to compete in the competition, or show, held this Saturday (rain date Sunday, June 24, 2012). Proceeds from the horse show will benefit Renaissance Rescue Ranch, in Farmington, Mo., a rescue facility of more than 60 retired thoroughbred horses. Renaissance Rescue Ranch, owned and operated by Barbara Hutchinson, is run by volunteers and sustained by donations.
Racehorses that have finished racing often need an alternate home, or some re-training. “That’s where we come in,” said Dr. John Steinmeyer, owner of Cahokia Run Farm, a thoroughbred training facility. “The thoroughbred breed is really amazing at what they’re capable of doing, even outside of racing around the track.”
Steinmeyer realizes the importance of giving ex-racehorses another chance at a new “career” and a happy home. “Thoroughbreds are quite popular in many different horseback riding disciplines,” said Steinmeyer, “and are often preferred.”
Thoroughbreds racing careers are very short lived, five to seven years at the maximum. “There’s still at lot of horse left that’s capable of a new career and different types of competitions,” said Steinmeyer.
Steinmeyer and his wife, Holly, created an organization that helps to increase breed awareness of the thoroughbred and hopes that other horse owners will give the breed a second look. Thoroughbreds Helping Thoroughbreds is designed to gather current thoroughbred owners, and unite them with a cause to help the breed they are so passionate about.
The horse show held on Saturday has 15 classes, or categories, that competitors may enter in. Each class has a cash prize and a trophy for first place, and ribbons for second through sixth place.
The Steinmeyers have already donated $100 per class to cover awards, trophies and photographs of the winners. The Steinmeyers hope sponsors in the future will come forward to donate money to cover these costs.
For more information about the show, please contact Holly Steinmeyer at steinmyr@hughes.net.
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For more information, please contact Megan Harrison at (618) 531-2097 or megan.harrison27@gmail.com.
