The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) announced today the opening of a new Sanctuary Farm in Maryland which will expand the presence of the organization in one of the most important states in the Thoroughbred racing industry. The new farm will provide a home for 5 of the TRF horses in partnership with Renaissance Equestrian Foundation with the goal of raising visibility for Thoroughbred aftercare, retired racehorses’ potential for second careers and fundraising for the work of the TRF.
The 5 horses residing at the Renaissance Farm are: Son of a General (11 yrs. old, bay, gelding), Sonny’s the One (14 yrs. old, bay, gelding), Mighty Tuff (12 yrs. old, bay, gelding), Green Shoots(12 yrs. old, bay, gelding), Zyxt (16 yrs. old, bay, gelding). Each of these horses, along with the rest of the TRF’s herd of 650 retired racehorses, is a registered Thoroughbred with a racing record and has been given a lifelong promise of sanctuary through the generous donations of individual donors to the TRF – the oldest and largest Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the United States.
Speaking for the TRF, Kim Weir, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving commented, “The opening of this new farm in Maryland is an exciting milestone for the TRF. The arrival of the horses at Renaissance Farm doubles the size of the TRF herd presence in Maryland, a state with a rich history of racing and tremendous commitment to the Thoroughbred industry. For over 10 years the TRF has been active in Maryland through its internationally recognized TRF Second Chances Program at the Central Maryland Correctional Complex. She continued, “This new collaboration with Renaissance Equestrian Foundation is important to the TRF because it will enable us to engage a broad cross-section of the Maryland Horse Industry in our mission and in support of our programs, including the TRF Second Chances program.”
Renaissance Equestrian Foundation Founder, Stacie Nichols shared, “My husband, Tom, and I are very excited about this opportunity to provide a home for these 5 TRF horses. They each have a story to tell and we will look forward to sharing them through the educational programs of the Renaissance Equestrian Foundation. The TRF horses will serve as teachers to educate the dynamic and diverse horse community of Maryland about the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the value of these wonderful animals in a wide variety of second careers – from pony club, to trail riding, to companion animals.” Mrs. Nichols continued, “We plan to reach out to pony clubs across Maryland, 4H groups, FFA clubs, boy scouts, girl scouts, school groups and more to raise awareness of the Thoroughbred breed, their unique characteristics, and the opportunities for meaningful careers within the Thoroughbred industry.”
Located at 4206 Brown Road, Taneytown, Maryland, the new TRF Sanctuary Farm at Renaissance Farm will open its doors to the public at an inaugural “Open Barn” on Sunday, September 15th (1-5pm). This event is free to attend, family-friendly, and will provide visitors with the chance to meet the Thoroughbreds and learn about Thoroughbred aftercare.
Interested individuals may learn more and RSVP at https://www.trfinc.org/event/opening-renaissance-farm/
About Renaissance Equestrian Foundation:
The mission of the Renaissance Equestrian Foundation is to provide the best possible care to retired thoroughbreds, as well as provide educational opportunities to individuals in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, enabling retired racehorses to transition into a career and forever home. The Renaissance Equestrian Foundation is a licensed sanctuary farm and intends to pursue designation as a “Horse Discovery Center” by the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
For more information visit: www.refottb.org