Thoroughbred Placement Resources Inc

I’d like to tell you a little about our organization and what we do for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers end.  Thoroughbred Placement Resources (TPR) was formally established in 2008 by Kimberly Clark, a professional horsewoman involved with Thoroughbred racing for more than 25 years as a licensed trainer, owner and exercise rider who saw that the needs of retiring racehorses were not being met.  TPR has grown from one person’s vision into an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization working out of Leighton Farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  Our services have expanded from direct off-track placement to include comprehensive retraining on our farm; through these methods, we have transitioned and placed well over 1,000 former racehorses into off-track. 

TPR has achieved its success in rehoming retired racehorses through its comprehensive retraining method.  We see a racehorse’s unique talent and experience as potential, not a problem.  Working from her experience as an exercise rider and trainer, Mrs. Clark builds upon a racehorse’s previous training and reshapes his existing skills into those required for other disciplines.  We meet the horse halfway.  TPR also seeks to teach our techniques and philosophy to everyone involved in transitioning a racehorse.  Mrs. Clark has compiled a comprehensive retraining manual, “A Guide to Understanding and Re-Training Your Off-Track Thoroughbred,” available on the TPR website to download free of charge.

TPR is involved in rescue work, when necessary, although our goal is to educate the racing and general public on the viability of these horses as personal mounts after the track so that they don’t need rescuing.  On our website, there are details of several of our rescue cases, including Little Guy and the Sugar Creek Six.

TPR subsists primarily through two major funding sources: donations/adoptions and grants.  Leighton Farm donates all retraining services, stall space and boarding costs for horses coming through the farm.  When horses are adopted, their adoption fees go directly back into the program, paying for feed, hay, veterinary, dental and farrier care for horses on the farm.  TPR receives donations from the general public at fundraising events throughout the year and also online.  Occasionally, TPR also receives donations from racing trainers who surrender their horses to TPR upon retirement. 

In addition to our work to serve retired Thoroughbred racehorses, Our Hero Horses program empowers veterans and their families by including them in the success of each horse we save.  Through the program we continue to honor our service members and veterans by giving them a sanctuary for healing and learning.  Leighton Farm is a safe place for veterans to come and find peace as they are working through their transition from the military into their new lives as civilians.  By teaching them to help the horse’s transition from their lives as a race horses, the veteran or military member and their family can grow together with mutual respect and strength.

Staff members and the Board at TPR are unpaid volunteers.  Every dime received by TPR goes DIRECTLY to cover horse expenses.  Due to the high level of need and expense of providing quality care for these horses in the interim between the track and a new home, TPR generally operates month to month basis on expenses.  A donation such as the one you are considering would truly make a difference in the lives of many horses, allowing us to foster additional horses at off-site farms and ensuring that the horses we do have continue to receive high quality care during their time with us.

We invite you to visit our website: www.goodhorse.org to see more details about the work we do and plenty of pictures of our horses.  Kimberly Clark can be reached via email at kclark@goodhorse.org or cell phone a 410-802-8425.