Retire & Rehome
Whichever way we ride or however we are associated with horses, we can all agree that horse welfare and rescue is extremely important. Learn about these caring places in our Rehome section, where money and time can be donated to help horses find, or remain, in their forever home.
Many charity events help fund the good work of equine rescue organizations. Parties and auctions to benefit rescue are included in the Calendar of Events for Retire & Rehome.
Have an old friend to retire? Find a place where your horse can live the life of leisure in our Retirement section.
Do we need to add an event or rescue? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!
by Patricia N. Saffran
To find out how the German army treated horses in Holland during WWII, I contacted renown Dutch horseman Harry de Leyer who lived through the German occupation on his family’s farm in Sint-Oedenrode. He spoke to me at length over the phone and then said, “Come visit.” Mr. de Leyer is the subject of several books and a recent film for having bought an Amish farm horse off a truck bound for slaughter. He named him Snowman. The pair went on to show jumping fame by beating far more expensive horses and winning many major competitions.
We arrived in Virginia and drove up to Mr. de Leyer’s farm. Two Jack Russell terriers and a small Saint Bernard gave us a rousing welcome. The farm manager greeted us and said, “It’s not necessary to have barn cats with a fast Jack Russell around. One of them chases after mice.” He showed us his three resident retired prize winning Thoroughbreds in stalls and explained the empty stalls, “Harry’s health isn’t terrific and he spends much of his time in the house now. Besides my horses here, Harry has his own retired Thoroughbred who is shy and likes to be in his own pasture.” We were led to the farmhouse and introduced to Mr. de Leyer, who was sitting in his living room surrounded by a huge number of trophies, ribbons, memorabilia, and photos all over the walls of his many triumphs with Snowman and other jumpers. The latest trophy, Mr. de Leyer told us, was from the documentary about him, Harry and Snowman, by director/producer Ron Davis, which had won a prize at the Equus Film Festival in NYC last November.
Read more: Harry & Snowman, Harry de Leyer’s View of Horses During WWII
Desi's Forever Home (Bring your tissues!)
Nineteen years later, one horse owner’s story begins again with a second adopted Quarter Horse from the Purina Animal Nutrition Center.
Every horse owner has had that one special horse, the one that has changed it all. For many, their iconic horse entered their lives after giving to others. This second career is possible through horse adoption.
“By adopting, people give horses a second career or a second chapter,” says Mike Jerina, equine research manager at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Mo. “We are proud to be a part of this adoption story.”
Jerina says the Quarter Horses bred at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center spend their first few years helping millions of other horses by participating in feeding trials. Research specific to equine nutrition has been conducted for more than 87 years. Some of the horses stay on the 1,200-acre farm, while some go onto their forever homes across the country.
Award-winning photographer Carol Walker beautifully portrayed a band of wild Appaloosas in her wonderful book Galloping to Freedom: Saving the Adobe Town Appaloosas. The Bureau of Land Management maintains and manages wild horses and burros in "heard management areas" or HMAs. Adobe Town, located in south central Wyoming near the Colorado border, is one of those HMAs.
Carol Walker brings to life a band of horses, led by an Appaloosa stallion dubbed "Bronze Warrior" who is the patriarch of a colorful array of mares and foals. These Adobe Town horses were rounded up and separated - some family members sent to Colorado and others to Nevada. Their courage, playfulness, curiosity…and even fear is remarkably captured by Ms. Walker. Reading this book, we feel immersed in the heritage of the wild mustangs, and empathize with the complexity of providing them a dignified future.
Read more: Galloping to Freedom: Saving the Adobe Town Appaloosas
For as little as $15, you can help horses!
The Moneigh fundraiser program began over 10 years ago by ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption. After the Finish Line has partnered with ReRun to raise funds for both charities. The Moneighs have become known as the official horse paintings of the Thoroughbred racing industry, in part because the name “Moneigh®” is trademarked. Paintings have been created by more than 200 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and Breeders’ Cup racers and winners, Stakes raced horses, and the most popular stallions and broodmares in the country.
This extremely popular article is a tribute to one of the most generous equine advocates, Victoria Racimo, and is published as a tribute to her. Victoria Racimo passed away on November 29, 2020, nearly a month ahead of what would have been her 77th birthday on December 26.
Victoria Racimo was an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer and actress. She created two animation specials, was Executive Producer of the HBO film "Casi Casi", and co-wrote "Blue Moon," a children's book and interactive app based on a story by singer Alicia Keys. Commissioned by the State of Virginia, Victoria wrote and directed the original drama "Journey of Destiny" in celebration of America's 400th Anniversary at Jamestown.
A passionate supporter of equine welfare and rescue, she wrote and directed the documentary, "One Day", about Our Mims Retirement Haven in Kentucky. The film won Best Director in the Equus Film Festival in NYC. In 2017, she co-wrote "All the King's Horses" (Regnery), which describes Elvis Presley's little-known equestrian life.
Victoria Racimo was a very busy actress but is now a writer, producer and director. Her latest project is the film "One Day", the story of the late famed thoroughbred, Our Mims, the 1977 Eclipse Award Champion 3-year-old Filly. "One Day" will premiere on Friday, October 9th at Equus Run Vineyards, Midway, KY, as a Benefit for Our Mims Retirement Haven. This is the true story of teenage Jeanne Mirabito who falls in love with Our Mims when she sees her race on TV. Jeanne makes a “cosmic claim” and vows “one day” she will own this champion racehorse. 21 years later fate brings them together.
EIE: Victoria, please talk to us about the transition from actress to writer, producer and director.
VR: I grew up in Manhattan and attended the High School of Performing Arts. I was one of only six students admitted for three different majors - music, dance and drama. I ended up selecting music and studied piano. After graduation, I attended Columbia and really started pounding the pavement looking for work in television, modeling and theatre. I would go meet with photographers, audition for commercials, and I landed some work. I became "Miss Hawaiian Punch", even though I am not Hawaiian. I’m Filipino and Spanish on my father’s side and Irish and Lenapi Indian on my mother’s side. I appeared in many commercials and was even on the box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes!
I later went on to pursue a movie career and starred opposite Charlton Heston and worked as a television series regular in shows such as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Chisolms, and Falcon Crest among others.
New York, N.Y., September 15, 2015 - Palomino Entertainment Group presents the premier of its film “One Day” on Friday, October 9th at Equus Run Vineyards, Midway, KY, as a Benefit for Our Mims Retirement Haven. “One Day” features interviews with Eclipse Award-winning photographer, Barbara Livingston, Hall of Fame Jockey, Jorge Velasquez, and award-winning journalist, Steve Haskin.
ONE DAY - OUR MIMS Documentary Teaser (2015) from Palomino Group on Vimeo.
“One Day” film premier to Benefit Our Mims Retirement Haven at Equus Run Vineyards on October 9th, 2015
New York, N.Y., September 15, 2015 - Palomino Entertainment Group presents the premier of its film “One Day” on Friday, October 9th at Equus Run Vineyards, Midway, KY, as a Benefit for Our Mims Retirement Haven. “One Day” features interviews with Eclipse Award-winning photographer, Barbara Livingston, Hall of Fame Jockey, Jorge Velasquez, and award-winning journalist, Steve Haskin. The film's narration includes Emmy nominee, Josh Charles, (“The Good Wife”, “Sports Night”, “Dead Poets Society”.)
This is the true story of famed thoroughbred, Our Mims, the 1977 Eclipse Award Champion 3-year-old Filly. A teenage Jeanne Mirabito falls in love with Our Mims when she sees her race on TV. Jeanne makes a “cosmic claim” on her and vows “one day” she will own her. 21 years later, in the backfield of a cattle farm, fate brings them together. They form a bond and through that relationship, a horse rescue was born called Our Mims Retirement Haven (OMRH) where broodmares are given a forever home. OMRH is located in Paris KY.
"One Day" is directed by Victoria Racimo, founder of Palomino Entertainment Group. Victoria has an extensive career as actress, writer, and director. She produced the film “Casi Casi” and sold it to HBO, was co-author with Alicia Keys on the recently released book “Blue Moon”, and staged two theatre scenes for Steven Spielberg in his film “Lincoln”. She starred opposite Charlton Heston in “The Mountain Men” and in Disney’s “Ernest Goes To Camp”, among many other credits. Editor and Executive Producer, TanNa Young, is Coordinating Producer on the CBS hit series, “The Good Wife”.
Palomino Entertainment Group is a multi-faceted film, television and theatrical production company. PEG produced the film as a gift to OMRH to raise awareness and support for the horses at the Haven. “One Day” will also be used as an educational tool about issues surrounding horses that no longer earn money on the track or in the breeding shed.
Reception is at 6pm. Screening at 7:15pm. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for 17 and under. Key Sponsorship of this Benefit is by Broadway Stages NYC and the Kennedy Family Trust with in-kind support from Equus Run Vineyards and Catering by Donna.
Ticket Info and Media contact: Victoria Racimo at racimo@palominogroup.net
