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Friends of Ferdinand Inc. and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino will be celebrating the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) national Help A Horse Day on April 25th. Friends of Ferdinand Inc. is competing for a chance to win some of the $50,000 in prize money from the ASPCA to assist in the rehabilitation, retraining and adoption of retired racehorses. In 2015, there will be seven winners. Three grand prize winners will win $10,000 and four runners-up will receive $5,000.

Friends of Ferdinand Inc. received a grant from the ASCPA Equine Fund to support horses coming into our re-training and adoption program. We feel that the first step in placing our horses successfully into their next career is a thorough intake exam that assesses their physical and mental well-being, identifies any injuries, includes a dental exam and brings the horses vaccination status current. This grant directly impacted four horses in Indiana (Big Blue Country, Dot, Sunday Pursuit and West El) in their first few days of their new life.

A grant received from the Brennan Equine Welfare Fund is specifically designated to support ongoing care for thoroughbreds retired to Friends of Ferdinand Inc. Angel, one of the lucky recipients is a 35 year-old Thoroughbred ex-racehorse that is the only long-term resident of Friends of Ferdinand.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recently awarded a grant to Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI). The grant will be used to allow FFI to send a volunteer to the ASPCA Equine Fund Workshop in Chicago, IL on June 21, 2014. The seminar is designed to help equine professionals gain valuable tools for non-profit success, particularly in the areas of fundraising, achieving accreditation, and board building.

Racehorses whose career on the racetrack has ended often have opportunities as sport-horses in other competitive disciplines. Transitioning these horses to new careers requires thoughtful understanding of their prior experience and training and careful placement in appropriate adoptive homes. However most racehorse owners, and many equine rescue or transition organizations, cannot afford the time and resources to transition and place these horses well. Friends of Ferdinand Inc. (FFI), an Indiana non-profit that specializes in transitioning retiring and at-risk racehorses into second careers, is pleased and honored to announce that the ASPCA Equine Fund has granted support to FFI’s program to transition racehorses as well as provide educational opportunities for young adults seeking a career in the equine industry.

Racehorses often suffer injuries that end their race careers. Rehabilitating these injuries can open doors for these horses to transition to new careers off the track, however most owners, and many equine rescue or transition organizations, cannot afford the time and resources to do so. Friends of Ferdinand Inc. (FFI), an Indiana non-profit that specializes in transitioning retiring and at-risk racehorses into second careers, is pleased and honored to announce that the ASPCA Equine Fund has granted support to a new FFI program for racehorses with rehabilitative needs related to racing injuries. Working closely with veterinarians, FFI seeks to give injured racehorses with a good prognosis for recovery an opportunity to heal, retrain and go on to become pleasure, sport and companion horses in private adoptive homes.

Friends of Ferdinand Inc. (FFI), an Indianapolis based non-profit that transitions racehorses at-risk for neglect, abuse and slaughter received funding support from After the Finish Line for a third year in a row. After the Finish Line thoroughly reviews each organization’s policies, fiscal responsibility, and equine care procedures prior to awarding grants. FFI is pleased to have received Dawn Mellen’s nod of approval for the third consecutive year.

The Tony Stewart Foundation and Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI) are pleased to present Rockin’ the Racehorse – a special evening of entertainment, great food and fun to be held from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on September 17, 2010 at the Palomino Ballroom in Zionsville, Indiana. Proceeds from the event will support FFI’s efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home retiring racehorses.

Saribel Cruz, One of Tony Stewart’s girls makes her debut in her second career at the 2010 Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo.

Tony Stewart, owner and driver of the No 14 Old Spice/ Office Depot Chevrolet Impala in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and owner of Stewart/Haas Racing is also a winner on a different kind of track. In 2010, the Tony Stewart Foundation awarded $20,000 to Friends of Ferdinand Inc in order to support the retirement and adoption of thoroughbred racehorses.