While enough supplies have been gathered to solve many of the short-term problems plaguing Puerto Rico's Thoroughbred population in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (click for more), the various groups involved in relief efforts have found logistical issues to be their biggest hurdle.
More than 22 tons of feed and other supplies is waiting to be shipped from Florida to the 800-plus horses at Hipodromo Camarero, but so far working out transportation arrangements has proven difficult.
“We've got a lot of folks in the industry working behind the scenes to try to get feed in, but we're encountering a lot of governmental roadblocks,” said Shelly Blodgett of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Inc. “We're having a really difficult time getting the ability to even land a plane because of the situation down there. We have more than enough feed to solve the problem for right now, but we just can't get it there.”
The non-profit organization Ranch Aid has been designated by the Humane Society through FEMA to spearhead relief efforts, and the group's president Jonathan Cutler is working with Blodgett's organization, Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), The Jockey Club and others to coordinate air transport of the supplies.
Much of the feed was donated by Cargill Nutrena, and the TCA, AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) and TEVA (Texas Equine Veterinary Association) are splitting the remaining costs.
“My experience has been that there are many, many people who want to help, but the most difficult piece of this puzzle has been trying to actually get the aid over there,” said TCA Executive Director Erin Crady.
Crady noted that the TCA's contributions have come from its Horses First Fund, which was established in 2016 by Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth's LNJ Foxwoods in response to the horses abandoned in Mercer County, KY.
“The fund was established for emergency situations just like this one,” Crady said.
The Horses First Fund was also used to provide hay to Thoroughbreds in the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix following Hurricane Irma.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
