By Dick Hagen
Lynn Hovda, chief commission veterinarian for the Minnesota Racing Commission, spends considerable time at Canterbury Park, even during the non-racing season.
She shared the following general information in regards to the handling of horses at Canterbury Park.
• Thoroughbreds and quarterhorses at Canterbury Park are retired for a number of reasons, not just related to their age. Many of them do not work up to their potential, are too slow or not fast enough to be competitive, are injured and will need time to recover, or just simply need a new home.
• The Minnesota Racing Commission Veterinarian’s Office in conjunction with the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue and Canterbury Park have offered placement of these animals through their “Because We Care” equine retirement-rehabilitation program. No horse is turned down. Canterbury Park has been gracious about donating money and facilities for this effort.
• Any horse at Canterbury Park needing placement is evaluated by one of the commission veterinarians and a determination made as to the future needs or potential. Those that are sound are generally placed immediately.
They may become police horses, jumpers, hunters, barrel racers, polo ponies, dressage horses, trail horses, event horses, or become involved in other programs such as human therapy.
• Horses needing critical care or time off are cared for by Hovda and her veterinarian colleague Richard Bowman until they are sound enough to move to homes.
• Horses are sent out with the caveat that if they don’t work out for any reason, call either of the two MRC veterinarians and the horse will be picked up.
• There are other horse retirement-rehabilitation farms specifically for Thoroughbreds in various locations around the United States. Several are funded by the Thoroughbred Retirement Association and some by other agencies.
• In regard to aging horses, most horse people are quite fond of their horses and, when the time is right, choose humane euthanasia as an option.
