University of Kentucky students spent an afternoon cleaning horse feeder supplies to help raise money for retired racehorses at the Secretariat Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Secretariat Center and UK’s Alternative Service Breaks (ASB) organization hosted “Labor Stay” on Friday, Aug. 30, in one of the barns designated for retired racehorses where students spent two hours washing buckets from the building’s inventory.
The Secretariat Center’s program director and trainer, Caroline Tatum, said the goal for volunteers that day was to prepare the barn and equipment for future events.
“We’re going to try to do a big fundraiser-type yard sale at the end of September during one of the horse shows that’s on here,” said Tatum. “We’ve pulled out a bunch of stuff that has just been forgotten about, so it needs to be cleaned off and (have) inventory taken of it, and (we need to) tidy up around the barn.”
Tatum explained how helpful it is for her and her coworkers to have volunteers assist with cleaning the barn and its equipment.
“It’s hands-on,” said the Secretariat Center’s farm manager, Anna Lowell. “Instead of just seeing them, they get to come and volunteer and work with them, or maybe adopt one.”
Some student volunteers, such as marketing sophomore Sydney Joiner, already possessed experience in the horse industry.
Joiner, who has been professionally riding for the past 12 years, said she was excited when she learned about the opportunity to volunteer with retired racehorses.
“My mom actually sent me the flier for this, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to be here, and I have nothing to do on Fridays because I don’t have classes,’” said Joiner. “I literally signed up as soon as I saw it because I love being around horses no matter what it is, and since I haven’t been at my home stables since summer, I figured it’s just a great way to be around horses, even if it doesn’t involve riding.”
One student in particular became interested in the world of horses after a special encounter with one over the summer.
“I rode a horse recently in Costa Rica, and I thought they were so cool,” said freshman Makelah Arzu-Porter. “And now I think I’m starting to love horses.”
During the event, volunteers learned about how important places like the Secretariat Center can be for retired racehorses.
“In thoroughbred racing, a lot of times, it doesn’t work out for horses because sometimes they just don’t like their job,” said Joiner. “Having places like this where they can retire and they get to live in their stalls or fields or get retrained to go into a different industry is super important.”
After being introduced to many of the retired racehorses in the barn, Tatum told the volunteers some of the horses’ backstories, like Allied Victory, or “Ike” for short.
Ike, now a 3- year-old retired racehorse, participated in five races, but had to retire after suffering from a fractured sesamoid, a small bone in the lower part of a horse’s leg.
Tatum also told the backstory behind a 6-year-old horse, Pierre. Pierre, a racehorse born in England that has raced across the world in places such as France and Los Angeles, was forced to retire after racing for nearly six years after suffering from “sore feet” toward the end of his racing career.
After being introduced to the horses, volunteers spent the rest of their volunteer time cleaning buckets used to hold the horses’ food and water for Tatum and her workers to use and sell for their upcoming fundraiser.
“I like being able to make a difference in a small way, you know?” said Arzu-Porter. “I know horses take a lot of work, and they do a lot for society and entertainment as well, so, I figured the least we could do is give back in some way.”
“Labor Stay” is one of the many events ASB, an organization focused on bringing students networking and volunteer opportunities, helps host every year.
Director of ASB and environmental and sustainability studies senior, Ari Almeida, said this year ASB wants to focus on holding more volunteer and community building opportunities in Lexington, rather than across multiple states.
“I think what sets ASB apart in general is that we try to focus on education and reflection with every service that we do,” said Almeida. “It’s not just a volunteering event, you’re learning something, taking something away from it, and hopefully continuing to do community service outside of the organization as well. That’s what we’re trying to do, connect people to organizations.”
Lowell said it’s important for the retired racehorses at the Secretariat Center to get attention from the Lexington community in events like “Labor Stay.”
“Since we’re a non-profit, it’s good for people to know about us,” said Lowell. “Thoroughbreds are a huge part of the community here, and people are always looking for horses, so it’s bringing the thoroughbreds from the community to the people, and (bringing) the community together.”
