Bright Futures Farm is an equine charity whose primary focus is off the track Thoroughbreds...horses that can no longer race due to disinterest or injury.  Our dedication has grown to include horses that are difficult to find homes for...older horses that are unwanted after their "useful years" are over, and older stallions that cannot be gelded due to the risk of complications.

We are always in need of foster homes.  When you foster a horse you help us save one more from harm.  Fostering expenses are tax-deductible.  If you have room, please ask us about our foster program.

REMEMBERING OLD FRIENDS

Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions.  Flowers and gifts given in honor and memory of John Henry.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

I am still with you…

Allo G’Bye (Dolly)  

 (Personable Joe - Twirp)

2.8.1997 - 7.27.2008

1997 bay Thoroughbred mare.  Loved dearly by all who met her, and by her "mom and dad" Becky and Josh. Dolly is greatly missed.

Blue

2006 - 5.29.10

Rescued from the Sugar Creek, OH livestock auction on  September 27, 2009, Blue was being fostered by Lori Revis of Ohio.  He loved her, as much as she loved him.  She had recently decided to keep him. 

Lori called me the morning of May 29, 2010.  We are in shock, and in mourning. When Blue didn't come to the gate for breakfast, Jonathan went to find him.  He was standing in the field.  Somehow he sustained a compound fracture to his RF canon bone.  Lori was called immediately, as was their vet.  Blue passed quietly with his head in Lori's lap.  She had just "told" him last night that she wanted him to stay with her.  I had a feeling for some time that she would want to keep him.  They had developed a very strong bond in the short time he was there.  Lori, words can't express the sadness I feel for you and Blue.  As devastating as his passing is, there is much comfort in knowing that he found love and kindness through you.

Rest in peace, my friend

Beaming  

 ( Majestic Light - Bold Honor)

1985 - 6/11/02

Rescued by Equine Advocates in the spring of 2002, Beaming met a tragic death on June 11, 2002, due to the negligence of her temporary caregivers.   She is now in heaven watching over her comrade, Defenses Down. Read Beaming's Story.

Chloe

American Shorthair

March 2005 - 1.11.10

Chloe was a wonderful boy with a vibrant personality.  He loved to be held and purred like a Porsche.  Chloe was perfectly fine on Friday, 1.8.10.  Saturday morning he was a bit lethargic, and by Saturday evening, his gums were pallor.  I took him to a local vet where they put him on steroids, fluids and vitamins and a heating pad as his temperature was below normal.  They could not ship blood until today for analysis.  I was on my way to see him at 6:15 this evening (1.11.10), when I received a call from the vet that he had just passed on.  I am heartbroken.  I just lost Gordy on 1.7.  Chloe was young, healthy and losing him is just devastating. 1.12.10:  Test results confirm chronic kidney failure.  He showed no symptoms at all until Saturday afternoon when he became anemic. 

Daphne

Arabian cross mare

1989 - 7.31. 2007

1989 Bay Arab cross mare.  Daphne was rescued after the death of her owner in 2006, only to die at the hands of a "professional" horse transport company named S*E Transport out of Crossville, TN.  S*E is run by Elizabeth Picard and Sherry Nuny.  Their promises to transport three elder horses from VA to PA in one trip with no stops due to the August heat were empty promises.  More importantly, their driver, Jim, was so inept, and did not listen to my instructions on how to load the horses that Daphne died as a result of his negligence.  To add salt to the already deep wound, after this tragedy, they still didn't "get it" and did not follow through with their promise to drive directly back to PA with the other two horses (and if any other method of transport had been available at that moment, we'd have taken it).  This was an eight hour trip (with stops) that took this inept driver 26 (yes twenty-six) hours to complete and my worst fears were realized... Tiny collapsed in the trailer due to heat exhaustion.  Gordy stepped on her.  S&E makes it a point on their web site and in their ads to tell you that they carry a complete first aid kit with them and will administer first aid whenever needed, but yet, Tiny was left untreated and by the time she and Gordy were unloaded, her face looked like she'd been through a boxing match.   Daphne was buried at the home of Al Stivas in Catlett, VA.  Read the whole story here.

Be VERY careful about who you hire to transport your horse.

Diplomatic Bid  (Dippy)  

 ( )

1997 bay Thoroughbred gelding.  Dippy was a racehorse with heart, and went onto a career as a hunter/jumper in Eastern PA.  He arrived at Bright Futures as a semi-retiree.  He had a wonderful personality and was loved by many.

El Alegre

Thoroughbred cross Gelding

1996 - 11.03.2007

Too many people are in a hurry.  Too many people are reckless in how they do things.  Debby K. OHearon of Clarksville, TN adopted Alegre.  I asked her who she was going to use to transport him as I had just lost Daphne due to negligence.  Debby quickly said..."I am.  I read about Daphne on your web site, and I would never do anything to harm him..."  

click here to read more...

Genuine Risk

(Exclusive Native - Virtuous)

(2.15.1977 - 8.18.2008)

I have been blessed with the rare opportunity to visit some of racing's Champions over the years and made a great many friends during those visits.

One such visit was on a very hot  day in June of 2005.  I chose to deliver one of our horses to his new home because I knew I would be only an hour from Upperville...home of the famous 1980 Kentucky Derby winner, G. R. (as her Newstead Farm family fondly referred to her). 

Not only have I been honored to meet such wonderful horses such as G.R., but I have been afforded unbelievable opportunities that I would have never imagined possible.  One of those was leading G.R. out of her stall into the courtyard and hand grazing her (I also gave her a few carrots and peppermints which she quickly and graciously accepted).

Me & G.R. June 12, 2005:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/40523.htm?id=40523

Goodbye, G.R.

Jackson

Thoroughbred gelding

1985 - 8. 30. 2007       

John Henry

(Old Bob Bowers - Once Double)

3.9.1975 - 10.08.2007

view my video of John taken 6-23-07 at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlQ887HFwjM

Mr. Chips

Paint Pony

Top Guns Fly Free (Gunner)

(Fly So Free - Nat's Sallie)

02.09.1997 - 09.22.2007

Gunner was laid to rest beside Daphne at a friend's farm in Catlett, VA.

Gunner died in a freak accident in VA on 1-95 on his way home to Florida.  The garage that put new tires on Allene's Land Rover put the WRONG SIZE TIRE on the back, and it just fell off! The result was a horrid accident in which Gunner lost his life and Beau and Lily survived with non-life threatening injuries.

Please check your vehicle over carefully whenever you have any work done. 

Allene had used this garage for ten years and had no reason to think there would ever be a problem!  It cost Gunner his life, and it could have also taken the lives of Allene, Santos, Beau and Lily.

Walter

Gelderlander

2.20.1980 - 1.22.2007