NOT OUT TO PASTURE
Horse rescue groups want to perform at Wisconsin’s Midwest Horse Fair
Some Wisconsin horse rescue groups want to saddle up and ride at the state’s largest equine show but say their horses aren’t getting the chance to strut their stuff.
Up in hooves over this, Spirit Horse Equine Rescue, of Janesville, has launched a petition drive to persuade the Midwest Horse Fair to change a policy it deems unfair to horse adoption organizations.
The Midwest Horse Fair, to be held the weekend of April 20 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, is the largest three-day horse show in the country, according to its organizers.
Thousands of people will pack the coliseum to watch horses and riders in various breeds and skills demonstrations.
But, under Midwest’s policy, horse rescue organizations aren’t allowed to enter one of the show’s main events, which highlight particular horse breeds and skills such as dressage, trick riding and pulling a cart.
“We would participate if we could do it as a rescue,” said Weenonah Brattset of Racer Placers, a Standardbred adoption service in Jefferson.
“It’s long overdue. There are a lot of really
nice horses in adoption programs,” Brattset said.
Wisconsin has a plethora of equine rescue groups, including some focused on saving former race horses from the slaughterhouse.
Spirit Horse, a nonprofit founded in 2008 by Dee Dee Golberg of Janesville, says it has a mission of rescuing “abused, neglected, unwanted and slaughter bound equines.”
Golberg says she’s tried for years to persuade Midwest Horse Fair to change its written policy that says “adoption based organizations will not be considered for participation in the breed & discipline demonstrations.”
A panel of judges decides who gets in the events based on submitted videos and past performances.
“But how do they know what we could possibly offer if we aren’t even given a chance to apply? The door is just slammed in our face,” Golberg said.
“They could be missing out on something that’s really amazing,” she added.
The Midwest Horse Fair says it will reconsider the policy for next year’s show, but not for this year.
“It’s on the agenda for this summer,” said Megan Hanuszczak, the group’s executive director.
However, Midwest Horse Fair — which is owned by the Wisconsin Horse Council — doesn’t concede that it is treating rescue horses unfairly.
It allows rescue groups to have booths in the show’s trade fair, and in previous years the show had events highlighting the stories and skills of rescued equine.
Also, individual horses from adoption organizations are allowed to join a breed or discipline group and take part in its demonstration.
Rescue groups, however, say having a booth in the trade area of the show isn’t as meaningful as having their horses in the arena under their own group names.
“People can come to a table and pick up some information, but what’s better than being in the coliseum and seeing what these groups can do? Give us a chance,” said Susan Wellman, founder of the American Standardbred Adoption Program in De Soto.
Wellman says she has horses in her program that had made their owners more than $1 million in their racing careers, and she would love to show them at the horse fair.
“We’ve begged them. We’ve sent in demo tapes,” she said.
And the answer has always been “no,” you aren’t allowed in as a rescue group, she added.
Wellman says the general public could relate to rescue horses in the show because of their stories, talents, and the fact that they’re affordable.
“That’s important for many families. If all they’re seeing are the horses that cost so much money, it’s unreachable for them,” she said.
Golberg says she’s skeptical that Midwest Horse Fair will review its policy because she’s heard that before and nothing came from it.
“Earlier this year I contacted both the Wisconsin
“We would like to show people what can be accomplished with horses that, at some point, were thrown away or no longer wanted.” Dee Dee Golberg Founder of Spirit Horse, a nonprofit rescue in Janesville
Horse Council and the Midwest Horse Fair and was pretty much stonewalled,” she said.
Thus far, the online petition has about 350 signatures, including supporters from other states and overseas.
Wednesday, after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contacted the Midwest Horse Fair about its policy and the petition drive, the organization updated its website with further explanation but no change in the rules.
“I think what they have put on their website is sheer deflection and an avoidance of the real issue, and that is we would like to be considered for demonstration (events) under our own auspices,” Golberg said.
“It’s unfortunate that, rather than reach out to us to discuss the situation, they chose to try and muddy the water,” she added.
Horse rescue groups in Michigan and Indiana said they weren’t aware of equine shows in their states having policies that exclude them from something like a skills demonstration event.
“I think it would be really sad if they were turned down,” said Jodi Louth, president of the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition.
“The public needs to see that these horses, in many cases, are every bit as good as other horses. A lot of them are diamonds in the rough,” Louth said.
It shouldn’t matter if equestrian teams are from a horse rescue group, as long as they meet the qualifications, said Cindy Genron, manager of Homes for Horses Coalition, a Virginia-based group that promotes the welfare and protection of horses.
“They absolutely should have the opportunity to be showcased. I think it’s about the bigger picture of educating the public,” Genron said.
Golberg says if her petition doesn’t persuade Midwest Horse Fair to change its policy, she might organize an alternative horse fair for rescues.
“We want a meaningful presence at the show. It’s not that we couldn’t find some backdoor way to get in, because we could, but that’s not the point,” she said.
If allowed, she envisions bringing a mixed group of horses, and maybe even a donkey, to a disciplines demonstration event at Midwest Horse Fair.
“We would like to show people what can be accomplished with horses that, at some point, were thrown away or no longer wanted,” she said.