Photo by Jeff Brammer Disco Derby prances around a paddock at HorseNet Horse Rescue on Friday, two weeks after arriving at the sanctuary. A former racehorse who won five races in four years, Disco Derby had that phase of his life — and any phase that included riding — ended by injuries. Fortunately, he wound up at HorseNet. But, the number of unwanted, neglected and/or abused horses appears to be growing.

A new arrival at HorseNet Horse Rescue, the thoroughbred surveyed the land before him, realized his handler had released him from his lead and the 5-year-old gelding took off running.

A quick gallop around the fenced-in paddock and the retired racehorse dropped to the ground, rolling around and scratching his back. His chestnut coat, moments earlier glistening in the morning sun, was a bit dirtier.

He promptly jumped up on all fours, pranced around in a circle and stopped beside the newly laid pile of hay. He took a few bites.

Disco Derby seemed content with his new home. And he should be. He's avoided the worst instances of potential neglect. He has escaped the prospect of sale for slaughter.

According to a 2009 survey conducted by The Unwanted Horse Coalition, and based on thousands of industry-wide respondents, more than 90 percent believed the number of unwanted, neglected and/or abused horses to be growing.

"I started years ago because I saw a lot of people throwing away horses for stupid reasons," said Elle Williams, founder and executive director of HorseNet Horse Rescue in Mount Airy . "And regardless the reason, the horse is always the one who gets the blame."

Each year The Jockey Club, the governing body of thoroughbred racing in North America, registers more than 30,000 new racehorses, creating nonstop replenishment of prospective equine athletes. These newcomers offer racing operations, whose livelihoods depend on success at the racetrack and paydays from purses, replacements for their injured or under-performing animals.

Horses removed from training to make room for new charges begin the process of discovering a new purpose. Some find work as event horses or jumpers. Others become riding horses for personal recreation. Still, with such opportunities limited and competition fierce for those spots, many fall through the cracks of an overwhelmed and under-funded safety net system.

Add in a faltering economy and a racing industry in transition in the 21st century with increased competition for gambling dollars and the recipe for uncertainty for ex-racehorses becomes apparent.

Disco Derby is one of the lucky ones. Though dealing with injuries that limit his racing prospects, he's, for the moment, found sanctuary.

"We believe they should have as long a life as their bodies will let them, with them being comfortable," said Michelle Sithithavorn, director of development for HorseNet Horse Rescue.

During a four-year career that saw him win five races and earn $88,000 in 32 starts, Disco Derby suffered damage to his front left fetlock (ankle), resulting in arthritis and cartilage loss in the joint. Although not life-threatening, this kind of wear and tear eliminates the possibility he can be ridden again in any capacity.

"We just got the X-rays back and there's nothing we can do surgery on," Sithithavorn said. "We just hope the joint will fuse. Hopefully we can find a place for him to be a pasture animal or somebody's pet. But that's about all he can do."

Spread across 40 acres of rolling hillside in central Maryland, HorseNet Horse Rescue's location in Mount Airy houses 38 horses, including many thoroughbreds but also other breeds. HorseNet Horse Rescue, a volunteer-staffed nonprofit organization, has another location in New Windsor, and between the two cares for nearly 100 horses, offering shelter, food, medical care and grazing land.

But as is the case for rescues nationwide, the present economic landscape has hit hard groups dependent on charitable giving. Plans to renovate facilities and increase capacities have been temporarily sidelined in favor of just meeting day-to-day responsibilities.

"Donations have been way down the past two years," Sithithavorn said. "Our maintenance has been lacking. We're focusing on feeding the horses. I think that's most important right now."

Yet at a time when horse welfare organizations face daunting financial challenges, there seems to be an uptick in the demands placed on such entities. Though former racehorses represent only a portion of the problem, and thoroughbreds are but a single breed of many, the number of unwanted horses continues to grow at a pace far exceeding the capacities of rescue organizations.

According to The Unwanted Horse Coalition survey, six of 10 rescue facilities reported to be at or near capacity and, on average, turn away nearly 40 percent of the horses brought to them. Among the reasons given were the downturn in the economy, the closing in 2007 of the last of the United States' processing plants, changes in the demands for certain breeds, indiscriminate breeding and the high cost of euthanasia.

"The thoroughbred industry needs to show the American public that it is taking affirmative steps to protect its horses by developing industry-wide mechanisms for humane retirement," said Diana Pikulski, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Nevertheless, the stress in dealing with the situation on a case-by-case basis falls on the individual rescues. And the only thing keeping Disco Derby from becoming another statistic was a chance opening at HorseNet Horse Rescue because an older horse had to be put down and a woman who happened to be surfing the Internet.

"I saw this kind of hysterical ad saying, 'come get this horse or he will be destroyed,'" said Bonnie Erbe. "But it's really hard to place them. There are so many out there, and there is only so much room."

Erbe, a longtime journalist and television show host with PBS, came across an ad on Craigslist while looking to place her own ad offering an opening for a horse to be boarded at her farm in Accokeek. Disco Derby was free for the taking.

Following the injury that ended his racing career, he was purchased with hopes of recreational riding. However, that goal unmet, he was offered by his new owner to be rescued from a private farm in Purcellville, Va.

"I'm not really involved in the horse rescue industry," Erbe said. "But I do what I can."

A few years ago, Erbe brought a horse to HorseNet Horse Rescue after she had been notified about an available horse via her being on a mailing list as an owner.

As was the case with the previous horse, Erbe made a donation and HorseNet Horse Rescue found itself with a new resident. On Friday, Sithithavorn arrived at the rescue in Mount Airy for her morning chores — feeding the horses and checking on their well-being. But this morning offered her something different.

Sithithavorn, a six-year volunteer with HorseNet Horse Rescue whose full-time job is as a veterinarian technician at Spurlock Equine Associates in Lovettsville, Va., would turn out Disco Derby for the first time in the pasture after he arrived in Mount Airy two weeks ago.

Certain questions about his medical condition now answered from a review of his X-rays, and with no additional infirmities striking at the forefront, Sithithavorn felt comfortable enough to lead Disco Derby out from his stall for a little exercise.

"He did great," she said. "We'll continue letting him out through the winter and probably re-evaluate him in the spring. Then maybe we can turn him out with the other horses in the larger fields."

ON THE WEB

n ALONG THE RAIL:Read Jeff Brammer's horse-racing blog.

fredericknewspost.com

n HorseNet Horse Rescue on the Internet:

www.hnhr.org