Finding "Buck" was a life altering moment for me.  Many of our incredible horses at Mid America Horse Rescue are retraining at this time for their second chance career.  A vital component of their second chance at life is enabling them to use their unbridle spirit and courage to benefit our fellow two-legged family.  Our horses have an undeniable ability to touch people's souls, and through touch therapy programs or therapeutic riding programs for children and adults who are physically or mentally challenged, these beautiful creatures can improve confidence, as well as emotional and physical capabilities in others lives.

We would love to invite all of you to attend our inaugural "Silks and Suits Gala" fundraiser and charity ball slated for Saturday, October 30, 2010 from 6 p.m. to Midnight at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.  Funds raised by the event will help provide shelter, rehabilitation and training for more than 65 ex-racehorses awiating adoption at our facility.  Slated as the Midwest's premier 2010 equestrian event, the evening will include keynote speaker, Alex Brown, "Alex Brown Racing", a New York Times published author and horse welfare advocate.

For more information watch our website; www.midamericahorserescue.org, email us at mahrnfp@yahoo.com or call 618-534-4253.  I look forward to meeting you all in St. Louis in October!

For tickets to the Silks and Suits gala, RSVP at (618) 534-4253 or mahrnfp@yahoo.com.
To donate directly to Mid America Horse Rescue, please visit http://www.mahrnfp.org/how_to_help.php.

Come join us on Saturday, Oct. 30, as Mid America Horse Rescue (MAHR) hosts its inaugural "Silks & Suits" gala fundraiser and charity ball.

The event will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis.

Funds raised will help provide shelter, rehabilitation and retraining for more than 50 ex-racehorses awaiting your help. Numerous notable artists will be donating one-of-a-kind works for the silent and live auctions, which will accompany the event and help raise funds for the rescued horses.

The evening will include keynote speaker Alex Brown of Alex Brown Racing, a New York Times-published author and horse welfare advocate.

As an exercise rider who has worked such racetracks as Penn National and Churchill Downs, Brown has brought national awareness to horse welfare and racing industry regulations through the legacy of Barbaro, the racehorse who fought for life after his Kentucky Derby win.

Slated as the Midwest's premier 2010 equestrian event, the "Silks & Suits" gala will allow the equine community to come together with a common purpose of giving back to support these animal athletes. Although horse racing is a thriving industry in the United States, and hundreds of horses are bred each year to compete, nothing protects their lives once they stop winning.

Mid America Horse Rescue strives to rescue ex-racehorses – primarily Thoroughbreds – and prepare them for their second chance at life after the racetrack. We do this by offering rescue, rehabilitation, retraining and adoption programs for these noble creatures, allowing them to live out their lives respectfully. We also serve as an ally to the racing industry, collaborating and partnering with other people and organizations to ensure sufficient funds are set aside for aftercare programs for these animal athletes once they retire from the racetrack.

During Mid America Horse Rescue’s first year of operation, it rescued, rehabilitated, retrained and transitioned over 200 horses into foster care or adoption. While a significant step, this number represents only a fraction of the need that remains, as hundreds of horses are left without permanent homes annually, after leaving their silks behind.

"This event is vital to creating the financial support needed to continue rescuing the thoroughbreds that so many of us cheer on throughout the racing season," said Sutter. "We appreciate the racing industry for their support and confidence in Mid America Horse Rescue. With our local community's support, together we can continue to move forward. This will be a momentous celebration filled with great food, music and people – and best of all, it supports a great purpose."

Mid America Horse Rescue provides a second life to ex-racehorses. With equine-assisted therapy programs currently in development, Mid America Horse Rescue also helps children with various types of illnesses and disabilities improve their confidence as well as emotional and physical capabilities.

Alex Brown has accumulated more than 20 years of experience in the horse racing industry. He is currently writing a book entitled "Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy."

About Mid America Horse Rescue:

Mid America Horse Rescue is a non-profit organization based in Millstadt, Ill., that rescues, rehabilitates and retrains ex-race horses. These noble creatures deserve a second chance at life, through adoption or therapy programs that allow them to continue giving and living out their lives respectfully. To this end, we endeavor to build the premier equine educational facility in the United States, as we continue to offer a full scope of educational and therapy programs for the community, in addition to housing a well-established rehabilitation center. Mid America Horse Rescue is currently serving as home to about 80 thoroughbreds – with needs ranging from training and complex medical care, to simply love. We need financial support in order to continue operating the rescue and shelter facilities. Please join our mission at www.midamericahorserescue.org.

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Media: To learn more about Mid America Horse Rescue, secure an interview with Founder Margo Sutter, or obtain photos, please contact Kristin Gumper at kgumper@standingpr.com, 314.469.3500 (office), or 314.630.5459 (cell).

Our handsome brown boy, Letdetrumpetblare, aka Buck, aka Cletus, is now running under the professional training of Michele Boyce, located in Chicago, IL. James Graham, our jockey extraordinaire, has been teaching Buck the ropes on the track. What a great team!

To get to where he is today, Buck has overcome some incredible challenges. I purchased Buck off of a "killer truck" headed to Mexico when he was just a yearling (meaning he was still a baby). Buck had a front leg injury that was fixable (he was probably stepped on), as well as a shoulder wound. After rehabilitating him and giving him plenty of love and affection (and treats of course), Buck recovered and grew...And grew...And GREW...into a magnificent animal.

On Thursday, June 4, we entered Buck in his second race ever, at Arlington Park. Our boy ran a strong 6 furlong race and brought a 3rd place finish home after a several month lay-off. (He might have been ready sooner, but he sure enjoyed his home visit and all the snacks everyone gave him. It took a little longer to work that belly off of him... Ooops!!)

By Buck stepping on that track, he won so much for us!

Before the race occurred, Colonel Roy Arnold of Arlington Park had contacted some of the local equine media, who happened to witness Buck's triumphant return to the track. Thanks to Buck's ability to take his second chance and literally run with it, our boy and his trainer Michele Boyce, fast became national celebrities. (Thoroughbred Times recently carried Buck's rescue story, "Rescued Letdetrumpetblare finishes third at Arlington," which was followed by a brief piece from Chicago Sun-Times on June 8.) Since the stories debuted, fans from across the United States have been inquiring about Mid America Horse Rescue.

More exciting news followed the next day! Our dear friend, Nate Ruffalo, vice president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman's Association (ITHA), along with some very incredible members who train, own and support Thoroughbreds, have been spearheading the "after care program" from the Chicago tracks to support horses once they complete their careers. Following Buck's win, the ITHA, in conjunction with Arlington Park Race Course and Hawthorne Race Course, officially announced that a percentage of purses will now be set aside for the care of these horses. Both tracks have committed "seed money" to start the incredible program.

Buck, you have done your job running for your brothers and sisters and bringing attention to their very valuable lives. I am so proud of you. I feel like we have won the Breeder's Cup Classic! Thank you Colonel Arnold for believing in our story!

By running for Mid America Horse Rescue, Buck has touched so many lives. He's helping us share the story about the vital horse rescue programs that allow the industry, breeders and owners to collaborate together and save more lives.

Thanks so much to all parties involved and thank you ITHA for allowing me to visit in February and witness the program's development. I am so grateful to all of you! What a great racing industry we have in Illinois! I hope you will all come support our tracks and our great athletes. Your dollars there go to the horses' support as well.

So, how can you help?

Mid America Horse Rescue is starting its annual budget and capitol fund drives. Interested in fundraising or contributing? Contact me, Margo Sutter, at 314-302-2216.

Interested in volunteering at the barn? Call me or send an e-mail to mahrnfp@yahoo.com and we will put you in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator, Tom Helms.

Funds to purchase the facility and funds for our daily operation are important for the retraining and rehabilitation of our horses, as well as the creation of our new programs for physically and mentally challenged children and adults.

I hope you feel the power of being involved in the legacy that's being created right now. Come join us! We look forward to seeing you!

I will write soon and thank you to everyone (those both two- and four-legged), who have become a part of our mission and touched so many lives. For your support, we are truly grateful!!

 A magazine article featuring Mid America Horse Rescue appeared this month's issue of St. Louis Magazine. Be sure to pick up your copy on the stands now! 

 Jeannette Cooperman, thank you for doing such an awesome job writing about Mid America Horse Rescue and capturing the spirit our unbridled enthusiasm. To my great friend Susan Gregory Nobbe, thank you for connecting Jeannette with us!  And, of course, thank you Sir Anthony for coming into my life and creating this great mission before us.

Since the last time I posted, we've shifted gears to prepare for the Spring season. We've transitioned our public relations representation to a new and incredibly talented, professional and motivated young woman, Kristin Gumper of Standing Partnership. Wow, the old adage of when a door closes a window opens could not have been more appropriately said for us… However, I liken it to the door closes and the barn doors have flung open! Thanks so much, Kristin, for your professional advice and hard work to move us ahead and back on track. We are out of the gates, and off and running!

In addition, our event planning chair, Lisa Wood George, has created an incredible fundraiser for us – one that I simply can't wait for!

The "Silks and Suits Gala" is slated for Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Four Seasons hotel in St. Louis. With keynote speaker Alex Brown of Alex Brown Racing, this unique event will celebrate the horses that reside at Mid America Horse Rescue. The Gala will also feature a live and silent auction, with incredible works of art by some of America's finest artists. (We'll be listing artists and art work by August.)

Funds raised will help support these horses as they prepare for their second act in life. In fact, many of them go on to become equine therapy horses for children, sport horses or pasture pals. (I'll have to tell you about LetDaTrumpetBlare, one of the first horses we rescued, in an upcoming post! Man, can that boy run! He's now racing for us and is truly changing lives, by showing what second chances can mean for rescued Thoroughbreds.)

We have so much to celebrate, but so much more work to do. Please "Save the Date" for this black tie event. Tickets and sponsorships are currently available by contacting me, Margo Sutter at 314-302-2216, or e-mailing for information at mahrnp@yahoo.com.

All proceeds of our event will support Mid America Horse Rescue.

So, dust off your finest duds and come join us for a night of dinner, dancing and celebrating second chances!

P.S. Many thanks to talented new friend Rudi Backart-Owens, who created our new look and invitation! Look for it in the upcoming edition in Cowboys and Indians Magazine.

Mid America Horse Rescue Trivia Night - Spring 2010

DATE: May 1, 2010
TIME: Doors open at 6 PM, Trivia begins at 7PM
LOCATION: St. Matthias (South County),
796 Buckley Road, St Louis, MO 63125-5346
Click here for a map and directions
 
COST: $80 per table of 8 participants
You may bring your own beverages and snacks.  

To reserve your table or for more information contact René Legens at (314) 638-9990.

Not a trivia buff?  Put your other skills to work.  We are always looking for high-energy volunteers to help with our events.  Just email us at mahrnfp@yahoo.com!

When: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Doors open and play: 6pm - 10pm

Where: American Legion
375 East Locust Street
Columbia, IL
Click here for a map and directions

Tickets
$60.00 in advance; $75.00 @ door
Ticket includes food and soft drinks. Cash bar available

PLUS!
50/50
Prizes
Wheelbarrow of beer raffle

Contact Doug Gool @ (618) 281-3330 or Margo Sutter @ (314) 302-2216 or (618) 980-8648

We’ve Come So Far…In One Year

Looking back over our inaugural year I am amazed at how far we have come. Mid America Horse Rescue started six months prior to our intended opening date due to the Fairmount Park Paddock Sale held earlier than planned. We went into a reactive rather than a proactive state.

Our goal was to complete our lease/purchase at our facility, conduct fundraisers, then open by spring of this year. When I received the phone call regarding the Paddock Sale, I was informed there would be no representation for these incredible Thoroughbreds. We had no choice but to move swiftly into action.

We had a small, but mighty group on that hot August day we attended the sale. We brought home 13 horses, and assisted in transitioning a good amount of the balance of 80 that went through the sale that day. Our numbers of horses, as well as their needs, have grown over the year, but even in the most daunting of economic times we have forged ahead and made it.

After the sale we had more trainers and more horses come in. We have had 3 foals born successfully this year, turned around 3 starvation cases (you go Ferrari!!), dealt with 2 founder cases, and saw our highest risk girl, Princess, through a successful temporary tracheotomy (as well as foaling).

We also started growing our 2-legged family, as folks found out about our efforts and wanted to become part of the mission and our journey. With the assistance of our incredible volunteer group and communication through equine sites, we assisted at a dispersal sale last December, ensuring all horses were sold to, or transitioned into, great and safe situations. I am always amazed at the big hearts of our equine friends and family.

During this first year of our formation, Mid America Horse Rescue has sheltered, rehabilitated, retrained, adopted, fostered and transitioned over 200 horses.

With the continued support of our volunteering friends, colleagues, fellow equine enthusiasts, and strategic partners, we endeavor to move to Phase II of our goals to continue to build America’s premier Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation facility. We welcome you to participate in our fundraising efforts, and encourage you to follow us on twitter and our website for the latest information, monthly schedule, and announcements of our 2010 Corporate Sponsors!

Please check out our "Sponsor a Horse for the Holidays" site, and join us in our efforts to support a horse with their daily care. Remember, this is good not only for the holidays, but a special gift for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, retirement, memorial tribute, etc.

The gift of your time is always appreciated by the horses; they look to you to help make their second chance in life possible.

Come join us, as we look forward to seeing you in 2010!

Happiest of Holidays to you and yours,

Margo Sutter

Pack Up the Family - It's Almost Time for Crazy Bowl!

Thanks to you, our generous supporters, Crazy Bowl was one of our most successful fundraisers in 2009.  So, back by popular demand - we're hosting our 2nd Annual Mid America Horse Rescue CrAzY Bowl in 2010. 

Dust off your bowling shoes and bring the whole family - crazy bowl is a day for family fun! All ages and skill levels are encouraged to play!!!  RSVP early, space is limited!

When: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Registration: 12:30 pm
CrAzY Bowl:  1:00 pm  to 5 pm

Where:West Park Bowl, 1101 Valmeyer Rd., Columbia, IL
(Click here for map and directions.)