In fall of 2007 I vacationed for two weeks in both France and England, my first trip back there in almost ten years. I've traveled to Europe many times before (my father was British, and a quintessential horseperson) and throughout the flight I always feel incredibly excited about returning to another part of what "home" means to me: Re-visiting the expansive and pervasive British horse culture ( I enjoy Chantilly in France and the Lippizans in Vienna too...But London has the Queens' Royal Mews !). The Changing of the Guard would be unimaginable without horses. Tourists are well-warned to stand back as "horses may kick or bite" :-) :-):-)!!!
It was a bit hard to come back to the U.S. this time. Admittedly, I am becoming increasingly bi-continental and I suspect there is no cure. While the UK is geographically smallish, it's almost impossible to not find something equine related going on daily, weather notwithstanding.
The UK has institutionalized some positive options and programs for retired race horse retraining and rehoming.
Many 501C-3 organizations throughout the U.S. are working individually and , sometimes, collectively to these ends as well.
But, I do wonder what a more centralized system of Racing Authority support could mean for American Thoroughbreds.
Melodee, http://www.chezchevaux.org
