Established in 1985 as a sanctuary for horses looking for a new lease on life, Equestrian Inc. is situated on 7 acres and houses an average of ten horses. Some of our horses are permanent residents due to age or injuries, and others are in the process of being retrained or are recovering from an injury sustained while on the track. Equestrian Inc. provides former racehorses a chance for a productive second career in a variety of disciplines, such as jumping, dressage, eventing, pleasure, or companionship. The adoption process involves an interview with the potential adopter to gauge their knowledge and ability to care for the horse. The next step is the adopter spending time with the horse so that they can get to know one another. The adopter must be at least 21 years old and financially able to care for the horse. Adoption fees are $500 and up depending on the soundness, training level, and potential of the horse.  Equestrian Inc. has no paid staff; it is run solely by volunteers who are the heart of the organization. Our volunteers consist of a team of dedicated people who perform tasks such as: feeding, grooming, exercising, turnout, stall cleaning, and general farm maintenance. Equestrian Inc. offers Bright Futures hours to high school students and participates in the Hillsborough County Community Service Program, and it hosts groups from local high schools and universities. At these events, the students are given hands-on demonstrations on equine care and rehabilitation. In addition, it has a strong working relationship with Tampa Bay Downs racetrack.

Our late founder, Glenda Smith, said, “Those involved are paid via love given them from the animals, not with money.”