Friends of Ferdinand Inc. (FFI) is a 501(c)3 organization founded in Indiana in 2005 to educate, advocate, and provide options for at-risk racehorses. Friends of Ferdinand took its name from a championed racehorse named Ferdinand, who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeder’s Cup and was named Horse of the Year in 1987. During his career, Ferdinand earned four million dollars and retired to stud in 1989. A few years later, he was led to slaughter.
Friends of Ferdinand is an accredited, established, well respected and recognized non-profit organization that transitions thoroughbred racehorses to 2nd careers. Friends of Ferdinand is a volunteer–based operation. The board of directors manage the programs and the administration of the organization. Friends of Ferdinand is an efficient organization that minimizes expenses and maximizes resources. FFI utilizes a hybrid model that leverages both private facilities and retraining/adoption facilities. Once horses clear rehab, they ship to one of our trainers based on the team’s evaluation of their best career. We have trainers in both English and Western disciplines and strive to prepare the horses for a smooth transition to find their match. Adopted by primarily amateur riders, our horses become cherished companions and equine partners.
The success of the Friends of Ferdinand adoption program, finding the best applicant, is a direct result of our core value: the horses come first. Our horses leave the equine aftercare network, and become a new life partner with their adopter. Their journey through the program comes from the passion of all the owners donating them to secure them a well placed home, the vets setting them up for a well suited career, the trainers acclimating them to new experiences, the board coordinating their journey and screening applicants to start their path to a successful adoption.
We keep an average of 10 - 15 horses at a time and get to know them and care for them like our own. Once the adoption is finalized, our commitment does not end. If for any reason, at any time in the future, a Friends of Ferdinand horse needs to come back to us, our barn doors are open. We continue to follow our horses and get to see their 2nd careers evolve with their new owner as they develop a relationship, overcome challenges, and brave new experiences. We have a long term commitment and we follow our horses and adopters journey to ensure they are safe.