How the Special Horses Mission Began ...
The inspiration for our founding and fundraising efforts began with one horse: Ted (Zen's Secret ReaZen). He was foaled March 20, 1992 and his breeder and trainer, Oscar Wells Sr., named him Zen's Secret ReaZen in honor of an illustrious lineage that included Secretariat, Zen, and Hail to Reason. While Ted's pedigree was exemplary, he had only one win, one place, and one show in 27 starts at Fairmount Race Track in Illinois. He passed through a few hands before Wendi Neckameyer, Founder and Executive Director of Special Horses, came across a small newspaper ad listing him for sale. Through her contacts in the horse community, she discovered that many racehorses are regularly sent to auctions and end up in slaughterhouses. (The Cavel Slaughterhouse is now closed, but it was one of the worst and was located a short distance from the Fairmount track in Illinois where Ted raced.)
Wendi realized her beloved Ted could have ended up at the Cavel slaughterhouse, so she decided to found Special Horses and raise funds to help the rescue organizations that save horses. Many of these organizations expend their resources on rescue and rehabilitation, and fundraising and marketing happen on an as-possible basis. Starting from its humble beginnings with a "Secret Santa" fundraiser on the Chronicle of the Horse Forums in 2007, Special Horses grew and was granted tax-exempt, charitable status in March 2010. Special Horses now runs numerous fundraisers throughout the year, promotes the efforts of rescue organizations on social media, and helps them diversify and increase their revenue stream.
We were devastated to lose Ted at the age of 27 in 2019. He was a beloved OTTB who was larger than life, both on and off the track. Ted was responsible for helping so many horses in need, so we—with the help of Niles (read more, below!)—will honor his cherished memory by continuing our mission. Ted's profile photo—from a painting by the very gifted artist, Pat DeLong—will also continue to serve as part of our logo. (Pat passed away just a few years after she gifted us with her beautiful painting, but she left behind a legacy of incredible artwork that immortalized many Thoroughbreds—including Ted.)
... How Our Mission Continues
Our new equine advocate is Niles (Beyond the Nile, Sire Pioneer of the Nile, Dam Beyond Price), who was foaled March 25, 2014. Niles was adopted on May 11, 2019 from The Secretariat Center, a Thoroughbred rehoming facility in Lexington, Kentucky. He promotes adoption of all equines needing new homes and a safe landing. Wendi had seen Niles’ video on the Secretariat Center's website, but had not submitted an adoption application, although she had submitted several elsewhere. The day after Wendi finally submitted an application for Niles was the day that Ted chose to lay down his burden. Ted had been diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 24 with Cushing’s Disease, and he passed on April 19, 2019. On May 11, 2019, Wendi visited the Secretariat Center to meet Niles. Did Ted have a hoof in orchestrating who would become the next Equine Advocate for Special Horses? We'd like to think so. That day, having signed the adoption papers for Niles, Wendi called to him as she left the Center. He was in the middle of a huge paddock, but he came right over to her when she called. She showed him the papers and told him he would come home to her and he arrived in St. Louis on May 19, 2019. He has served as the Equine Advocate for Special Horses ever since.
