Our hearts are still warm from witnessing this moment – When Press Exclusive and her daughter Swiftie, two former racehorses, were reunited here at the sanctuary.
Press Exclusive, a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred who raced in Canada, was rescued in 2012 by Mindy Lovell of the Ontario-based rescue organization Transitions Thoroughbreds. Her story was so horrifying and compelling that it went viral, which is how it came to the attention of Equine Advocates President Susan Wagner. Press Exclusive had raced 48 times and won hundreds of thousands of dollars for her owner, after which time she gave birth to nine foals before ending up on the Canadian version of Craigslist where she was purchased by a killer buyer. On her way to slaughter, she was trampled nearly to death on the truck. Thanks to Mindy, she defied the odds and in 2013, Press was able to travel to Equine Advocates to be permanently retired here. But her amazing story does not end there!
Swiftie, who raced under the name “X-Squared,” was born in 2010 and was Press Exclusive’s last foal. Mindy learned she was racing at Woodbine in Ontario and then was sold to someone in Texas in 2018 to be raced and bred. Susan contacted that person to say if X Squared ever needed a forever home, we would like to retire her at the sanctuary. Years passed and this past June, Susan received an unexpected call asking if she was still interested in giving X Squared a home. It was an easy answer – “Yes!” With X Squared’s new life came a new musically-inspired name – Swiftie! She arrived here in July.
Due to a chronic health issue that prevents us from turning Press Exclusive out on wet ground, she and Swiftie cannot be turned out together. Press Exclusive enjoys her quiet life with supervised turnout at the Main Barn and has Sergeant York to keep her company. Swiftie made fast friends with a group of mares who all love to run together in their pasture. Miraculously, our 11-year quest to give Swiftie a forever home became a reality. Come meet her and Press Exclusive at one of our Public Open Days!
Click here to read more about Press Exclusive’s dramatic rescue.