Life often looks bleak for Thoroughbred racehorses who are not fast enough to win or become injured and can no longer race. Robbie Timmons, founding member and executive director of CANTER, saw the sad fates of these beautiful and intelligent horses, and set out to create an organization that would give these Thoroughbreds another chance at life. Founded in 1998, CANTER is dedicated to providing off-track Thoroughbreds with opportunities for new homes and careers through rehabilitation, retraining, and adoption.

CANTER soon expanded, with affiliates across the country that have saved the lives of more than 25,000 Thoroughbreds to date. However, CANTER Michigan is unique: it partners with the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine so that MSU veterinarians can provide life-saving surgeries to repair racetrack injuries, such as removing bone chips from joints and repairing leg fractures.

CANTER began working with MSU in 2000 when the CANTER team and Dr. John Stick, then MSU Chief of Staff of the Large Animal Clinic, confronted the critical need to provide surgeries for injured Thoroughbreds to save their lives and give them a pain-free future. The partnership was created and maintained by the hard work of original CANTER board members JoAnne Normile, Judy Gutierrez, and Joy Aten, as well as key volunteers Bob Lombardini, Karen Seghers, Michelle Kryszak, Janet Salisbury, Lori Hudson, and Scott Burgess. On MSU's side, following Stick’s retirement, Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Dr. Frank Nickels continues the partnership.

The process starts when CANTER sends the Large Animal Clinic x-rays of a Thoroughbred’s injury for an assessment. Then, CANTER schedules transport of the Thoroughbred(s) to MSU where new x-rays are taken and a surgery date is selected. Once the Thoroughbreds are treated, they continue in CANTER’s program, receiving rehabilitation, retraining, marketing on social media, and are listed on the CANTER website for public purchase. In 2022, MSU treated 30 CANTER Thoroughbreds.

The working relationship between CANTER and MSU is beneficial to both parties. “The partnership offers surgeries to repair racetrack injuries, allowing CANTER to accept injured Thoroughbreds into its program,” says Timmons. “It is literally life-saving.”

On the flip side, CANTER cases offer MSU advanced educational opportunities for veterinary students to assist with all aspects of these surgeries. “Since we no longer have any Thoroughbred horse racing in Michigan, the CANTER program is very important to us for training residents and students,” says Nickels. “These horses present us with occupational injuries not seen in other performance horses present for lameness.” These unique cases give students opportunities to work on arthroscopic surgeries that they otherwise would not encounter.

A seven-year-old Thoroughbred bay gelding, Centrist was brought to MSU on December 20, 2022, for x-rays and evaluation. On January 24, 2023, he had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from both front legs; the surgery was assisted by student Sarah Thomas. Centrist was originally purchased for $90,000 and had raced 50 times. He was foaled in New York City by Oak Meadow Farm, and upon seeing social media posts from CANTER about Centrist’s rehabilitation, Oak Meadow Farm contacted CANTER to adopt him and bring him back to their farm as a trail riding horse. He was adopted by the farm on June 23, 2023.

Funny Bachelor is a six-year-old Thoroughbred bay gelding, who was brought into MSU on August 22, 2022, for arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his left front leg. He has completed post-surgery rehabilitation and is enjoying his new life as a companion horse. He is beginning non-rider agility course training and is available for adoption.

Brought into MSU on August 15, 2022, this five-year-old Thoroughbred gray gelding needed arthroscopic surgery for bone chips in his right front leg. MSU veterinary student Rebecca Enerson assisted with the surgery, and Volume Leader is now retraining for his new career. He is currently available for adoption.

Zarosha is a four-year-old Thoroughbred chestnut gelding, brought into MSU on January 24, 2023. MSU students Susan Kim and Haley Abbott assisted with the surgery on March 15, 2023, to remove bone chips from both front legs. While at a rehabilitation farm, Zarosha was adopted by a qualified adopter who will finish out his rehab. Zarosha’s beautiful chestnut coloring follows famous champion Secretariat in his bloodline.

The Equine Rehabilitation Fund supports full diagnostic and surgical services for horses rescued through CANTER and other similar organizations—support this fund.

Contact CANTER Michigan at cantermichigan@canterusa.org.