Full Circle is a free program offered by Standardbred Canada (SC) to connect horses in need of a new home after their racing or breeding careers are over.
The idea is to connect horses with their breeder, former owners, trainers, drivers, caretakers or another interested person who might be willing to provide a home for the horse.
This program is modeled after the USTA’s Full Circle program and an initiative by the world’s largest equine registry – the American Quarter Horse Association.
To take part in the Full Circle program, individuals can contact SC and enroll a horse and name themselves as the contact for the program. If the current owner of a horse no longer wants their horse for any reason, they can check with SC to see if the horse is registered in the Full Circle program and if it is, the contact information for the person who enrolled the horse will be made available to them. A horse can be enrolled by more than one person.
SC will facilitate communication between the individuals but not have any involvement in coordinating any arrangements. It will be up to the two individuals to determine the arrangements for the horse.
Arrangements can be temporary or permanent, and include providing a home, helping with expenses, training, or whatever the two parties agree to.
People who enroll horses in the Full Circle program can also remove their name from the horse’s enrollment if their situation changes.
There are three different ways to verify if a horse has been enrolled in the program with the U.S.T.A. or SC, on TrackIT, where the Full Circle logo will be displayed, by contacting the SC office, or by viewing the online list.
This program is a way to ensure that a horse’s former connections can have the opportunity to provide a safe and responsible outcome for a horse that is no longer commercially viable (productive in racing or breeding).
Those interested in registering for the Full Circle program can enroll online by clicking here and then clicking 'Full Circle Form', or click here to print an enrollment form that can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to SC.