The Santulli family, which operates Colts Neck Stables, has a long-standing policy. They will do everything they can to ensure that any horse they have bred and/or raced is taken care of once it can no longer compete on the racetrack. So they grew concerned when a horse they bred and raced, who now goes by the barn name of “Oscar,” was taken off in an ambulance following a late June race at Laurel.Colts Neck bred and owned the horse until it was claimed away from the stable in an early June $20,000 claimer, also at Laurel. Twenty-two days later, Oscar was in a perilous situation. He had a fractured right sesamoid.The injury was not life-threatening, but in order to survive, Oscar would have to undergo surgery, one that would likely lead to him going on to a second career. When horses, especially claimers, wind up in that situation, it poses a dilemma for some owners. They may not have the financial means or desire to spend what it takes for the surgery and what can be a lengthy recuperation process when the horse's earning days are over. One option is to have the horse put down.That's why the HISA Equine Recovery Foundation (HERF) was founded. The owner of an injured horse can turn that horse over to HERF, which accepts horses who may need surgery but whose prognosis for survival and either a comfortable life or second career is possible. To make the path forward smoother for any of the horses it takes in, HERF started the “Empty Stall Challenge.” In order to cut down on expenses, HERF reaches out to farms and owners and asks them to use empty stall space to take in horses that have come into the program.Among those who have participated are Denali Stud, Godolphin, Margaux Farm, Machmer Hall and Ross Haven Farm. Additional farms have pledged an empty stall, including Airdrie Stud, Taylor Made Farm, Brandywine Farm and Hinkle Farms.The Santullis were happy to join the list and to step up and provide Oscar with a stall and an opportunity to recuperate at their private stable in Colts Neck, New Jersey.“We really hate to have a horse claimed, but we understand the game,” said Stephen Santulli, who, along with his father, Richard, runs the Colts Neck operation. “You've got to put the horses where you think they're going to win. When we lose a horse, we always love to follow up on them and see how they're doing. I was watching the race and I saw that he was pulled up. Our trainer, Jorge (Duarte Jr.), texted me and said that he heard that this horse wasn't doing well. I had told him that before speaking to my dad we should give it a few days, let the owner know whatever happens, we'll always take the horse back, that we'd love to take him back and rehab him and get him into a second home and on to a new career. Then we got a call from the people at HERF and they asked us if we would take him in for the rehab and we were more than happy to do so. We've loved having him back in the barn. We try to make sure that the horses that come through our program will always end up having a great life and live happily and healthily for as long as they can.”Once a horse is taken in by HERF, it is evaluated by an equine surgeon. HERF has found a number of surgeons who have been willing to waive their fees for the surgery. Equine hospitals Rood & Riddle and Hagyard support the Foundation by donating surgical fees. Teaching hospitals such as University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital and Cornell University Veterinary Hospital and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine provide discounted rates. Dr. Patty Hogan is among those who have stepped up to help.Oscar was turned over to HERF on July 7 and Hogan performed the surgery at her Hogan Equine Clinic on July 14. The next stop was the Santulli's training center.“He's been a pretty good patient,” Stephen Santulli said. “He's not the best going out to the paddock. He likes to jump up and run around. He's not the easiest on himself, but he is very easy to be around and he's going to be a great horse for someone one day.”HERF was assisted in the process by Beyond the Wire. Beyond the Wire is an initiative involving the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Maryland Jockey Club, Northview Stallion Station, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland-based jockeys. The organization is designed to facilitate safe and enriching placements for retiring Maryland-based race horses. Beyond the Wire secured a spot for Oscar with Thoroughbred Retirement, Rehabilitation and Careers in Oxford, Pa. There, he will be trained for a second career and the prognosis is excellent for him going on to a rich and full life in someother equine pursuit.Stephen Santulli is among the many who understand the need for the sport to come together and do everything it can to save those horses who can be saved.“I feel like a lot of it is that a lot of these new people that come in don't fully grasp what's important,” he said. “Too many people just want to be done with the problem. They sell the horse to whomever and don't really think about who that person could end up selling the horse to down the line. One thing we always say is when we sell a horse or lose it in a claiming race…we always tell them if anything happens, please call us. We all need to take care of these horses and treat them the way they are supposed to be treated. To do otherwise, that's just not right.”HERF is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization and is fully supported by private donations. To make a contribution, visit https://www.equinerecovery.org/#donate The post Thanks to HERF’s Empty Stall Challenge, The Future is Bright for Oscar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.