Jaine Garcia grew up loving horses and began riding at the early age of 4. After traveling the world and riding horses in places such as South Africa and Australia, she wanted to take a break from them and the sport. Until one day a friend told her about Win Place Home.
“‘You have to come see this place. It’s completely different from any barn you’ve ever known,’” she recalled her friend telling her. Once she set foot at Win Place Home and met dozens of retired race horses who needed guidance and some extra love, she never left.
Garcia, who is now an assistant trainer at the organization, works with several different thoroughbreds and helps them figure out what new careers they will go into following life after the racetrack. “The transformation from a horse who was trained to run, come here pretty hyped from the track and the energy,” she said. “They then come here and take a breath for a minute.
We get a chance to listen to them and to hear what it is they want to do with their lives.” The large animals at Win Place Home are retrained in new disciplines such as jumping, or are taught to become trail horses and companions. Some are also adopted out and taken to their forever homes, she added.
In order to provide the appropriate care for the large animals Win Place Home must raise money to continue their efforts. On Saturday evening on the outskirts of Canyon Country, Win Place Home’s private facility held its fourth annual “Cabaret” fundraiser with .