frequently asked questions
| For general
information about how the overall CANTER program operates, how you can
go about seeing a horse listed on the web site, and other general information,
visit the general CANTER FAQs by clicking
here. These general CANTER FAQs cover such topics as: contacting trainers and making appointments at the track, what to expect when you go to the track, vetting a horse at the track, suitability and retraining of off-the-track Thoroughbreds, soundess and pre-purchase exams, transporting a horse from the track, and CANTER's role in helping you find an ex-racer. Before you make any phone calls to owners or trainers, we urge you to take a few minutes to read about CANTER and review the FAQs. We believe that you will have a better experience if you understand our program, what we do and don't do, and what to expect when dealing with a purchase on the backstretch. Below is information that is more specific to the CANTER NE program: How can I get in touch with CANTER NE? Which tracks/areas does CANTER NE serve? Can CANTER NE help me to have a horse vet checked? Does CANTER NE accept horses for donation? How can I find out about new horses being listed on the CANTER NE site? Does CANTER NE have any association with, or receive commission from, the people selling their horses through the web site? Can I make a donation to CANTER NE? Why are some of the prices that I see listed on CANTER NE higher than those listed for horses on other CANTER affiliates? How often does CANTER NE update its listings? I have a TB that raced at one time, although I didn't buy him off the track...can I still list him on CANTER NE? I'm a racing trainer; how can I list a horse with CANTER NE? What can I expect at the track? How can I get a horse shipped from the track? How can I contact trainers and make appointments at the track? |
| How can I get in
touch with CANTER NE? Email: canterne@canterusa.org Call: 781-354-6291 Send donations or snail mail: CANTER NE PO Box 3 Westborough, MA 01581 You can also find us at Suffolk Downs in person between 8:00AM - 11:00AM on Saturdays during the live racing meet (which typically runs from May through November). TOP |
| Which tracks/areas
does CANTER NE serve? CANTER New England serves Suffolk Downs Racetrack in East Boston, MA. Additionally, CANTER NE is available to Thoroughbred racing industry owners and breeders in the New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Suffolk Downs is located in East Boston, MA, approximately 1 mile from Logan Airport, on Rt. 1A. Visit the track's web site by clicking here. For more detailed information about the Suffolk Downs racing meet, visit our Track Information page. TOP |
| Can CANTER
NE help me to have a horse vet checked? If you wish to have a horse vetted, call the Main # for Suffolk Downs, 617-567-3900, and ask for the veterinarians' office. Click here for more information about having a horse vetted at the track. Please be aware that not all vets at the track are willing to do pre-purchase exams. Please respect this. We also ask that you DO NOT call the vets during evening hours, as they may be home relaxing after a long day at work. We will also be happy to share with you the names of local vets (vets who submit their names to us, or whose names are submitted by area horse folks), should you wish to have a horse that is located on an area farm vetted. CANTER NE has no affiliation with these vets, nor do we endorse them; we will provide this information as a courtesy to prospective buyers. When dealing with an unfamiliar veterinarian, or any provider of equine-related services, we urge you to ask questions and use discretion. TOP |
Does CANTER
NE accept horses for donation? |
| How can I
find out about new horses being listed on the CANTER NE site? If you click on our "Horse Listings" page, you will see a box at the bottom of the screen that gives instructions on how to sign up for periodic email updates, which cover new horse listings as well as other news and updates from CANTER NE. YOU must complete the sign-up in order for the subscription to work (please do not email us and ask us to sign you up, as we are unable to do so). Subscribing takes a matter of just a couple of minutes. If you're interested in volunteering for CANTER, you can also subscribe to this list to find out about special or ongoing volunteer opportunities. TOP |
| Does CANTER
NE have any association with, or receive commission from, the people
selling their horses through the web site? No. CANTER is a non-profit organization with an entirely volunteer staff. There is no commission or fee charged for listing or buying a horse, and we receive no compensation. (Our program operates entirely on donations and 100% of these donations are used to support our horse welfare and rescue efforts.) We have no financial or other ties to any of the trainers, owners, or breeders listing horses. Think of CANTER as an informational resource; we are neither advocates nor agents. TOP |
| Can I donate
to CANTER NE? Please do! CANTER is a federal 501(c)(3) charity [i.e., we have "non-profit" tax status]. We are able to give tax receipts for all donations. You may either donate
securely online, or mail your
contribution, made payable to CANTER
NE, to: |
| Why are some
of the prices that I see listed on CANTER NE higher than those
listed for horses on the web sites of other CANTER affiliates? The listings that you see on the CANTER NE site at any given time may, or may not, be reflective of the general market for retiring Thoroughbreds in the area. We do not set the prices listed for trainer-listed horses (which are different than our horses available for adoption). In the case of a trainer-listed horse, any negotiation over price is strictly between you (as the buyer) and the seller of the horse. As you will read in the general FAQs, the price of a horse can be determined by a number of factors including: height, soundness, and the trainer's need to sell. If the seller needs to move a horse quickly, they will be more flexible on price. The price of a horse might also be influenced, in the case of a mare or stallion, by the potential a seller feels the horse has to produce high-quality offspring. Please be realistic - it is unlikely, though not impossible, that you will find a stunning 16.2 hand horse that is sound for jumping for less than $1,000. Remember: if you see "firm" after a price on the listings page, the price is not negotiable; otherwise, making a reasonable offer is perfectly acceptable. Click here to read one trainer's suggestions for prospective buyers. TOP |
| How often
does CANTER NE update its listings? CANTER NE does regular weekly track visits during the May through November racing season at Suffolk Downs. New horses for sale will be posted on the web site each week. We may also add interim updates, if trainers contact us between track visits. TOP |
| I have
a TB that raced at one time, although I didn't buy him right off the
track...can I still list him for sale with CANTER NE? Unfortunately, it is not within the scope of our non-profit mission to take on horses that once raced but have since been transitioned into other careers; CANTER was established to help Thoroughbreds coming DIRECTLY from the racing industry transition to life after the finish line. This means that you must be a licensed trainer, racing breeder, or the person who owned the horse while it was actively racing in order to list a horse with CANTER NE. We cannot accept a horse listed by a person who purchased a horse from the track and wishes to resell it after a retraining period. Nor can we help the pleasure horse owner whose mount raced at one time in its life. If you are trying to sell a horse not coming from the racing industry, you might want to consider listing your horse through such resources as the monthly magazine the Horseman's Yankee Pedlar; on equine sale web sites such as www.equinesite.com, www.dreamhorse.com, and www.equinenow.com; or in the weekly Want Advertiser. You can find the Pedlar at local tack shops and the Want Advertiser at most convenience stores. If
you wish to donate your horse to
another 501(c)(3) equine rescue,
please use the rescue sites listed on
our resources
page. |
| I'm a racing trainer;
how can I list a horse on CANTER NE? Contact us by e-mail, or call Ellen O'Brien, Executive Director of CANTER NE, at 781-354-6291. Please be prepared to give the following information about the horse:  Registered Jockey Club name
Gender
Age
Height
Color/markings
Temperament
/ disposition
Soundness
/ history of injury (if applicable)
Asking price
Contact
information[By submitting a listing to us, you warranty that you have the legal right to sell the horse in question, either through ownership or prior authorization as agent for the owner, and that you are responsible for all representations as to soundness.] TOP |
What can
I expect when I visit the track to look at horses? |
| How can I get a horse shipped from the track? Click on our Resources Page to get information about transporters that can help you to ship a horse from the track. (CANTER does not arrange or pay for shipping for buyers.) TOP |
| How can I contact trainers and make appointments at the track? If you want to contact a trainer listed as the seller for a particular horse, please call him or her, using the number in the listing, before 8:00PM EST; often the trainers are up at 4AM in order to be at the track early, so they appreciate your consideration. Some trainers do not speak English well; in those cases you may prefer to have a CANTER volunteer bring you on a Saturday morning to see the horse(s) of interest. TOP |
Haven't answered your question here, or on the general FAQ page? Contact us via e-mail, or call 781-354-6291. |