Aid to the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) is coming from the North American Amateur Drivers Association in the form of a $15,000 contribution.

Alan Schwartz and Joe Faraldo conduct these NAADA events at Monticello and Yonkers, and on behalf of the members collect entry fees which have been used in the past for charitable contributions. In recognition of the valuable work that the Standardbred Transition Alliance performs, NAADA has selected STA as the recipient of those accumulated entry fees that had not yet been awarded.

The Standardbred Transition Alliance has unpaid directors and officers, an unpaid staff with perhaps one exception, and has developed the accreditation criteria to ensure that contributions are distributed to entities meeting high standards necessary for the welfare of the horse and the espoused goals of horse rescue entities. “Since there are many, many entities administering horse welfare retirement programs there seemed to be a real need to have a central clearinghouse to make sure that funding is distributed to entities meeting established criteria,” said Alan Schwartz. “We think STA is such a much needed clearinghouse.”

The USTA provided seed money to help get STA off the ground and has recently added some additional funding. Additionally, the USTA will add a check off on many of its forms for members to aid individuals who want to make individual donations to this clearinghouse.

“The USTA can’t do it all, as this must be an industry-wide effort where costs are shared amongst all of us who have responsibility for one or more horses and can appreciate the magnitude of such an undertaking. It is the just too big a for anyone entity to properly fund,” said Joe Faraldo.

The USTA, Russell Williams, Hanover Farm, Caesar’s Empire of Hope and the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association have provided the majority of the funding to date and more is needed. STA should be the vehicle through which contributions flow to those entities that earn accreditation to best ensure that the money is well spent.

“The NAADA members are very proud of the work STA is doing as far as that accreditation, and to help in our small way. We hope others will recognize the importance of STA’s work as have we in the amateur ranks have done and pitch in,” said NAADA member Joe Pennacchio.

It goes without saying that all horsemen’s associations, racetracks, breeders, veterinarians and everyone engaged in the industry should help STA financially. STA is located at P.O. box 377, Laureville, OH 43135

(NAADA)