Our Story

Our story begins in 1971 with a little girl and her father at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa.  It was here where Christina Norris (Tina) fell in love with the Thoroughbred racehorse. The excitement  of the race, the athleticism and determination of the competition, and the spirit found deep in the pools of the Thoroughbred eyes. She was introduced to them by her father, Barry Norris, who was the program director for WMT/KGAN TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the duo were often seen walking the back stretch admiring the grace and beauty of these magnificent animals. However, her passion for racing was never clouded by the bleak reality behind the scenes: losers are sent to slaughter. Triggered by the breakdown of famous racehorse RUFFIAN and her subsequent death, Tina began her journey exploring the back end of racing, rescue, and retirement. 

Conflicted between her love of horse racing and the grim reality of the back end of the industry, Tina decided to dedicate her life to educating herself about horse racing, care, and riding. With her father’s support she took lessons and learned the discipline of Jumping and Eventing. After graduating from Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, Tina earned her BA in Communications from the University of Iowa. Inspired by her father’s career in radio and broadcasting, she began her career working  for Des Moines radio stations such as KCCI, KJJY, and KDSM. She worked her way up the professional  ladder, eventually moving to Los Angeles where she worked for Valcom Studios four years as the Vice President of Marketing. Headhunters know a good thing way they see it, and Tina was picked up by ABC affiliates in Salt Lake City where she worked in marketing and entertainment. With a knack for visualization, she went on to work for film commissions in Louisianna and Memphis. When she was  ready for a new challenge, Tina moved to Denver, Colorado where she started her own marketing  business, TNT Management, as a private consultant. However, Iowa was always home to Tina, and she made her way back to Des Moines extending her marketing consultant business to Iowa.  Tina’s passion for the racing industry and off-the-track Thoroughbred was never far from heart, and when the opportunity arose for her to lease ground in Lisbon, Iowa, Tina took her entrepreneurial drive  and championed her talent for the champions of the racetrack. So began the realization of the dream in 2012 with a six-stall barn and one horse named Misha and Unbridled Spirits Thoroughbred Retirement  Ranch, Inc. (USTRR) was born. 

The primary mission of USTRR is to provide a dignified retirement to off-the-track Thoroughbred racehorses whose racing, breeding and competitive careers have ended, through quality, lifelong care in a sanctuary setting. As an active community  member, our second mission is to provide education and advocacy to the public, regarding changes needed in the horseracing industry to ensure proper welfare and aftercare for all Thoroughbred  racehorses. This is accomplished through community education events, inviting families to meet the  retired horses and especially by training youth to be active ambassadors of the organization.

USTRR provides a sanctuary to breeders and owners who wish to responsibly retire their horse, by establishing safety net programs, supporting programs that help prevent horses from needing to be rehomed, and developing Equine support networks that provide horse owners with options for their equines. 

We provide a soft-landing for horses in disasters and other situations that put horses in harm’s way and ensure these sanctuary souls will never be used past their physical and mental abilities. 

We serve the racing and Thoroughbred communities with a second chance at life for abused, neglected and at-risk horses through rescue, refuge, and education. 

Our award-winning care includes annual vaccinations, a regular deworming program, and annual dental exams throughout the duration of the horse’s life, and when the infirmities of old age, chronic health  issues, or injuries which reduce the quality of life, we support the American Association of Equine  Practitioners guidelines for humane euthanasia. A horse should not have to endure the following: 

• Continuous or unmanageable pain from a condition that is chronic and incurable. 
• A medical condition or surgical procedure that has a poor prognosis for a decent quality of life.
• Continuous analgesic medication and/or box stall confinement for the relief of pain for the rest  of its life. 
• An unmanageable medical or behavioral condition that renders it a hazard to itself or its handlers