Our Story
The Dream
Our story begins in 1971 with a little girl and her father at Arlington Park in Illinois. It was here where Christina (Tina) Norris became enraptured with the Thoroughbred.
The excitement of the race, the athleticism and determination of the competition, and the spirit found deep in the pools of the Thoroughbred's eyes are what hooked her. Tina was introduced to them by her father, Barry Norris, who was a television program director in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the duo was often seen walking the back stretch admiring the grace and beauty of these magnificent animals.
Despite Tina's passion for racing as a sport, she was well aware of the bleak behind-the-scenes reality: horses that don't pay their way, and even many of the ones that do, are sent to slaughter when their careers are deemed over. Triggered by the tragic breakdown of the famous Thoroughbred filly Ruffian and her subsequent death, Tina started educating herself on the back end of racing, which is rescue and retirement.
Following her education and a career in radio, television, and motion pictures, Tina returned to her first love — the Off-the-Track-Thoroughbred. In 2012, when the opportunity arose to purchase 110 acres with a 20-stall barn in Lisbon, Iowa, she seized on it, and Unbridled Spirits Thoroughbred Retirement Ranch was born.
Mission
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.
Services
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