Kelley Stobie, executive director of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), accepted the 2024 A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award December 10 during the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 70th annual convention in Orlando, Florida. The AAEP award acknowledges the nonprofit’s dedication to the rehabilitation and rehoming of retired racehorses as well as its advocacy for the humane treatment of horses. 

Formerly known as the Lavin Cup, the A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award recognizes a non-veterinary organization or individual that has distinguished itself through service to improve the welfare of horses. The award is named in honor of the late A. Gary Lavin, VMD, an influential and widely respected equine veterinarian who served as AAEP president in 1994.

Life-saving relief

Located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, CTA is a non-profit organization focused on the care, rehabilitation and adoption of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Since 2017, CTA has cared for over 310 equines, of which 236 have been adopted. CTA receives up to 77 horses each year.  

In addition, CTA partnered with numerous individuals and organizations in 2017 to raise funds and goods that provided life-saving relief to horses in Puerto Rico and other islands in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. CTA distributed 98 tons of alfalfa/timothy, 112 tons of feed, 30 tons of shavings, 28 pallets of medical and equine supplies, 10 pallets of relief supplies, 56 tarps and more. 

Safer, more humane journeys

In 2021, the organization was a leading voice denouncing the inhumane practice of shipping inexpensive Thoroughbred racehorses from the United States to Puerto Rico via modified cargo containers. Its efforts and those of racing entities in the U.S. resulted in the enactment by the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission in December 2022 of new and more stringent cargo shipping requirements for a safer, more humane journey. 

“The work of the CTA is to watch out for the good treatment of horses, help in the care of abandoned equines in the streets, as well as provide guidance on the laws that cover animal treatment in Puerto Rico,” said Stobie. “We appreciate this recognition, and we will continue to work in favor of horses in Puerto Rico.” 

For more information about Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, visit www.ctahorse.com.  

About AAEP 

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its more than 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.