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April 25, 26, 27 - Canterbury Park |
2025 MN Horse Expo Speakers/Demos
Schedule is subject to change
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Friday,
April 25 Saturday,
April 26 Sunday,
April 27
Horse Adoption – 3 Types of Programs Presenters: AJ Fetterly, executive director of Minnesota Harness Racing Inc; Renne Walker , founder and director of GRG Ranch Horse Rescue, Karrie Cable director of Racehorse Reimagined Program an initiative of This Old Horse. Hear each speaker give a brief description of their program, what it does, how it works, perhaps a favorite adoption story. Information about cost if any to adopt? Is there pre-approval needed? Background checks to adopt? What happens if I don’t like the equine or can no longer care for it? Are there any volunteer opportunities available with the programs? Here are the answers to your horse adoption questions.
Retrain, Rehome, Retire….Reimagine Racehorse Reimagined is an initiative of This Old Horse. We take pride in carefully matching each horse to a suitable ‘next step.’ Whether it’s rehabilitation, placement with a qualified adopter, retraining for a new sport horse career or the trails, or providing sanctuary care, we are committed to finding the best path for each retired racehorse. Our
lifelong safety net ensures the relationship continues with regular follow-up
check-ins once a horse is adopted. Should circumstances change for the adopter,
This Old Horse is ready to assist in rehoming the horse with a qualified
adopter or guarantee its return to one of our barns, ensuring a safe haven.
Karrie Cable, BS, CEMT Karrie Cable holds a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science and is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Equine Health and Behavior; additionally, she is certified in equine massage and bodywork. Karrie works closely with the racing industry to support the well-being and transition of racehorses into new careers. As the Director of Racehorse Reimagined, she is dedicated to the rehabilitation and retraining of off-track Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter Horses. She brings both professional expertise and personal experience, owning three retired Standardbred racehorses of her own.
AJ Fetterly My current job as the Administrative Director for the Minnesota Harness Racing Association is one that forever keeps me on my toes. I enjoy being around these amazing athletes and wonderful people every day. I’m honored to be at the Minnesota Horse Expo to promote this industry and hope we can gather some new fans and maybe even some fractional owners for the 2025 season! I’ve been horse obsessed since I
was a little kid and started taking riding lessons at three years old. My horse
obsession has followed me into adulthood. I worked at E.J. Houle’s Feed Store
in Forest Lake for nine years to support my equines. Thanks to my job at the
feed store I got into harness racing in 2016 as a part time worker and groom.
Getting to know all the trainers, drivers and grooms over the years at the feed
store made working on the backside even easier. I worked in the morning before
my “real job” and on race nights for 6 summers. I fell in love with the
Standardbred Breed; their willingness to work, their desire to please people,
their intelligence, and their work ethic. I owned, housed and rehabbed a few
retired racehorses over the years. I’m currently on my fourth one.
GRG Ranch
Horse Rescue & Sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing horses from neglect, abuse,
abandonment, and intercepting horses in need BEFORE they end up in auction. We
provide quality nutrition, complete veterinary and farrier care, and strive to
improve the lives of horses by providing a safe haven for healing and genuine
rehabilitation, while working with our equine partners to provide accessible
education for all humans with a variety of needs. www.grgranch.org
Renne Walker Renne Walker of GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary, has 4 decades of experience as an equestrian, nearly 3 decades as a professional horse trainer, a lifelong passion to advocate for working WITH our equine partners. This being her approach, paired with her work in animal welfare, the resulting rescue and rehabilitation is a natural evolution in her equine journey. She taught horseback riding part time at first, but then decided she loved sharing a love of horses with new riders and began to pursue a full-time career. Each lesson touched on an understanding for equine behavior and a respect for the emotional and healing nature of these magnificent creatures as well. Integrating the idea of a partnership with our horse. Working together as one. Over the years, her own ongoing battles with various mental health issues led her to explore the benefits and methods associated with equine therapy and therapeutic horseback riding. She learned everything she could along with her horses CJ, the palomino mare, and Clifford the Big Red Horse, a treasured chestnut gelding she tragically lost to lightning in an awful summer storm. His loss was a catalyst for the beginning of GRG Ranch Horse Rescue & Sanctuary as well as the community outreach program, Clifford's Kids, a community sponsored therapeutic lesson scholarship program for underserved youth. Renne has made it her lifelong mission to learn and evolve as much as possible, and this includes her horsemanship. She brings this complete approach into the rehabilitation and care for the rescues in order to give them their best chance at life, and to do our best to prepare their adopters and help to create and support a successful partnership. She has a genuine love, adoration, and respect for these incredible souls, and is absolutely dedicated to giving them all they deserve - the love and attention, the medical, nutritional, farrier care they need, and every single chance possible to thrive in their new life. |
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