Racing's guardian angel

            I have been extremely fortunate - no, honored - over the last two years to know a woman named Deborah Jones, although I have never met her in person.
           Jones is a selfless and tireless advocate for horses of all breeds, but thoroughbreds in particular. British-born, but California-based, Jones has an amazing reach across every state in the country, and has helped rescue hundreds, if not thousands, of horses through her network of volunteers and sources.
           Many are plucked from the clutches of kill buyers, and several have even been sent back from the slaughterhouse doorstep. Others have been saved from starvation, or from bad situations at racetracks.
           I had frequent communication with Jones while doing a story about the horrific situation at Star Barn Thoroughbreds in Grantville, Pa. She was trying to help the many broodmares, horses of racing age, yearlings and weanlings that were either being sold to kill buyers or left in poor physical condition.

One of the neglected, in-foal mares at Star Barn.

           Star Barn had advertised for mares for a “pasture breeding experiment” to be funded by an agricultural grant, but after its horse population soared and the money dried up, it started to dump horses at auction. Jones was made aware of the situation and was able to intervene and save a large amount, but for some it was too late, including the farm's teaser stallion.
            The Star Barn debacle was only one of many where Jones stepped in to protect defenseless equines. I am absolutely amazed at how she is able to do it all, and she readily admits that she often doesn’t get more than four hours of sleep each night. Suffice it to say if there’s a happy ending to be found, Jones is likely to have been involved.
            To read a link about Jones’s latest success on The Paulick Report, please click here: http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/prominent-racing-family-s-mares-rescued-from-texas-slaughter-auction/