California Aftercare Partner Storm Damage Aid

Hwy 92 sinkhole collapse cripples California Aftercare Partner

I'm Joell Dunlap and I run a TAA Accredited Aftercare Organization called Square Peg Foundation.

Since 2004 Square Peg Foundation has been providing homes and meaningful work for ex-racehorses who, for whatever reason, would have trouble finding a home in equestrian sports. Today, with our 25 horses, we serve hundreds of autism families every year, we are the designated provider of equine services for San Mateo County Mental Health, and we provide meaningful paying jobs for eight young adults with autism. We currently have over 100 families on a waiting list for services.

Over the past 3 weeks California has experienced unprecedented rains, and the property we lease on Half Moon Bay’s Hwy 92 has been severely affected by those rains. On Friday, January 12, 2023, a giant sinkhole formed on Hwy 92 significantly limiting access for our families, interns and volunteers.

The driveways to the ranch have undergone extensive water damage and downed trees making access difficult and dangerous. In addition to interrupting the services we provide to a vulnerable population of humans, even getting employees safely in and out of the property has become a struggle.

Square Peg Foundation has the opportunity to move our operation and horses to a safer and more accessible facility at Ocean View Farms in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. While we had plans to make this move over time, for right now we just need to get horses to a place where we can safely care for them and to attend to our clients.

The move will cost critical operating funds. Horses will have to be mindfully transitioned to their new home and given time to acclimate, fencing will have to be built, and our program fees from serving families in need will be cut dramatically for the next few months.

Our initial goal of $60k will go toward these immediate infrastructure needs and program fee losses.

What we can promise in return is that Square Peg will continue to actively promote the use of OTTBs in our program. We can definitively illustrate, speak to, publish and evangelize how thoroughbreds are uniquely qualified for the work we do, and how we can run a program that benefits the animals, the families we serve, our local community, and the racing industry with integrity and accountability.

We are grateful for your support as we look to the future with hope and excitement, even if the short-term looks daunting,