Last week in Saratoga Springs, Staci Hancock was honored by Equine Advocates with their humanitarian Safe Home Equine Protection Award. The co-founder and managing member of WHOA (Water Hay Oats Alliance) is the owner, with her husband Arthur B. Hancock III, of Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
“Over the last 30 years, I have witnessed growing ranks of ‘equine advocates’ spread across America with their focus on welfare issues: slaughter, rescue, rehoming, second careers and medication concerns. In 2019, equine welfare is front and center in our industry and beyond,” she said in response to the honor. “I hope I can represent each and every person who has put their time, talents and treasures behind efforts to do what is right for our horses.”
“In 2018, Staci was invited to become a member of The Jockey Club. Staci says she wants her main focus as a Jockey Club member to be on horse welfare issues where she can continue to make a difference in ending horse slaughter and doping, as well as supporting programs that ensure the humane fate of Thoroughbreds after the track, including aftercare, rehabilitation, retraining and retirement. She said that The Jockey Club has been instrumental in moving The Horse Racing Integrity Act forward by putting their time and resources into it, as well as lobbying for it which she says has made a huge difference in the bill’s growing support.
There are not enough adjectives or phrases to describe our gratitude and admiration for Staci Hancock. The horse industry needs more advocates like her who are dedicated to the safety and well-being to its equine athletes. We applaud her for her vision, her determination and her commitment.”
Equine Advocates
“Nobody loves horses more than Staci, and she has devoted her life to them. She rode horses as a child and throughout her adult years. She helped found the Kentucky Humane Center, founded and is the driving force behind WHOA (Water Hay Oats Alliance), and has been to Washington numerous times to support the anti-slaughter bill and the Horse Racing Integrity Act. There is nothing that makes her happier than helping horses in need.”
Arthur B. Hancock III, Stone Farm
“Staci possesses the attributes of an abundance of kindness and caring. Her love of animals, especially the horse, brings the highest respect from her peers.”
John and Donna Ward
“Upon learning in 1998 that champion racehorse Exceller had died in a slaughterhouse in Sweden, Staci turned her attention to equine welfare. Her advocacy began at home. Staci was instrumental in seeing that Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol returned from Germany to Stone Farm to live out his years as an esteemed pensioner. Since then, Staci has worked on legislative efforts to ban the slaughter of American Thoroughbred athletes, including spearheading the ‘Kentucky Derby Winners Against Slaughter’ campaign. Staci was an original founder, director and first Chairman of the Board of the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, which was developed to provide an alternative to slaughter. She is a past member of the Responsible Breeders Council at HSUS. In addition, Staci is a founding member of Water Hay Oats Alliance, LLC, and she remains very active as the organizations managing member. WHOA currently boasts a membership of 1,400 like-minded individuals who support passage of federal legislation to ban drugs in racing. Staci continues to work to re-home Stone Farm’s retired racehorses into second careers.”
Staci Worthington Hancock Bio, www.humanesociety.org
Image provided by Equisport