National Geographic Targets Ojai

Stylin, Tanner and Ellie, three of the five horses adopted into the Goodwill Ambasador program at Alexis Ells’ Equine Sanctuary on Boardman Road, anxiously await breakfast before a National Geographic filming of a new program called Dream Quest begins.

By Linda Harmon
Early Sunday morning, six Ojai thoroughbreds were put through their paces for the cameras of National Geographic magazine.
The crew arrived at the Boardman Road facility to shoot a documentary on The Equine Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization for the rescue and rehabilitation of the American thoroughbred horse.
According to Alexis Ells, who founded the organization in 2002, National Geographic selected the sanctuary as part of their “Dream Quest” series, scheduled to be published in October, November and December.
“The series will feature three organizations who they feel are inspiring people to make a difference in their world,” said Ells. “We’re really excited that the magazine chose our program as one of three to be spotlighted.”
Ells called the selection a great surprise.
“I received an initial call and then just kept answering their questions during the follow-up calls,” said Ells. “Then they finally called and said we were one of the three finalists to be featured.”
National Geographic plans to run a four-page spread on the equestrian center in the November issue as part of their “Dream Quest” series. Also planned is a filmed version on the National Geographic web site, nationalgeographic.com.
Ells welcomed the chance to get the word out about the Ojai center with the help of an internationally recognized institution like National Geographic. “We rescue American thoroughbreds and give them specialized training with the hope of getting them socialized and ready for a new home. We are dependent on donations and grants to fund the sanctuary,” she said, adding that many more animals need similar sanctuaries.
“Trainers used to use the American thoroughbred breed for jumpers when they weren’t fast enough to race, but not any more. The show world has decided they are not fancying the American thoroughbred, and that’s left them without a home. There are only so many breeders, so many stables and so many slots, and many horses just go to slaughter.
“We need to let people know what’s happening to the beautiful horses they see winning these races. The public thinks they end up on a pretty farm somewhere and many don’t. They end up at a slaughterhouse and then on someone’s dinner table in Europe.” Ells said demand is rising as horsemeat is not only used in pet food but is now considered the newest delicacy in Europe after the mad-cow disease scare.
The sanctuary also takes in many injured horses that need extensive veterinary care and provides full spectrum, individualized alternative care. Once rehabilitated the horses are then re-trained and taught basic dressage, a valuable set of skills that provide a ballet-like ease for the rider, with most placed in new homes.
“We are sanctioned as an American thoroughbred rescue center and have received some of our funding from the Thoroughbred Charities of America in Santa Barbara,” said Ells, adding the center depends on volunteers to stretch the donated dollars.
For further information, visit The Equine Sanctuary at theequinesanctuary.org, or call Ells at 453-4567.