PROTECTING THE HORSES THAT PROTECT TEXAS
TPPHR operates as a legal 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Texas & recognized by the United States IRS
Our Mission
Our core mission revolves around the rescue and rehabilitation of former Texas Prison and Police horses facing dire circumstances, including potential sales to kill pens and challenging living conditions. Additionally, we extend support to prison & police horse owners by offering assistance with various needs such as transportation, medical care, and boarding.
Should you possess a former Texas Prison horse and wish to ensure its placement in a secure and nurturing environment, we stand ready to facilitate its re-homing. It would be our privilege to assist in this endeavor.
Furthermore, TPPHR is actively engaged in advocacy efforts aimed at enacting legislation within Texas that prohibits the sale of former Texas Prison or Police horses to kill pens. These noble animals have dedicated their lives to serving and safeguarding Texans under often trying conditions. They deserve a dignified retirement rather than facing a tragic fate in foreign lands.
Our organization is dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of any Texas Prison horse found in distress or seeking a new home. We endeavor to match these horses with beginner riders, children, as well as allocate some to military veterans and frontline first responders grappling with PTSD. Our overarching objective is to provide these Texas Prison horses, particularly to those with service backgrounds affected by PTSD, at no cost.
As of September 1, 2024, Tanya and the Texas Prison & Police Horse Rescue (TPPHR) have successfully rescued, rehomed, boarded, transported, or facilitated connections with adoptive homes for over 50 Texas Prison horses.
Texas Prison and Police Horse Rescue operates as a legal 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Texas and recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Our Story
IT ALL STARTED WITH A PALOMINO NAMED COLFIELD
Coffield (above) was a 1997 Texas prison horse that we rescued from a dire situation. Found in a kill pen that actually transports horses to Mexico, Coffield was in appalling condition when we purchased him. Despite his grave state, our efforts paid off, and he gradually regained his health.
Coffield's spirit was indomitable; he would become restless if he couldn't join the other horses for a ride. We eventually saddled him up a few times, allowing him to lead the group, which he did with great enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, we lost Coffield to his medical issues less than a year after his rescue. However, Coffield's legacy lives on. He demonstrated remarkable heart and showed daily affection to Tanya, our President.
Coffield has likely done more for his fellow prison horses than any other horse ever released from TDCJ-ID, inspiring our ongoing rescue efforts. In his honor, we established the TEXAS PRISON & POLICE HORSE RESCUE.
What Is a "TDCJ" Horse?
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates a long-standing horse breeding and training program within its prison system. These horses are primarily used by correctional officers for patrol duties and cattle operations, and the program serves as a form of vocational rehabilitation for offenders who learn animal husbandry skills.
Program Details
- Breeds and Bloodlines: The horses are primarily Quarter Horses with some Percheron (draft horse) blood, creating a sturdy animal large enough to carry a 300-pound guard for an eight-hour shift. The breeding program has utilized top ranch bloodlines, including those from the 6666 Ranch, Waggoner Ranch, and King Ranch.
- Branding: Throughout their lives, the horses are freeze branded for identification and record-keeping. Brands indicate the State of Texas, year foaled, mare family, and sire lineage.
- Inmate Training: Offenders at units like the Goree and Wynne units participate in the program, learning skills such as grooming, farrier services (shoeing), and minor veterinary care. This work helps offenders build strong, healthy relationships based on trust and patience.
- Community Involvement: The TDCJ horses are also used in programs like the Courtney Cares program, managed by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, to provide equine-assisted therapy for people with disabilities due to their uniquely patient temperaments.
What Do the "Brands" Mean?
TDCJ-ID (Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division) horses, like all livestock in Texas, use legally recorded brands for ownership, which are registered with the county clerk and re-registered every 10 years; these brands, often on the hip or neck, can be unique symbols or numbers, with the TDCJ using them to identify horses in sales or programs, often linked to specific naming conventions for lineage, though the state doesn't have one big registry, relying on county records.
What TDCJ Uses Brands For
- Proof of Ownership: Brands serve as legal proof of ownership for horses within the TDCJ system.
- Identification: They help identify specific animals in sales catalogs, breeding programs, and for general management.
- Lineage: Some brands, combined with naming, can denote breed or family lines, as seen in sale listings.
Where to Find TDCJ Brands
- Left Shoulder: State of Texas brand and year foaled
- Left Hip: Designates mare family lineage. If proceeded by "R" the horse is registered.
- Left Buttock: Designates sire