Social Impact

PURPOSE IN PRACTICE

A horse standing in a sunlit forest with tall trees and dense underbrush.

Purpose is not theoretical. It’s lived.

My commitment to meaningful impact extends beyond advisory rooms into the spaces where intention becomes responsibility and purpose becomes action.

The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project is one expression of this belief — a reminder that how we care, for people and for the lives entrusted to us, reveals where our values truly lie.

Interior view of a rustic room with a stone wall, wooden window with shutters open to a landscape, and hanging tools or equipment on hooks.
A close-up black and white photo of a horse wearing a bridle, with focused eyes and ears upright, standing outdoors.

Meet The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project

Purpose in practice, The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project is a registered nonprofit dedicated to the welfare and aftercare of retired racehorses.

But at its heart, it’s about more than horses. It’s about what happens when we are no longer defined by past roles, expectations or performance, but by possibility.

A row of horse heads looking out from a stable, with the focus on the second horse from the left, showing a close-up of its head.
A cat with orange and white fur resting on a light-colored surface with a blue blanket nearby.

What We Do

Provide a safe landing place for retired thoroughbreds after racing.

Model a living example of values-led stewardship.

Offer intentional advocacy, grounded in trust, stillness, and agency.

Share the stories of horses and humans, inviting reflection and connection.

A black and white photo of a horse standing in a grassy field with trees in the background.
A brown horse with a black mane looking out from a stable.

Not just rescued. Remembered.

The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project began with a single horse. A racehorse retired & discarded after its final race. What happened next wasn’t just rescue. It was:

Reimagining. Reconnection. Restoration. Return.

Why horses, why now?

This work wasn’t always my path. For years, my career in the financial industry was defined by high performance, navigating complex systems of success, and operating at a higher level within my own confined spaces.

Over time, reflection and recalibration revealed a different truth and with it, a new way of showing up in the world. The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project isn’t separate from that evolution. It’s at the heart of it.

This process isn’t just for people. It’s for every being expected to perform, produce, or prove their worth. Each horse carries a story. And in their restoration, we find our own.

Quote about The Red Thread project by Valerie Pickar with a beige and tan striped background
Two brown horses touching noses in a grassy field with trees in the background and cloudy sky.

Meet North, Amara & Asher

What began as an act of care became an invitation into reflection. In their strength, sensitivity, and resilience, the parallel between horse and human comes into view, revealing how lives shaped by performance and expectation can be reimagined through connection, restoration, and return.

A lit white taper candle in a clear glass bottle on a wooden table, with a black ribbed vase beside it, and a beige wall in the background.
A landscape of a grassy field with trees and a cloudy sky.

Governance & Transparency

I honor the trust placed in us. Your contributions are sincerely appreciated. Support goes directly toward ethical, intentional aftercare and rehabilitation, whole-horse well-being, and the vital work of equine veterinarians—often the unrecognized and essential advocates in this space.

Contributions support the mission and early-stage initiatives of The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project. As the organization expands its public presence, additional governance and reporting details will be shared to reflect this growth.

Contribute to the RTTP

When you support The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project, you’re not just donating. You’re standing for healing, dignity, and the belief that no life is disposable.

Explore the Work

Learn more about the story, purpose, philosophy, and impact behind The Red Thread Thoroughbred Project.

Support the Work

Red Thread Thoroughbred Project is currently founder-funded. Opportunities for public support will be shared when governance & registration are complete.

Get Updates

Stay connected with the work of RTTP. Receive updates, stories from the field, and opportunities to support the horses entrusted to our care.