About us

First Responder & Organizer of Hurricane Maria Relief

CTA partnered with countless organizations and individuals in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. In total, nearly $140,000 was raised in goods & funds to provide the horses of Puerto Rico and other islands with life-saving relief.

CTA distributed 98 tons of alfalfa/timothy; 112 tons of feed; 30 tons of shavings; 28 pallets of medical and equine supplies; 10 pallets of relief supplies; and 56 tarps, and counting.

Shelley Blodgett, and Kelley Stobie accepted a Special Eclipse Award for their rescue efforts at Camarero Racetrack in 2018.

Kelley Stobie
Co-Founder/Executive Director

Kelley was born into a family with horses in England. By the age of 5, she had won a blue ribbon in a field of 143 at the Royal Windsor Show. The family moved to Canada to operate a boarding barn and polo facility, where Kelley broadened her skills and deepened her love for horses.

She has been in Puerto Rico since 1996, when a lasting love affair with the breed began. Employed by Hacienda Siesta Alegre, she galloped, broke, and cared for the horses being groomed for a racing career on the island. In 2010, alongside a local couple she started the OTTB rehoming program for the PR racetrack, Save The Horses, Inc. She established her own business in 2012 Equi Blu Therapies, while continuing to assist in rehoming thoroughbreds. Kelley remained active in the competition world, resulting in a 2013/2014 PR NBHA barrel-racing championship win for her own horses, Lotus and Yashira.

Kelley is married with two children and runs CTA out of the family farm at the base of the El Yunque Rainforest.

Alessandra Hernandez - President

Sandy Hernandez is a Finance Major from the University of Puerto Rico. She is currently working as a Territory Business Manager for Invacare Corporation which manufactures medical equipment. She has always shared a love for horses. During her early childhood years, she accompanied her father to the Hipodromo to see her race horses run the Sunday races. She then rode Paso Fino horses during the week after school.

She wanted to come back to those days for a long time and through some friends at one of the hospitals she visits came upon CTA. She wants to help CTA keep its mission alive and is collaborating with us in helping keep the funding for the organization fluid so that we can help as many horses as possible. She adopted a CTA Thoroughbred named Arch D’ Amour that is staying at CTA, and both are learning how to ride and enjoy their new life together.

Glorymary Carillo-Diaz - Treasurer

Glory was born in Ponce, PR., and has lived on the East Coast of the Island since. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Major in Management from Interamericana University, and currently works as a Federal Employee in a Medical Center as part of the Finance Department Staff.

Glory is a huge animal lover, always demonstrating a deep respect for horses; with the help of her daughter, she started learning more about horses and gaining more confidence while trying to pet them, feed them and groom them. In February 2018 the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA) adventure began when her daughter Ariana started working as a Volunteer. Ariana's passion and love for the horses inspired Glory to become a volunteer. The family adopted their first Thoroughbred that same year, a mare named By My Side, and then in 2021, we adopted “Primer Portento” the most humble and loving horse I saw.

Every time I visit the farm I enjoy my time helping and always feel grateful that they are giving them another opportunity in life to a well-deserved retirement from the racetrack. It’s been hard for us to find funds and support for the facility to maintain operations, treatments, feeds, transport, and find them new homes.

Julian Potter-Saez - Secretary

Julian Potter served 30 years in public service working as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; a Special Assistant to the President of the United States; the Policy Director for the Mayor of San Francisco and the Chief Administrative Officer for San Francisco International Airport.
She has a lifelong relationship with horses having grown up on an old ranch in Carson City, Nevada where she wrangled her first Shetland Pony. She left the wide-open spaces to pursue an education and career in public policy.
Julian volunteered at B.O.K ranch, a therapeutic horseback riding in Woodside, CA which led her to complete a training and certification program through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH). She spent two years teaching therapeutic riding to children with autism at Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, California.
Julian holds an MA in Public Policy from the New School for Social Research in NYC and a BA in Sociology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. She has served on several national association committees and is currently the President of the Palma Vista HOA in Fajardo.
In 2020, Julian and her wife of 30 years, Mirian Saez, moved to Puerto Rico where they reside six months a year and live the other half of year in Washington, D.C.

Dra. Randi Armand, DVM - Medical Director

Hailing from Louisiana, Dr. Randi obtained her veterinary degree from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. She embarked on a one-year internship with EQUUS in July of the same year and instantly fell in love with both the job and the enchanting island of Puerto Rico, leading her to decide to stay.

Currently, Dr. Randi's expertise is put to use at both Hipodromo Camarero's Confederacion Clinic and EQUUS Pet Clinic, where she excels in administering anesthesia and providing ambulatory services. For the past five years, she has actively served as the Veterinary Director for CTA, diligently evaluating all horses for their intake exams at the track or farm, as well as overseeing any necessary veterinary services.

In her personal life, Dr. Randi cherishes the companionship of her two dogs, two cats, and a Guinea pig.

Laura Petrie - Voting Member

Since Laura was four years old, she's had a life with horses; from her first pony to her current herd of 3 1/2. Laura spent her childhood competing in local shows and the largest youth fair in the Midwest. Life eventually took her from Michigan to California, and then to Puerto Rico (where she brought her ❤️ horse Woodstock). After arriving in Puerto Rico, Laura took a special interest in equine nutrition, which turned out to be a passion!

Laura currently owns and operate one of the island's premier equine feed retailers (The LucKy Horse) providing high-quality premium feed to horses in Puerto Rico, where option can be limited.

Laura is passionate about horses and helping off-the-track thoroughbreds find loving homes in Puerto Rico through her connections in competitive showjumping in Puerto Rico.

Lauren Guerrera - Program Manager

Lauren grew up taking riding lessons at a young age, competing in Hunters/Equitation and Eventing. Many of the lesson horses she rode were off the track Thoroughbreds. In college, she competed on the school's Interscholastic Dressage Team and earned her Bachelors of Professional Studies in Equine Business Management. Her first own horse was an OTTB named Vijencio, who was her best friend.

She has been involved in horse rescue and Thoroughbred aftercare for 10 years and became aware of CTA when she was working with another rescue helping transfer several horses from Puerto Rico to the mainland into good homes. Thoroughbred's are Lauren's passion, and helping them when their racing careers are over is now her mission. Lauren lives in NY on a small farm with her husband, daughter, and array of horses, dogs, cats, and chickens.

Ariana Rodriguez - Trainer

Ariana was born in a no-horse family. Since she was little she always loved horses. By the age of 12 (2013) she started taking lessons with Pasó Fino horses. She learned how to ride and work with Pasó Finos, but wanted to know more about different disciplines and horse breeds. In 2018 Ariana's father Jose Rodriguez saw an article in the local newspaper about CTA. In search for volunteers, Ariana was in it to help and learn about the Thoroughbreds. After a few months in, her family adopted there first OTTB "By My Side" She got fascinated with the breed, especially on how versatile and how smart they were. Over the months she was learning and practicing with the OTTB, while also being a part of there training. Little by little she has learned to train horses on different disciplines. It’s been 6 years since Ariana joined CTA, and had help multiple horses find there new homes with their training. Thoroughbreds made a special place in Ariana's heart.

Christian Santiago - Farm Manager

Christian Santiago Vargas was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but spent his life in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. Growing up, he never considered himself an animal person, nor did he anticipate working with horses. That all changed when he discovered CTA. At CTA, he brought his managerial skills from previous jobs, but the responsibility of caring for these magnificent creatures took his role to a new level. Knowing that their well-being depends on people is a profound responsibility that he embraces daily. H arrive at work each day with a determination to enhance the facilities, and improve the lives of these amazing horses, all while hoping to find them loving forever homes. As a lighthearted observation, he often jokes that he spends more time with the horses than with his own family. Over time, these horses have become more than just a job—they are like family to him. Working at CTA has fostered tremendous personal growth. One aspect he cherishes most is how it has taught him not only to instruct but also to be open to learning. CTA is more than a workplace; it's a special place filled with extraordinary hearts dedicated to making a difference. It has profoundly impacted him, shaping who he is today and fueling his passion for helping these remarkable animals.

Pablo Frese - Farm Hand & Groom

Pablo is from Río Grande, Puerto Rico and 18 years old. He is presently studying to be a veterinarian assistant, and is also attending the farrier school at the Hipodromo Camarero. He grew up with horses since he was 7 years old, and it has become a passion working with them and helping them in any way he can. Pablo has been working with CTA for 3 years and it has helped him learn so much on equine care & welfare, and what an amazing breed the Thoroughbred is. He lives at home with his parents and his little 5 year old brother, as well as his 40+ animals (5 horses, 17 goats, 15 dogs, 10 ducks, 6 chickens, 1 pig, 4 cats, 3 rabbits and 2 parrot). He has a small business called Granja del sol V.F You can find him on Facebook where he raises and cares for miniature goats(everyday the family grows a little bit more)!

2024 Our Impact

10+ Years of Aftercare Service to Thoroughbreds

200+ Thoroughbreds Retired from Racing in Puerto Rico and USVI!

First Responder & Organizer of Hurricane Maria Relief

Kelley Stobie
Co-Founder/Executive Director

Shelley Blodgett - Co-Founder