SEABISCUIT’S LEGACY – a documentary film

Story

SEABISCUIT’S LEGACY weaves a story of courage, hope, and healing from past to present and illuminates the transformative power between horses and humans.

WHO WAS SEABISCUIT?

“The people’s champion” and top money winner of his time, Seabiscuit, was the famous racehorse who captured the heart of the American nation. His most memorable win was a race against Triple Crown champion “War Admiral,” where he was considered the sure underdog. Seabiscuit eventually retired to Ridgewood Ranch in Northern California, where he happily lived out his life.

THE LEGACY

Undersized, overlooked, and underrated, Seabiscuit became a phenomenal success through the treatment by his owners, his trainer, and his jockey. And not only did these men help empower Seabiscuit, but he also helped each of them heal an aspect of their lives. These transformations all took place at Ridgewood Ranch, nestled in an idyllic valley near the town of Willits.

Today at Ridgewood Ranch, Seabiscuit’s healing legacy continues. The ranch is now host to the Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center, an adaptive horsemanship program dedicated to teaching the skill of horsemanship to children and adults with disabilities helping them to thrive in their daily lives.

Willits also shares a key part of Seabiscuit’s legacy. In 1926 Charles Howard, Seabiscuit’s owner, helped fund the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital after losing his son in a tragic accident. In 2015, a new state-of-the-art hospital opened and was renamed Adventist Health-Howard Hospital.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL SUPPORT THE LEGACY OF SEABISCUIT!

THE DOCUMENTARY

Our film will take an in-depth look at the lives of those closest to Seabiscuit and the positive effect he had on them. Plus, we’ll…

watch seasoned horse trainers demonstrate how Seabiscuit was transformed under the care of his trainer
witness the healing connection between horses and humans, and listen to equine therapy specialists discuss this fascinating topic
meet the children whose lives were positively changed through interaction with horses
hear from just a few of the extraordinary people whose lives were saved because of the hospital founded by Seabiscuit’s owner
listen to celebrities discuss the astonishing life of Seabiscuit

AND, we’ll present never before seen archival footage from the Howard family and Ridgewood Ranch.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BRING THESE STORIES TO LIFE!

THE INSPIRATION

The seed of this story took root in the heart of producer and lifelong horsewoman Leigh Anne Lindsey. In 2014, she was asked to film a dedication event at Ridgewood Ranch, the property next door to her family’s ranch. Leigh Anne began to learn of the incredible legacy left by Seabiscuit and was curious to know more. After being introduced to the therapeutic riding program at Ridgewood, where she saw how the horse-human connection helped children and adults cope with challenges in their lives, Leigh Anne was inspired to tell a story that had never been told.

She teamed up with fellow filmmakers, John Osborne and Nadia Jordan, to create a documentary that will showcase the positive, uplifting story of Seabiscuit, and also bring awareness to the pivotal work of the Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center, the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation, and the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital.

THE NEXT STEP

Please take a look at our Perks on the right side of the screen. We are sure you’ll find the perfect one! Or perhaps something for your family and friends as a gift. We hope to see you on the red carpet or just have the chance to thank you for believing in our project!

MISSION STATEMENTS

The SEABISCUIT HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT formed in 2004 to preserve and protect the cultural legacy of Ridgewood Ranch, the home and final resting place of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit, through historic preservation and environmental conservation.

The FRANK R. HOWARD FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) whose mission is to establish, promote and support programs that maintain, as well as improve, health care for the community of Willits and the entire Northern Mendocino County area. The Foundation will strive to ensure that quality medical services remain an integral element of the region through an acute care general hospital.

SEABISCUIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER, A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) is an adaptive horsemanship program dedicated to teaching the skill of horsemanship to children and adults with disabilities, helping them to thrive in their daily lives. The riding center started in 1993 at historic Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, California, home of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit.

Your Questions Answered

1. What will my money be spent on?

Whether you donate $10 or $10,000, your contribution will ONLY be spent on production costs for the film (excluding the 10% donation to the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation).

2. How do I know this documentary will be made?

Our creative team has years of experience in the industry and a back catalog of successful projects (see bios below!) We are so passionate about this film and have been working incessantly for years to make it happen, so certainly aren’t going to stop now!

3. What happens if you raise more than your target or don’t reach it?

The budget set is the minimum amount needed to make our film the way we envisage it, but anything over and above that will help us to make an even better film! Saying that, if we hit just under our target, we will still go ahead with the production but will have to make a lot of changes to accommodate a smaller budget. It’s not ideal, but we are determined to share this story with the world. So, either way, your donations will help us to make a fabulous film!

4. Does my donation mean I own a share of the film?

No. Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that offers Perks rather than equity and is solely used for donations. However, if you are interested in owning an equity share in the film (meaning you will get a percentage of any sales profit) and are open to investing a higher amount than those listed alongside the Perks, please get in touch! All investments are tax-deductible under Section 181.

5. Where will the world premiere be, and do those ‘Perks’ include travel?

We hope to secure a premiere at a major film festival, but we can’t confirm the exact location. If you are unable to attend the world premiere, you are welcome to attend any other red carpet festival screening, including Ridgewood Ranch. You won’t miss out. The only thing you need to take care of is your travel arrangements and costs.

6. I would like to choose THE LEGACY Perk and “appear in the film.” Where and when will filming be?

This is a really fun Perk! Filming will be in Northern California, and dates will be scheduled once we start pre-production. You will be responsible for travel costs to get there, but we will do our utmost to make it as seamless as possible for you!

MEET THE TEAM

LEIGH ANNE LINDSEY – PRODUCER/WRITER

Leigh Anne is a producer who is also a part-owner of the Southwestern portion of the original “Home of Seabiscuit” in Mendocino County. With various projects in development under Sea Storm Studios LLC, Leigh Anne has filmed, edited, and produced online tourism shows, business videos, and film festival promo reels. She also conducted interviews with attending filmmakers and celebrities for over 6 years with the Mendocino Film Festival. Earlier in life, when living in Aspen, Colorado, Leigh Anne was a rock radio DJ who produced radio commercials and edited films for TV. Later, while living in Silicon Valley, she helped international tech companies thrive and grow through strategic alliances and venture capital fundraising efforts. Leigh Anne lives and works among the redwoods along the rugged Northern Sonoma County coast with her black cat Onyx and black and white paint horse Jax.

JOHN OSBORNE – WRITER/PRODUCER

A retired film professor, John has worked in production and as a producer on several mainstream and independent films, including Need for Speed, Timecrafters: The Treasure of Pirate’s Cove, and recently, Dean Martin – The King Of Cool. He runs a film production company in Mendocino, California, and is often called upon by visiting movie companies to help as a production manager or location scout. As the Associate Programmer for the American Documentary Film Festival (Amdocs) in Palm Springs, California, John travels throughout Europe seeking films to showcase. He has served as a moderator and juror in many film festivals. John is also involved with the Mendocino Film Festival, presenting live interviews with attending directors, producers, and cast on Facebook.

NADIA JORDAN – DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Nadia is an award-winning filmmaker from London. Having grown up around horses, she has a deep affinity for them, and her first job was with the only live broadcaster of horse racing in the UK. After a successful career as a marketing executive, Nadia transitioned into producing TV and film, working for renowned British companies BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. She later relocated to Los Angeles and worked alongside several production powerhouses before setting up her own company – Fluffy Cat Productions. Fluffy Cat’s first feature – For the Love of George – which Nadia produced, co-wrote, and co-directed, starred Rosanna Arquette, Tate Donovan, and featured George Clooney. The film won numerous awards and was released worldwide. Nadia has several TV and film projects in various stages of production, including two films alongside Academy Award-winning producers and actors. A graduate of the Sundance Directing Lab, Nadia is a visionary director whose meticulous attention to detail is apparent in every aspect of filmmaking. Nadia is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the British Academy of Film & Television Arts.

ENDORSEMENTS

Retired Col. Mike Howard, Great-grandson of Seabiscuit’s owner, Charles S. Howard

“My wife Lynn & I are proud to endorse the producers’ endeavors to create an inspirational documentary about the historical events which surrounded a little horse named Seabiscuit. My great-grandfather would have been pleased that it will benefit special-needs children who gain healing through horse therapy and the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation so that generations to come will continue to be touched by his indomitable spirit.”

Margie Handley, Board Member Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation and Chairwoman of the Howard Foundation

“We proudly support the production of Seabiscuit’s Legacy as it portrays a story of courage, hope, and healing. We believe Seabiscuit’s owner Charles Howard would be thankful for the ongoing attention and positive impact Seabiscuit continues to have all these years later. Our mission at the Frank R Howard Foundation (based on Howard’s vision) is to establish, promote and support programs that maintain, as well as improve, health care for the community of Willits and the entire Northern Mendocino County area.”

We know that not everyone is able to donate, and while every dollar helps, so does every word of promotion. If you are unable to support SEABISCUIT’S LEGACY financially, please utilize Indiegogo’s social media share functions, email, text, or call anyone you think might help us get the message out. Taking the time to share our project is a form of support that is much needed and very much appreciated!