Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Anne Russek — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:48:41 GMT

Great article, I look forward to the day when The BloodHorse and other publications have regular articles on OTTB's. Racing needs to step up to the plate and help pass the federal legislation to end horse slaughter. Too many trainers and owners are still sending their horses to slaughter. These horses make fabulous sport horses and I look forward to seeing them become more and more popular.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

An OTTB Owner — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:56:44 GMT

Very well written and your passion for rescuing Thoroughbreds really speaks of your heart. Thank you for sharing this story and inspiring others.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Carol — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:37:50 GMT

Until breeders are more responsible about how many foals are born and owners and trainers do more to insure that their horses don't end up in a bad place there will always be a need for the "resucers". The entire horse industry has to "clean up it's act", not just the thoroughbred folks.

I have an OTTB that was just steps away from the kill pen. He is a companion horse now and keeps my other two company. He has just turned 9 so I will have him for a long time to come. Unfortunately so many more do go to that bad place. WE must continue the fight and save as many as we can.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Linda — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:18:29 GMT

Thank you so much for this passionate reminder of why many of us love this game of racing. Without the horse it would just be another deck of cards. The way the sport of Racing is truly imperiling the very thing we love the most is highlighted by your very thoughtful remarks.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

DMC — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:55:08 GMT

God Bless You and thankyou for telling your story. I am sure Dread will reward you with many years of joy, love and companionship

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Jeff M. — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:51:54 GMT

Wow, that's a well-written and thoughtful piece. Thank you.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

MRO — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:25:27 GMT

Liz -

Best wishes for your Seattle Slew-Saratoga Six OTTB. What was his racing name, if you don't mind sharing? I've made a hobby out of tracking Slew's and Alydar's, and I love hearing where they end up.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Grand Prix Show Jumper — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:58:07 GMT

So I've been going back and forth about posting this since I feel like the horse is a little bit in "witness protection", but I just claimed one. I know the trainer and the track probably aren't thrilled since he was still a very useful racehorse after 50+ starts, but he's in the barn with tight cold legs and a happy temp of 100.5 ready for a few weeks or a couple of months of R&R and then he can learn his new job. He might be a Grand Prix jumper (we have a very nice full brother) or he might just be a nice, good looking horse, but he has a much better shot at a good later life than he had waiting for what might happen when that particular trainer decides a horse isn't useful anymore...

Not THE answer, but AN answer for a few (I like to think lucky)horses.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Becky — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:26:27 GMT

Love to hear these stories! I've had my OTTB for about a year and half now and he is the smartest, little worker bee. We are never going to show Grand Prix, but he's pretty talented and is solid second level now. I keep him at an upscale dressage barn where people were initially shocked at my "cheap", non-warmblood. A year later, he's got quite a fanclub from grooms who say "he never acts silly like other horses", to boarders who beg to ride him, to my trainer who loves his unique combo of a mello attitude with a lot of go.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

CJ — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:51:29 GMT

Love to see retirees getting coverage on BloodHorse.com! I grew up riding some school-horses who were retired Thoroughbred race horses & even worked alongside a Standardbred pacer enjoying his fourth career as a trustworthy therapy horse.

Our race-horse breeders produce some of the best equine athletes ever to walk the earth, and it makes no sense to throw them away without giving them a chance at a second career. I'll take a failed racehorse over a back-yard bred grade horse any day.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

oldgraymare — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:22:29 GMT

...if only.. a small home with acres of paddocks. What a grand retirement, stalls to muck, hooves to pick and horses to curry. Thanks 'Dancer' for the last lovely bareback jump. Charlestown wasn't for you laddie.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

needler in Virginia — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:20:56 GMT

To TripleCrownKaren...thanks for that; I THOUGHT it was Gandhi, but didn't want to misspeak.

There's a line from the movie "Seabiscuit" that keeps running through my head; Tom Smith tells Mr Howard that "every horse is good for something" and THAT is a fundamental truth. Mr Laurence knows this, too, as he has demonstrated by saving Dread. Be it lawn ornament, Grand Prix jumper, barn boss or catering manager, every horse does something. If anyone doubts that, please contact Michael Blowen at www.oldfriendsequine.org and ask HIM what all his retirees do for his soul, and for the souls of all the visitors that flock to Old Friends in Georgetown.

Cheers and safe trips to all. And, as Harvey Pack would say, "may the horse be with you".

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Virgil — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:37:54 GMT

Thank you, Robert Lawrence for your article and also to all of you writing in about your experience adopting/rescuing TBs. Maybe we need to apply more pressure to the NTRA, our local tracks and Thoroughbred owners organizations and Jockey Club. It's tedious work, but even a letter or an email adds up. What also adds up, as Needler says, is what ever we can contribute to our local TB rescue groups. I don't have much in the way of resources, but here in Southern California there's the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue who does the dirty work of going to the killbuyer auctions and identifying the TB racehorses and bidding on them. Then they have them to get them healthy again and adoptable. They can only do as much as their financial resources allow. So, again, anything you can do to contribute makes a difference.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Liz — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:31:49 GMT

I have owened an 0TTB for 27 years - he will be 32 May 16th and have loved every minute of him - his issue and the reason he "stumbled" easy he was a bit base narrow and they had him shod in skis - got that corrected and OMG he was/is the BOMB in all aspects hunter/jumper/dressage and trail. Last Labor Day I got another OTTB from Charlestown - he broke his maiden at Colonial on the turf in July but couldn't handle the tight turns and the trainer wanted better for him. He arrived 15.3 and 1100 lbs with really bad feet and a wonderful attitude (I bought him from his picture) and I spent the next two months trying "find" out what was wrong with him because he seemed to good to be true - well one year later he's 16.2 and 1350 and has turned into a wonderful show horse and was a true gift. He's learning to jump but spent the summer in flat classes and has never been out of the ribbons. He is a joy to be around and knows how to answer questions and take a bow. People look at him and assume he is a expensive warmblood because of the way he looks and he is the kid's favorite at any barn he is at. The parents all rave over him and it's fun pointing out he is a grandson of Seattle Slew on the top and Saratoga Six on the bottom. His retraining wasn't always easy but it is so rewarding.

For anyone looking to show at a "normal" level - not necessarily Grand Prix don't buy a push pony - give an athlete a second chance it feels much better when you create the star and know you gave someone a forever home!

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Louie Dula — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:43:11 GMT

i'm glad you have given him a home.. if you ever have room for another thoroughbred. there's one racing at Beleauh Park in Ohio that DESPERATELY needs a home. his name is ALL HAIL STORMY and i'm so worried that he's not being taken care of. he deserves to be retired and to have a good loving home. if anyone can give him one please do.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

TripleCrownKaren — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:22:48 GMT

To Needler.....It was GHANDI who said you could judge a society by the way it treated it's animals.

I have ridden & shown Hunters most of my life and I have VERY fond memories of the horses who TAUGHT me as a young 11 yr old Horse Crazy girl and kept me SAFE over my first cross-rails. They were ALL RESCUES! And NO not ALL OTTB's can make it as GRAND PRIX level horses, but the ones who CAN jump safely can spend MANY valuable years teaching youngsters to "fly without wings" over fences!

Just as not ALL of us "humans" can be Michael Jordan, not EVERY TB is cut out for the track. At one of the barns I grew up with we had a VERY GOOD jumper who happendd to be a "reject" off the track. he had originally been purchased as a yearling at the Keeneland sales for over $300,000. However, when he got to the track, he REFUSED to run.....actually, he REFUSED TO EVEN LEAVE THE GATE! I had to laugh at that mental image because around the barn this horse had DEFINITE ideas of how he wanted to be treated and woudl make his wishes QUITE clear! I can imagine the trainer and track people just could not deal with his ideas and we wound up with him for $1,500!

This was a VERY SMART horse who absolutely HATED doing the flat work at shows but would FLY over fences and looked beautiful while he did it. I was of the opinion that he really showed his NASRULLAH blood in his temperament and his general "disdain" of us humans. But he was a HOOT to be around!

Ultimately.....the breeding industry needs to GELD A LOT MORE HORSES!! There is a saying....if he would make a "good" stallion then he'd make a GREAT gelding. Geldings are the amabassadors of EVERY breed and just because we CAN breed does not mean we SHOULD breed! Again the almighty dollar is the supreme ruler.

I am currently exploring setting up a Non Profit so that I can find property and start up a Handicapped Riders program using RESCUED horses of ANY breed! I had a program like this years ago when I lived in NJ and it is my ultmate goal for my "retirement". What better career could ANYONE have than to help out kids who's own legs might not work "just right" or who otherwise are "handicapped" through no fault of their own. Just like TB's who get thrown away because THEY didn't measure up. To combine THAT with a retirment facility here in Florida is a life long dream of mine.....and OTTB's will have a part in that!

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

RachelSatterfield — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:11:33 GMT

Thanks for the article. I went to the University of Arkansas and went over to the equine barns plenty to take photos for an art project (art major here with a HUGE love of horses) so I'm familiar with the program (it's a good one filled with some good folks). Is the horse with you or at the school currently? Thank you for what you are doing. There are a lot of us out here that wish we could do more.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Emperor Tigere — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:59:15 GMT

I'm the proud, smug owner of a one-time claimer who bowed a tendon, was off a year before coming back gradually and learning to jump. He's a dead-game foxhunter now, and a fine jumper. So many of these ex-racehorses do still have uses after the racetrack, either as athletes or companions.

If you can adopt one, whether for riding or for a pasture ornament, please do it. If you can sponsor one, please do it.

Every day I look at my horse and am so thankful his last racing owners retired him to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation once he bowed and went from "useful" to "useless" overnight. He has talent, heart, and a personality like a lap-dog, and we are so glad to know him. We're glad we got the chance to know him, and he got a happy life, thanks to his previous owners' decision to see him safely retired.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Patricia Bewley — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:46:19 GMT

it is long overdue that the Thoroughbred industry stand up and put a plan in place nation wide for racehorse retirement. the purses hold the key for the financing. the horses run for the money and should be given a percentage across the board for racehorse retirement, period. Why are the horses always left out? Why does the Thoroughbred industry just run the horses to break down and then send them to slaughter like they are nothing? The underground slaughter network that goes on at racetracks with horses going " direct" to brokers, who load them up in double deckers and send them to slaughter is going on daily at tracks that have " no slaughter " policies. Until the tracks put a financial plan in place this will go on.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Robin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:19:40 GMT

God Bless you all. I have been looking over Canter posts, and maybe someday real soon will get my OTTB. For now my wish is to stop horse slaughter!!! Maybe one day there will be no use for blogs such as this.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Sue — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:32:58 GMT

I bought my OTTB "Hobbes" (aka Finest Bette) at the start of his 4yr old year 20 years ago and I still have him today. He never broke his maiden or even placed on the track but he's always been a superstar in my eyes. I've learned so much both from him and with him. You just can't beat a TB for heart and smarts - and I say that as the proud owner of a couple of pretty terrific quarter horses as well. Best wishes and a long life together for both you and Dread .

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Darkie's Doll — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:54:20 GMT

Response to Kat - Please do not make such blanket statements about horses with "front end soundness issues". Do you remember Snowbound? If not I would refer you to "Great Horses of Our Times"for a good look at what a horse bowed in both front accomplished! He is far from the only one. Good care and good management is the key.

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

lespedeeza — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:23:44 GMT

over at the knee and foot problems are not necessarily carte blanche end of jumping career. A good farrier and some high end maintenance can make a brilliant horse out of the above described retiree. better be sure you want to jump only a meter-he sounds like there may be an "over the standards" effort available. Love his TB name-

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Argostar — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:45:32 GMT

May your rewards be many!

re: Mission Accomplished - By Robert Laurence

Jill — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:37:18 GMT

As the proud, smug, a little full of herself owner of a couple extremely beloved OTTBs, I join with you in our "mission" to make the world a little better place for these wonderful horses.

They deserve far better than what is often their lot -- a bad, bad end. Shame and a pox on the owners and trainers who do not step up and do right by those animals who tried so hard for them.

Kat, as to your questions, I'm reading the author's comments that Escalante is a bit tender-footed **now** but many of them are when they first come off the track. Given time, that usually resolves itself. Also, the author appears to be in the very early stages of learning to jump; I'm guessing that, much like mine, his horse(s) will never be asked to do more than what the old bones -- human and equine -- will allow.