New Friends

re: New Friends

Doris — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:56:42 GMT

these are very nice pictures. I can't wait to come & visit in May. it will be my 1st visit and I'm really looking forward to it.

re: New Friends

horseracinglover — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:06:44 GMT

God Bless Michael! He is trying to rescue Ball Four right now. Another Stakes horse dropped into cheap claimers. Please help. They are trying to raise 5000.00 to buy him (thats the amount he is running for\claim tag). He is 10 and in his 8th yr. raceing. He ran against Rail Trip and Lava Man. Lets make sure we don't lose this one to a break down or the killer pen.

re: New Friends

Susan W. — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:53:25 GMT

This is a wonderful article --- seeing these photos is almost as good as being there in person. If you have never visited Old Friends and you get a chance to visit, - DO SO!

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Dee Poulos — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:14:05 GMT

Really enjoyed the photos of Michael Blowen and his "Old Friends." "Black Tie Affair" was so fortunate to spend the autumn of his life with Michael and the wonderful volunteers at "Old Friends." Great cause and wonderful facility.

re: New Friends

Donna Melendez from Grayslake, IL — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:04:14 GMT

Thank you Michael for all you do. Your farm looks like a haven of comfort and peace for these champions!

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LuckySon — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:46:41 GMT

Michael Blowen is a Saint!!! I was lucky enough to visit last spring, and as wonderful as these stories are, they by no means do him or his organization justice!!! He is just a living saint!! Thank you Mr. Blowen!!

re: New Friends

old horse lover — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:45:05 GMT

Please take note horse slaughter legistion is coming up0 again in some states,Instead of stopping it in the U S and stopping transport to other contries for slaughter.Some legislators are trying to reinstate it here.

Please do everything you can to stop this.I watch a 2500 claiming race the other day and ther was a mare that had won 1 in 21 starts and she finished way way back last.I cried because I know where she was going to end up probally

re: New Friends

ofelia — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:49:16 GMT

Michael is the best.

re: New Friends

Anne from Paramount CA — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:44:30 GMT

LauraJ thanks SO much for making me aware of those adorable, wonderful pictures of LSC--he is indeed a hoot and a real "charmer." Loved his Valentine to Queen Z. Laughed and laughed. She may be too busy to respond right now,though. Another day and another smile from this site. Hope to meet everyone at Good Friends some day. Keep on doin' what you all do,everyone!

re: New Friends

Giddyup — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:01:06 GMT

I just have to commend Bloodhorse for doing a great job of educating people about places like Old Friends. I am somewhat ashamed to say that only recently have I become aware of the situation surrounding unwanted and retired thoroughbreds. Through another website I came across a link to a Bloodhorse report on this important issue and I will post it here in case any one else may have missed it.

i.bloodhorse.com/.../unwanted-horses-848847980.pdf

re: New Friends

LauraJ — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:40:06 GMT

@Anne from Paramount CA, you should check out Little Silver Charm's Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/.../113471835374378

He is a hoot. He has a crush on Zenyatta! He plays soccer and is allowed to go into the house. He seems to enjoy meeting visitors on tour, and as you can imagine, the kids adore him. He may be the smallest horse at Old Friends, but he has the best hair.

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Helen — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:33:17 GMT

Hmmm, please let Little Silver Charm I am thinking of him...love this little guy!

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Helen — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 22:54:14 GMT

Just would like to say thank you for all you do for these magnificent horses! Hope to see you this year.

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Anne Eberhardt Keogh — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:11:44 GMT

Terrific comments and ideas. Thanks. Michael Blowen is amazing! Their current facility is beautiful with ideal access to the interstate. His ideas for assisting horses never stops. He's a true asset to the Thoroughbred community.

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Karen — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 05:34:30 GMT

God bless you Michael. I truly believe you are doing God's work. Horses are not commodities they are breathing, feeling, loving creatures. They deserve a place where they are loved, admired, and treated with dignity. Michael you are providing that place. You are a saint in my opinion.

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sherpa — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:33:00 GMT

Esther's Old Friends article in this week's (2/19) Bloodhorse (with pictures by Anne, of course!) was absolutely wonderful. A keeper.

Anne from Paramount - according to the BH article, Little Silver Charm was bought off a slaughter truck for $40. A charmed day for him, for sure!

I could wish the Old Friends website was updated more often. They do have a Facebook page, too.

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Anne from Paramount CA — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:04:07 GMT

Just loved reading/viewing these photos/slide show...I am still smiling and will be for a long while, thinking of your love for the horses. Thanks for a great day brightener. Also enjoy reading comments from those who have visited Old Friends. Can someone tell me more about Little Silver Charm? Thanks

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Kathryn — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:31:31 GMT

Every note & every photograph is a confirmation 'God`s in His Heaven; All`s Right .. .'

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Lisa — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:38:21 GMT

to Mike Relva: sorry I have to use this as a venue, but I just wanted to let Mike Relva know that I am not the Lisa in TN...I am Lisa in New Orleans who loves all horses and frequent the sites of Old Friends and Akendale (sp?) and all other sites concerning race horses here and on Facebook. I'll put my name as Lisa in New Orleans from now on. And, I'll be at the FG to watch all the Saturday races, but the Rachel Alexandra race is what is drawing me there. If I can't see her, I can think I'm seeing her as I did when I saw her race here several times! Miss you beautiful, Rachel Alexandra!!!

re: New Friends

Smarie — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:13:47 GMT

Michael Blowen and people like him "get it." You don't throw away your equine friends and partners when they can no longer meet your expectations. You don't abandon them and you certainly don't send them to slaughter!! Right now, there is a debate going on between John Holland, a man whose compassion and love for horses knows no bounds, and Charlie Stenholm, a man who sees nothing wrong with butchering horses; cares nothing for how horrible this process is, and wants to get horse slaughtering plants going again in the U.S. Check out vicki@equinealliance.org

to read about this yourselves. Stenholm and his ilk have to be stopped. Our horses do not deserve to be slaughtered!

re: New Friends

Irish Advantage — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:59:47 GMT

Wonderful photos! Michael, you've got your 2012 calendar photos already :-)

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needler in Virginia — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:32:04 GMT

Laura, there aren't any pix of Swannie shown above and Special Ring (ALSO missing from these pix) IS the lip artist! Swannie gets you from "hello", though; he's such a presence and has the kindest eye........gotta love a horse who raced his eyes out, won little, tried hard, and then trusts humans to do right by him. But then, every horse at Old Friends seems to give a trust I'm not so sure I could muster given some of the places they came from. Even when grumpy Creator nips when you try to drape his forelock over his shoulder (just a SLIGHT exaggeration, folks) he's just being Creator....he still trusts that you WILL show up with carrots and that you won't harm him. Amazing animals, horses....

Cheers, safe trips and love to everyone at Old Friends......horses, cats, dogs AND humans!

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Robin from Maryland — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:39:04 GMT

Wonderful story,WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!! Keep up the great work. I only wish that there were more OF all over the US. God Bless to all.

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SPLITSOF12 — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:28:38 GMT

Last summer I visited Kentucky by way of California. I went to all the horse farms: Claiborne, Lane's End, Three Chimneys, and a slew of others. I must say Old Friends was my favorite. Not only did I get to see Queen Elizabeth's favorite horse Gulch, but I also got to see one of my favorite California runners, Smokey Stover. What a beautiful horse he is. Also I'm glad I got to see the great Jade Hunter before he passed away. Millionaire Special Ring and I shared a close bond. I think he could sense I was from Cali, so he never tried to bite me as he will others. Oh, and one of my favorite handicap horses from the early to mid nineties, The Wicked North. Watching Little Silver Charm kick around a soccer ball was pretty amusing. Or how about BullintheHeather drinking a beer. So many wonderful memories on that hot and humid day in the heart of horse country. I would just like to say thanks again to all the people that volunteer their time and work so hard to make Old Friends a truly special place. And also a special thanks to Michael Blowen for providing a home and shelter for these glorious runners. If you've never been to Old Friends it's a must stop and see if your in Central Kentucky.

re: New Friends

Soldier Course — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:31:56 GMT

Where Old Friends find New Hope. Thoroughly enjoyed this article and photos. Thanks.