Rebound: A Second Chance at a Heart Horse
For Michele, Rebound represents more than a successful adoption. He is proof that sometimes, when you least expect it, another heart horse can find its way into your life.
“A Beauty with a Clue”: A Tale of Two Thoroughbreds
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post “A Beauty with a Clue”: A Tale of Two Thoroughbreds “A Beauty with a Clue”: A Tale of Two Thoroughbreds By: Alexis Arbaugh August 26, 2025 Success Stories Tags:Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Trail Riding “Me On Clue” Photo provided by Tracy Yates After Tracy Yates’ middle-aged Quarter Horse was diagnosed with a hoof disease, her veterinarian suggested she explore the Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART) program in search of a sound riding horse. That advice led her to Including All—now affectionately known as “Clue.” Tracy was matched with Clue through the guidance of Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds’ Program Director, Robin Sprafka. Clue had three screws in one of his knees and could not jump or perform strenuous riding activities. “For casual trail and road riding, though, he would be fine, and that is exactly what this middle-aged adopter was looking for,” Tracy shared. Including All is a 2015 bay Thoroughbred gelding with two starts and nearly $3,000 in career earnings. Clue’s easy-going personality made retraining a breeze, and he quickly became Tracy’s go-to horse “when I am mentally fatigued and just want to relax and ride an unflappable horse.” Clue seemed highly intelligent, finding the various locations they rode to be quite interesting, and thus, he thoroughly enjoyed their time together. “His steady-Eddy nature was perfect for encounters with bicycles, dogs, people of all ages, other horses, and more, all of which are common on trail rides,” Tracy said. “Me On Beauty” Photo provided by Tracy Yates A couple of years later, Tracy adopted Beautiful Bridge, now known as “Beauty.” She is a 2014 bay Thoroughbred mare with only two starts before her retirement. Beauty’s personality was quite the opposite of Clue’s. Described as “feisty and opinionated” by the Horse and Hound trainer, Tracy’s husband laughed and said, “Oh, she and my wife will get along great, then!” Tracy couldn’t resist adopting Beauty, admitting she was “attracted to the challenge of her personality and had a gut feeling about her,” she recalled. Beauty’s retraining took longer, as she had to learn to walk flat-footed instead of constantly jigging. Their first trail ride was a true test of patience, turning a one-hour ride into a four-hour adventure filled with bridges, bicycles, fishermen with smelly buckets, motorbikes, and more. But that ride became a turning point: “She apparently decided that I was ‘lead mare’ after that, settled down, and now looks to me for guidance and reassurance in most things.” Now, Beauty is Tracy’s first choice when she wants to feel fully engaged and connected with the horse and surroundings, while Clue remains her steady, relaxing ride. She has truly enjoyed her two Thoroughbreds and has no regrets about stepping outside her Quarter Horse comfort zone. As Tracy likes to say, “I have a Beauty with a Clue!” She looks forward to many more years of riding and eventually traveling to explore new trails in different states. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Holy Moses: The Horse Who Changed Everything
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Holy Moses: The Horse Who Changed Everything Holy Moses: The Horse Who Changed Everything By: Amy Luyster August 22, 2025 Success Stories Tags:dressage, Secretariat Center, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Though his name was bold, his demeanor was calm and reserved. The former director of the Secretariat Center saw something special in both horse and rider and encouraged Amy to give Moses a try. “The first ride on him was magical,” Amy said. “Thoroughbreds can literally read your mind, and I experienced how awesome that was the moment I sat on him.” Born in February 2010, Holy Moses arrived at the Secretariat Center in 2015 following a respectable racing career that included 19 starts, four wins, and total earnings of $48,934 between 2013 and 2015. When Amy Luyster returned from a deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, she turned to fitness and running to re-center. That journey led her to the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon in Lexington, Kentucky, in March 2013. One of the weekend’s activities was a Family Day at the Secretariat Center. Inspired by the mission of the organization and the idea of horse ownership, Amy felt an immediate connection to the work being done there. The Secretariat Center, located within the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, focuses on rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming former racehorses. “I had always loved watching Thoroughbreds race,” Amy recalled. “Although I hadn’t ridden in nearly 20 years, I decided I had to come back to the Secretariat Center and try a few horses. I felt like I owed it to myself to finally explore horse ownership.” Amy scheduled an appointment, filled out an adoption application, and was paired with several horses to try. But the one who ultimately captured her heart wasn’t on her list that day: a bay gelding named Holy Moses. Moses wasn’t the first horse to play a role in Amy’s life. Her love for horses began at age four when a horse in a neighboring pasture captivated her. Without land or a family background in horses, Amy found creative ways to ride—borrowing horses through second cousins and friends to use as 4-H projects. She went on to ride all four years on her college’s IHSA team. “I think it kept my sanity,” she admitted. Even while serving as a Second Lieutenant in the Army and stationed overseas, Amy always found her way back to horses, riding barrels with a local rodeo team “just to be near horses.” Years later, once her family was settled at Fort Knox in Kentucky, she encouraged her own children to take riding lessons. Now, nearly a decade into her partnership with Moses, Amy is amazed by their journey and how far they’ve come. “We’ve learned so much from one another in these years. We’ve certainly had our challenges, but at this point in our relationship, he really trusts me—and vice versa,” Amy said. From trail rides and hunter paces to dressage competitions, the pair has tackled it all. “Our goal now is to reach Third Level,” she shared. “I would love to earn my bronze medal on him. Dressage has been so good for him—he loves having a job, and he’s such a beautiful mover.” “He’s a stoic soldier, just like me,” she added. “He really trusts me, and I trust him. We’ve learned so much from each other.” Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Lonesome Pine
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Lonesome Pine Lonesome Pine By: Alexis Arbaugh August 15, 2025 Success Stories Tags:fox hunting, Second Stride, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kelsey Kreutzer wasn’t searching for another horse when she first saw Lonesome Pine. With four horses already at home in Kansas, she considered her herd complete. But one day, while flipping through a horse magazine at work, a feature on the ASPCA’s Find My Right Horse caught her eye. Curious, she visited the website and started browsing through the listings. That’s when she first laid eyes on Lonesome Pine, a three-year-old Thoroughbred gelding listed by Second Stride in Prospect, Kentucky. “Oh, he’s handsome,” Kelsey thought, but she kept scrolling. Still, something about the young gelding stuck with her. She found herself returning to his profile, re-reading it, and eventually closing the browser. Kelsey kept telling herself it was nothing, but the days that followed told a different story. “A couple of days went by, and I had a dream about the pictures I had seen online. I kept having them on and off for the next week,” Kelsey recalled. “I woke up every time and couldn’t stop thinking about this horse. It was almost like he was calling to me.” Kelsey trusted her instincts and submitted an adoption application to Second Stride. Just a few days later, she was approved and was told that Pine was still available. That weekend, she drove the 18-hour round trip from Kansas to Kentucky to meet the horse that had already made such an impression on her. From the moment Kelsey met him, she was struck by Pine’s spirit and seemingly quiet intelligence. “His kind eye, his presence, and how you could just see his brain working behind those eyes,” she said. During their first ride at Second Stride, a nearby tractor dragged the outdoor arena, and Pine didn’t even bat an eye. Kelsey knew then that she was making the right decision. Pine went home with Kelsey on June 23, 2021. After a few days to settle in, the pair began going on trail rides together. For the first year, that’s all they did—just enjoying each other’s company and allowing Pine to grow into himself. Though Kelsey didn’t have a specific discipline in mind, Pine made his preferences clear. “All I knew was that he really enjoyed jumping over the little streams, creeks, or fallen logs on trails,” Kelsey said. In the winter of 2022, Pine joined his first Fox Hunt and was a natural. He galloped and jumped confidently, with “the hounds running under him, around him, or popping out of the underbrush, and it didn’t faze him,” Kelsey recalled. Recently, he and Kelsey have been training to be a Whipper-In and assist the huntsmen with organizing and keeping the dogs focused during the hunt for the Fort Leavenworth Hunt. Their future goals are to attend Hunter Paces and Trials, and also to compete in Show Jumping. Pine has become Kelsey’s heart horse. She said he was, “THE BEST DECISION I have ever made.” Recently, she adopted his younger sister from Second Stride as well, excited to begin a new chapter with another special Thoroughbred. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
More Than a Racehorse: Courage’s Story
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post More Than a Racehorse: Courage’s Story More Than a Racehorse: Courage’s Story By: Alexis Arbaugh August 8, 2025 Success Stories Tags:Central Kentucky Riding For Hope, Equine Retirement, equine-assisted therapy, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Courage’s journey began with high expectations. Born in 2017 as the son of Speightstown, he was a $350,000 Fasig-Tipton purchase, destined for success on the racetrack. However, after just three starts and modest earnings of $670, his racing career quietly came to an end. That’s when his true purpose began. Through the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Courage found his way to Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), where he embraced a new role—not as a competitor, but as a partner in equine-assisted therapy. Both New Vocations and CKRH are accredited by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to retrain and rehome former Thoroughbred racehorses. The fast-paced world of racing was behind him, and in its place, he discovered a life of connection, patience, and purpose. According to staff, he seemed to prefer “the speed of life at CKRH much better!” One of the first things that stood out about Courage was his striking resemblance to Secretariat—a similarity that runs deeper than appearance, as he shares bloodlines with the legendary Triple Crown winner. But beyond his impressive physique, what truly sets him apart is his kind and inquisitive spirit. “Courage is gentle and curious and truly is a gentle giant,” said Isabella Norrid, development director at CKRH. This amazing personality makes him a perfect fit for CKRH’s therapy programs. Today, he plays a vital role in CKRH’s newest non-mounted equine-assisted services program in partnership with FMC prison. Each week, he works alongside Adults in Custody (AICs) enrolled in emotional regulation classes, guiding them through groundwork exercises designed to foster trust, patience, and self-awareness. “Adults in custody enrolled in emotional regulation classes at the prison work alongside Courage through various challenges to help them understand and manage their emotions on a deeper level,” Norrid explained. With each session, he helps participants build confidence and develop emotional resilience, his quiet strength serving as a steady presence in their journey. Though he thrives in non-mounted work, CKRH has bigger plans for his future. “While Courage currently serves in CKRH’s non-mounted programming, our long-term goal is to enter him into mounted equine-assisted services,” Norrid noted. His journey of transformation is far from over. Despite his calm and steady demeanor in therapy, Courage has a playful side. “He loves playing with hats, loosening his bell boots, and tries to snack on pool noodles,” she added. Yet for all his bravery, he’s also hilariously skittish, “he even scares himself easily!” Courage’s story is a testament to the fact that a racehorse’s value isn’t measured in wins or earnings but in the lives they touch. Though his racing career may not have made headlines, his impact at CKRH is undeniable. He has found his stride—not on the track, but in the hearts of those he helps heal. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Love at First Sight: Junior and Mary
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Love at First Sight: Junior and Mary Love at First Sight: Junior and Mary By: Alexis Arbaugh August 1, 2025 Success Stories Tags:CANTER, CANTER Michigan, Equine Retirement, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Trail Riding Mary’s love for horses began in childhood, where she spent her time riding and showing horses in 4-H. The idea of owning a horse again stayed with her as she grew older. As an adult, she took up riding lessons during the COVID pandemic, saying, “With the extra free time, I figured it was the perfect time and started my search.” Unsure where to start, Mary searched through numerous horse adoption sites, hoping to find her perfect match. During a Google search for local rescues, she discovered Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses in Michigan (CANTER), an organization with thirteen affiliates across the U.S., three of which are accredited by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. CANTER specializes in rehabilitation, retraining, and adoption of off-track Thoroughbreds. Curious whether an off-track Thoroughbred might be a good fit, Mary reached out to CANTER Michigan, sharing her riding experience with the organization. Denise Fullhart, an owner of a CANTER Michigan facility, responded and suggested M G Junior as a potential match, encouraging her to submit an application. “After submitting the app and getting approved, I was able to coordinate a visit to the farm. It was an easy process, and the team was very helpful,” Mary recalled. Before her visit, Mary did extensive research on retraining off-the-track Thoroughbreds, learning about their temperaments, needs, and what to expect. She also looked into M G Junior’s pedigree for fun. “From The Jockey Club site, I found that he was actually closely related to one of the horses I had growing up,” Mary shared.She continued, “The OTTB I had growing up was super chill and such a good horse. I was hoping it would be the same with Junior.” M G Junior, a 2011 Thoroughbred gelding, had 47 starts and earned close to $90,000 during his career. When Mary arrived at CANTER Michigan, she immediately felt a connection. “I saw him in the field and knew that had to be him before Denise even pulled him out,” she said.Though it was spring and Junior was shedding heavily, he had an undeniable presence. “He had these long, elegant legs and a pose that just made him seem chill and regal,” Mary recalled. After grooming and tacking him up, Junior stood quietly, like a gentleman. When Mary rode him, she was amazed. “I rode him around the arena, and it was just so easy. With the research, I expected a fast, crazy horse with little handling, but he was chill and just easy. It was a perfect fit for me,” she said. Their bond was immediate. “He really did remind me of my childhood horse, and I felt connected to him,” Mary recalled. That evening, she couldn’t stop thinking about Junior. “I never even looked at any other horses before choosing Junior—I knew it had to be him,” she remembered. Since bringing Junior home, Mary hasn’t had to do much retraining. “I mainly got him for trail riding and pleasure arena riding. I started slow, working on ground commands and lunging. He learned quickly and soon followed me freely around the arena.” Under saddle, Junior continued to impress Mary. “Once I started riding him, it didn’t take long for him to understand what I was asking. Now he freely trots and canters as I ask.” “Our personalities just fit with each other—we are both laid back and chill, and he even knows what I’m about to ask before I ask it… I really couldn’t ask for a better match,” Mary noted. As for the future, she wants to keep things simple. “My plan with Junior is to just enjoy life with him. We mosey down the trails and have fun in the arena. I want nothing but the best for him and to spoil him with treats.” Update 2025:These days, Junior and Mary are enjoying a slower pace, focusing on groundwork. “With spring coming on, it’s been nothing but shedding with him,” Mary laughed. “But he makes it easy—he actually lets me use a shop vac to get the mud and hair off. Everyone at the barn gets a kick out of it.” Recently, Mary has been working on liberty exercises, aiming to encourage Junior to follow her around the arena without a lead rope. “He’s not too keen on trotting next to me just yet,” she said. “If I jog off, he’ll just mosey along at a walk. Then when I stop, he’ll wander up with this look like, ‘Why are you running when walking is so lovely?’” It’s clear the pair are simply enjoying each other’s company. “I’m very happy to have him in my life,” Mary stated. “He’s a special horse.” Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Whats in It for Me Finds What He Needed Most
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Whats in It for Me Finds What He Needed Most Whats in It for Me Finds What He Needed Most By: Alexis Arbaugh July 25, 2025 Success Stories Tags:After the Races NY, Pleasure Riding, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Whats in It for Me, a 2017 gray gelding, had 9 starts and earned about $11,000 before retiring from racing in 2021. He arrived at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga in September of that year, but something wasn’t quite right. After sustaining a sesamoid fracture on the track, he had spent nearly a year on stall rest at the organization. “Erin Sisk, co-founder of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, asked me to come and look at Grey (Whats in It for Me) because he didn’t fit their program. He didn’t seem happy,” said Anna Hollander. When Anna first met him, she could see his loneliness clearly: “Grey seemed depressed and sad.” Despite everything he had overcome physically, he was still struggling emotionally. “I felt drawn to help him to a happier life,” Anna remembered. Over time, Grey, now called William Grey, began to blossom. “William Grey has transformed into a gorgeous horse, [he has been] ridden on trails and training regularly.” He became a sound and lovable horse who thrived on attention from all. “He is happy, sound, and super affectionate. A gentle giant,” stated Anna. With consistent training and time on the trails, Will had become a different horse. Looking ahead, Anna shared that she plans “to ride and train him more, send him out on a couple of beautiful trail and hunter paces this fall.” “The transformation took about a year, he knickers now. My other horses helped as well, they started playing with Will and showed him what fun life can be,” Anna recalled. In the end, “It makes my day every day turning these gorgeous horses in to happy Champions and watch them enjoy life,” Anna answered. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Big Personality, Bigger Heart: Pep Talking’s Second Career
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu [wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Previous Post Big Personality, Bigger Heart: Pep Talking’s Second Career Big Personality, Bigger Heart: Pep Talking’s Second Career By: Alexis Arbaugh June 13, 2025 Success Stories Tags:New Vocations, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Western Photo Credit: Katie Mills When Al Gillen set out to adopt another horse from MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in 2022, he had a clear vision: something smaller, older, and ready to settle into a quieter life alongside his senior horse, Stardust. What he found instead was Pep Talking: a big-bodied, six-year-old Thoroughbred with a bold personality and plenty to say. Al had known Beverly Strauss of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue for nearly 20 years and trusted the process completely. “I knew the adoption experience would be smooth and that we’d get full disclosure on everything,” Al said. During his first ride on Pep Talking, Al encountered a horse who was eager to please but full of energy. “He was jumpy and especially strong on forward motion,” Al recalled. But a ride around the rescue’s property sealed the deal. “I asked him to nose into heavy brush or walk up to farm equipment. None of that fazed him in the least, which was very encouraging to me for what his new job would be.” After trying several horses, Pep just stood out. “He felt like the best fit,” noted Al. Photo Credit: Katie Mills Pep Talking, a 2016 gelding, earned over $67,000 in 26 starts before arriving at MidAtlantic in July 2021. “This is actually the second horse I’ve adopted from MidAtlantic,” Al shared. “I got Stardust back in 2006, With Stardust now a senior, I wanted a younger horse to be ready to fill his shoes, so to speak, when the time came to dial down his activities. That has not happened yet, so I now have two active horses.” Pep proved to be a handful during his retraining, so Al partnered with a dressage trainer. “The goal was never to make Pep a competitive dressage horse. We’re just using the training as a foundation for his real job — my main trail mount.” At first, Pep’s responses were often a little explosive. “He’s never been malicious in any way, just full of strength and speed, which was his answer to anything challenging,” Al explained. But with patience and consistent work, Pep began to settle and thrive. “He’s got a strong work ethic and a big personality,” Al said. “And in the barn, he’s definitely risen to the top of the herd—keeping the older boys on the move.” “[He’s] become a fun ride that is safe, sane, and brave on the trails. Today I feel 100% comfortable taking either Stardust or Pep out for whatever ride I have in mind.” Now more than two years into his retraining, Pep is thriving. He and Al ride two to three times a week, exploring trails, participating in hunter paces, and tackling judged trail rides and obstacle courses. Photo Credit: Katie Mills Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
The Big Kahuna’s Second Act
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu [wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Previous Post The Big Kahuna’s Second Act The Big Kahuna’s Second Act By: Alexis Arbaugh June 13, 2025 Success Stories Tags:dressage, Second Stride, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance With only four career starts, The Big Kahuna retired from racing in early 2022 with $77,870 in earnings. Foaled in March 2017, the flashy bay gelding arrived at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in April of that year, ready for his next chapter. New Vocations is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization that is dedicated to rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Loran Schubarg first discovered The Big Kahuna, now known as Maverick, online while browsing adoptable horses on the New Vocations website. “The adoption experience couldn’t have been easier, the trainers at the location were so helpful,” remembered Loran when she went to visit Maverick for the first time. The deal was sealed as soon as Loran saw Maverick in person. “I adopted Maverick because of his beautiful gaits and his flashy head,” said Loran. Since Loran brought Maverick home, she has been hands-on in his training and development. “I have been riding him on my own every day mostly. We hack in the woods and then work on the flat,” Loran stated. Their hard work paid off last summer when they tackled their first combined test together; “We have started jumping last summer and have successfully competed at a ‘tadpole’ combined test, placing second.” With some success under their belts, Loran is looking ahead to an exciting future. “I would like to compete in T.I.P Combined Tests and qualify for next year’s Championship. Eventually I would like to event him,” Loran admitted. At home, Maverick’s personality shines through to each person and animal he has encountered. “He is the boss of my other horse and is very attached to him. We tell people he has an emotional support horse,” said Loran. Loran is grateful for the opportunity to have been partnered with such a promising and expressive Thoroughbred. Loran added, “I love my OTTB!” With Maverick’s presence, talent, and a devoted rider by his side, he is proving there’s nothing the pair can’t accomplish. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission
Finding Home: She’s So Fly and Chloe
All Items Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Equine-Assisted Learning Sanctuary Living Inspector Spotlights Hamburger Toggle Menu Previous PostNext Post Finding Home: She’s So Fly and Chloe Finding Home: She’s So Fly and Chloe By: Alexis Arbaugh July 2, 2025 Success Stories Tags:MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Trail Riding She’s So Fly, now affectionately known as Sophie, was born in March 2020. After only racing once, Sophie was retired by her breeder in 2022. Sophie arrived at After the Races in December 2023, where she waited patiently for her perfect match to come along. Chloe Ras, a former assistant manager at After the Races, stayed connected to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization and often browsed their website and Facebook page for potential horses. “I found Sophie (She’s So Fly) specifically through a blog post that was done to highlight some of the horses that were being overlooked,” Chloe remembered. As she was familiar with the adoption process, Chloe acted quickly. “I just submitted an application, was approved, and set up shipping within the week! It was interesting to be on the other side.” Sophie’s gentle nature and potential won Chloe over immediately. “Something about her just struck a chord in me. She had such a sweet eye in the couple videos of her being ridden in the round pen. She seemed to have a very easygoing way about her. She was described as sweet and personable, and she was a great size,” said Chloe. Despite Sophie’s amazing qualities, she had been overlooked simply for being a chestnut mare, a small detail that didn’t faze Chloe at all. “I have owned two chestnut mares previously, and was not scared off by the stigma, so I jumped on the opportunity. This was the second time I had bought/adopted a horse sight unseen, but I trust After the Races in their honesty when matching horses with people.” Since bringing Sophie home, Chloe has prioritized patience because Sophie was still young, so they wanted to take it slow. “We have kept things very low key for Sophie as she is still growing and maturing. We focus a lot on groundwork and she regularly gets time off to relax and be with her friends. We trail ride on my property, and she has been truly amazing at taking everything in stride when we go explore,” Chloe stated. Sophie turned out to be a very confident horse which helped the pair tremendously in and out of the saddle. “She often leads on rides, since her stride is longer than most of my other horses’, but she is just as content to follow and I am able to keep a few loose fingers on the reins,” said Chloe. Chloe explained her long-term goals for Sophie to be her primary trail horse and possibly endurance later down the road. “I’m not much of a competitive person anymore, and my horses enjoy a slower pace of life on my farm. Since she’s only 4, I know we have quite a bit of time and a few more growth spurts to get through and I’m happy to be patient as she matures.” Sophie’s affectionate personality made her a favorite on the farm. “She absolutely loves being scratched on her chest, to the point where when she comes up in the field, she will often present her chest to me instead of her head and ask me to scratch her chest. On the hot days when I shower them in the field, she is always the first to come up and the last to leave and will even put her head in the water stream to play with the water over the other horses’ backs,” Chloe confessed. With Chloe, Sophie has gone from overlooked to cherished. Their bond has proved that all it takes is one person to see a horse’s hidden potential. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission