Military hands guide t’bred to aid veterans
Arm and arm they walked toward the horse. The blinded Iraq War veteran extended his arm and on faith accompanied Vicki Dryer down the barn aisle, his seeing-eye dog trailing close behind. In a moment the pair, both shattered by war, stood at the door of ex-racehorse Devgru, a fine racehorse who’d weathered his own storms. But on this day the animal, who was almost euthanized during a prolonged recovery from knee-chip surgery, stood soundly. Able bodied he reported for duty April 4 to enter his second career as therapy horse for veterans and first responders. From his stall at […]
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Old Friends partners with New Vocations
Old Friends, a retirement sanctuary for horses who will never be ridden again, and New Vocations, a re-training and re-homing organization geared to find racehorses second jobs, will work together to ensure that horses in their care get on the right path, according to directors of both horse charities. By sharing responsibilities, the two organizations have enhanced their capacity to offer a retiring horse more options. If a horse admitted to New Vocations for re-training as a sport horse proves to be better suited for sanctuary retirement, that same horse, under the auspices of the new partnership, would now have […]
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A twist of fate, a loaned horse led to Rolex
It was happenstance that led Rolex competitor Rachel Jurgens to her four-star mount, Ziggy’s Berry Boy. “I had moved from Oregon to North Carolina to train with Jimmy Wofford and during our ride out there, my little mare broke her coffin bone,” says Jurgens during a telephone interview en route to the Rolex Kentucky Three Day. “Jimmy suggested I go gallop horses on the Middleburg Training Track since I didn’t have a horse, and I met Michelle Truffant, who had been Ziggy’s jockey, and took him in. She let me use Ziggy so I could continue my lessons with Jimmy.” […]
