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African Wildfire, an Illinois-bred now living in Hawaii, has adapted nicely to a land of wild pigs, soothing lakes and a constant  summer season.

In Hawaii a hot T-bred is now a cool sport horse

After three years of persistence, a 15-year-old Honolulu equestrian and her spirited Illinois-bred Thoroughbred have proved the skeptics wrong. People who used to wonder if Jenna Neher wasn’t a bit “over horsed” by her off-track Thoroughbred African Wildfire, are now commenting on how “good” the plain bay is for his young rider as the two compete at the USDF’s second level and jump three-foot courses. “At first he was a hot Thoroughbred, and a lot of people thought he was a lot of horse for me,” Neher says. “But we’ve come such a long way since I got him in […]

Kentucky photographer and sports writer Rick Capone pens a book about Old Friends. Photo by Rick Capone

Rick Capone pens book on Old Friends

Kentucky photographer Rick Capone, who has captured hundreds of gorgeous images of ex-racehorses frolicking at Old Friends Equine, has now found the words to describe the amazing undertaking to create the world-renowned home for retired Thoroughbreds. In his new book, History of Old Friends, A Home for Retired Thoroughbreds, Capone tells the story of Michael Blowen’s farm. In addition, he includes biographies of the farm’s famous residents, including Sunshine and Creator, the first two residents to be flown from Japan to the sprawling retirement facility. In this week’s Clubhouse Q&A, Capone discusses his background, the book, and his inspiration for […]

King recovers at the West Coast Equine Hospital. Photo by Auction Horse Rescue

Massacre victim’s racehorse rescued in Calif

A racehorse once belonging to a California family who was massacred in 2008, was plucked this month from a California auction house, his life saved through the glorious teamwork of a rescue organization, social media and his original breeder. Return of the King, a 2002 Kentucky bred gelding who earned $175,000 in 33 starts, stood gingerly on a badly swollen hind leg at Mike’s Auction House June 14 when he was spotted by Megan Gaynes, a three-year veteran of Auction Horses Rescue. “He was in significant pain, standing on a hugely swollen leg,” Gaynes says. “My friend who accompanied me […]