Browse: Page 218

Old Friends partners with New Vocations

By on April 24, 2014

Gameday News, retired at Old Friends for two years, is moving to New Vocations to be trained for a second career.

Gameday News, retired at Old Friends for two years, is moving to New Vocations to be trained for a second career.Old Friends and New Vocations announced last month a plan to partner together to find the best possible retirement options in both of their herds.

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 the option to move to Old Friends to enjoy full retirement.

And, by contrast, if Old Friends gets a young retiree with the potential to become a sport horse, that animal now has the opportunity of folding in to the New Vocations training program.

Michael Blowen. Photo by Cathy Riccio /Lubrisyn

Michael Blowen. Photo by Cathy Riccio /Lubrisyn

As was the case for injured ex-racehorse Gameday News. Owned and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Gameday injured his ankle in an allowance race and was retired to Old Friends. After two years of care and paddock rest, a veterinary check revealed that Gameday was good to go for a new career.

So, Gameday was sent to New Vocations to begin working under saddle.

“It’s a clear case of doing what’s best for the athlete,” said Old Friends president Michael Blowen. “He’s a beautiful, energetic, kind horse who is adored by the staff and visitors. But he’s too young and healthy to be retired.”
He added that he is grateful to both New Vocations for accepting him into their program, and to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which is helping to fund both charities, and to both for inspiring a new spirit of collaboration among charities.
Anna Ford, New Vocations program director, states the new partnership will foster more opportunity for retired racehorses.

Posted in | 8 Responses

A twist of fate, a loaned horse led to Rolex

By on April 23, 2014

Ziggy's Berry Boy and Rachel Jurgens met when her competitive mare got injured, and someone loaned her the horse who would go on to become her four-star mount. Photo by Allie Conrad

Ziggy’s Berry Boy and Rachel Jurgens met when her competitive mare got injured, and someone loaned her the horse who would go on to become her four-star mount. Photo by Allie Conrad

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.”

The bay with white star was as green as they come, and knew nothing. But when pointed at a jump, his inner genius came out. “He wanted to jump everything, but he didn’t want to jump crazy or stupid, the way some horses can,” Jurgens says. “Every time I sat on him I wanted to sit on him again.”

The natural chemistry under saddle inspired her to take a chance on the ex-racehorse who retired from racing after only two starts. She agreed to take the handsome gelding on loan from Truffant for six months, and then decide.

Ziggy’s Berry Boy
Sire: Ziggy’s Blush
Dam: Berry Blush, by Foolish Pleasure
Foal date: April 21, 1996“I said I’d either sell him or maybe I’d just buy him,” she says. “Somehow I couldn’t quite sell him though, and I fell in love with him.”

Far from easy, Ziggy was pretty hard to handle on the ground. He squirmed, pushed her around, and was such a handful that he went a year wearing a halter and bridle simultaneously.

“He was so hot and nervous on the ground, but as soon as I got on his back, he was great,” Jurgens says. “He’s much better now, at 18, but at shows he can still be a little hot.”

Now his fire is reserved for the Rolex Three Day, where he shines on cross-country with excellent competitive times and clean jumps, she says. Dressage presents the biggest challenge, while show jumping is good, but where the team occasionally knocks down a rail. “Those are my rails,” she says, quick to take responsibility.

The pair competed last year at Rolex but was eliminated at Jump 7 after she fell. “It was great to go and get my feet wet, quite literally,” she says, chuckling.

Ziggy and Jurgens step brightly.

Ziggy and Jurgens step brightly.

Going into this year’s competition, Jurgens admits she isn’t a highly competitive rider, but that she is looking forward to the challenge.

“Our biggest challenge is always the dressage. He’s hot, but he’s a nice mover and he’s a nice horse on the flat, but sometimes he gets tense, so the work we’ve done doesn’t necessarily show. Cross-country is definitely his best phase.”

As she completed the final few hours of the drive from North Carolina to Kentucky on Tuesday, the equestrian had to marvel at the twists an turns her life has taken.

She graduated college with a degree in psychology, now tucked away somewhere in her house, and then proceeded to create her own coffee shop business. But the Thoroughbreds, they have been consistent throughout.

“My first horse when I was 3 was a Thoroughbred off the track,” she says. “And I have two other OTTBs I’m bringing along. I love the breed.”

Off Track Thoroughbreds wishes all the best to Ziggy and Rachel Jurgens this weekend at Rolex!

Posted in | 8 Responses

A blockbuster ‘Thoroughbreds for All’ planned

By on April 22, 2014

Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik, pictured on her OTTB Sugar, is among the participants at Thoroughbreds for All next weekend. Photo by Lynn Towery Roberts

Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik, pictured on her OTTB Sugar, is among the participants at Thoroughbreds for All next weekend. Photo by Lynn Towery Roberts

Building on last year’s blockbuster Thoroughbreds for All event at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day is a planned extravaganza expected to break previous attendance records. This year’s festivities include celebrity events, celebrations and Thoroughbred demonstrations.

An all-star lineup features Olympian Boyd Martin and Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik, as well as Olympic dressage judge Linda Zang and Pan American Games Eventing gold medalist Lynn Symansky. All will join the celebration of the American Thoroughbred in a series of events throughout Rolex weekend, April 25-27.

The Thoroughbreds for All event, which is cohosted by the Retired Racehorse Training Project and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, aims to heighten awareness of the potential ex-racehorses have for new careers. And there is no better proving ground than the only North American four-star Event, where ex-racehorses will compete against world-class riders and horses, says Steuart Pittman.

“The most exciting thing about the Rolex Three Day Event for Thoroughbred lovers is that horses bred to race compete and win against horses bred for Eventing,” says Pittman, founder of the Retired Racehorse Training Project.

Acknowledging the industry’s ongoing support of Thoroughbreds in post-racing sport, Pittman notes that The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) will formally acknowledge riders who will pilot their ex-racehorses at Rolex. Riders will be feted for choosing a Thoroughbred for their advanced riding career.

“Bringing the riders of these horses together with their fans and The Jockey Club is a great way to recognize their achievements. We truly do have the stars lined up for this year’s event.”

Boyd Martin. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Boyd Martin. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Last year, more than 500 people from 15 states attended the event. This year could reach 600 attendees.

Kristin Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club and coordinator of TIP and Anna Ford, program director of New Vocations, agree that Thoroughbreds for All is a power-packed collaboration ultimately benefitting the Thoroughbred ex-racehorse.

“On Sunday, April 27, The Jockey Club (TIP) will be presenting an award to the highest placing Thoroughbred at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event,” Leshney says. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to recognize all of the riders who have chosen to represent the versatile Thoroughbred at the highest level of equestrian competition.”

Ford shares her excitement.

“New Vocations is thrilled to once again host this wonderful event, which not only showcases the Thoroughbreds in our program, but also promotes the retraining of these athletes in a variety of new careers,” she says.

AmWest Entertainment and Wild Aire Farm have sponsored Thoroughbreds for All events.

To purchase tickets, which are $35 each, please visit eventbrite.com.

Posted in | 2 Responses

« PreviousNext »