64 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Laurie, a blue ribbon and Danny – a winning prescription!
Photo by Jennifer Swanson
By Courtney Zimmerman
Laurie Blakelock-Rodriguez rescued New Fandan, known as
Danny around the barn, in January of 2011 from Pure Thoughts
Horse Rescue - a short time after she was diagnosed with breast
cancer. What she didn’t realize was that Danny was actually the
one rescuing her.
Laurie was desperate for a project to work on to divert her
attention away from her breast cancer and ventured to Pure
Thoughts Horse Rescue, located in Loxahatchee, Florida. She
trolled through the barns, with a horse already in mind, when
she spotted Danny nickering to her as she opened the gate. Her
biggest draw to him was that he was calm, had great ground
manners and she could easily control him. As a former hunter
jumper rider who faded out of the riding scene when she began
college, Laurie needed a riding prospect that was tolerant and
respectful for her segue back into casual riding and Danny was
the perfect ft.
Danny is a racehorse that traveled quite a bit during his career;
bred in Brazil, he raced there as a 3 and 4 year old until he went
to Gulfstream as a 5 year old to train under David Fawkes. He
raced at Belmont and Santa Anita and in 2009 won the John
Henry Stakes as a 20-1 long shot; he rallied from last place to
frst, catapulting himself into prominence as a 6 year old gelding.
Danny was living the high life at that point - until he was injured.
He retired from racing in February 2010 after 31 starts and was
rehabilitated at Celia Fawkes’ barn, wife of Danny’s previous
trainer, until December 2010. Danny was sent to Pure Thoughts
Horse Rescue where he would then meet Laurie and begin
his second career as her hunter jumper prospect and personal
therapy horse and rehabilitator – her savior.
Although an ex-racehorse, Danny has blossomed into a
wonderful and willing jumper. He began as a young, green jumper;
but it is evident that Danny loves what he does. On trail rides,
he jumps ravines instead of walking down them and in the ring
he jumps fences with 12 inches to spare. One day while riding
Danny, Laurie fell off and fractured her pelvis in 3 places. While
she recovered, she decided to pass Danny along to somebody
who could really unleash his potential and that is when Laurie
connected with trainer Heather Callahan of Atlantic Crossing
Stables.
Heather and Danny have made a phenomenal team and Laurie
loves to watch them sail over a jump course; she proclaims it is
as enjoyable to observe Heather and Danny as it is to ride Danny
herself, almost like watching her own child. Laurie rides Danny
about three to four times a week; but the week before a show she
will let Heather and Danny “jell together” to help them prepare.
Heather and Laurie took Danny to the Wellington Schooling
Shows in May and June
and Danny won Champion, winning all
of the intermediate jumping classes. He has adapted very well to
his new job!
Laurie’s husband is a cardiologist and says that he couldn’t
have prescribed any better medication for her pathway to
recovery. Danny is Laurie’s biggest salvation and has brought
a lot of happiness in her life. “Horses are just wonderful gifts,”
Laurie asserts. “After having cancer, people often think about life
as in, ‘before I had cancer or after I was diagnosed.’ I prefer to
think of my life as ‘before Danny or after I found him.’ I NEVER
would have had Danny if I hadn’t had breast cancer, so you never
know what is in store for you when you go through challenges in
life. I truly think God brought him into my life, and like my husband
says, he has been better than any medicine he could ever have
prescribed!” I guess we will never truly know who rescued whom;
it seems like Laurie and Danny have both rescued each other and
neither could be happier.
A smiling Laurie with her rescue horse Danny
Photo by John Eisinger