22 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Courtney Zimmerman
The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center (MMSC) is located at the
Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, and is known as the
“Tiffany’s” of horse retraining by reschooling adoptable racehorses.
Recently accredited as a 501(c)3 non-proft organization, the
MMSC has placed over 200 ex-racehorses into new homes with
new careers.
The Secretariat Center is all about being “horse-centered” –
every single decision is a refection of what is best for the horse.
This includes medical issues, training practices and even the best
matches for adoptions – if it is not a good ft, then the adoption is
rejected because it is not considered what is best for the horse.
When training a new horse, Susanna Thomas, the director of
the MMSC, said that she, “Asks for a lot, but is thrilled with a little.”
This again reiterates the “horse-centered” mindset that the MMSC
has adopted in order to adhere to each horse’s unique needs. The
MMSC has grown in the last few years, adding a Hitchcock pen (a
track-like pen that teaches a horse to jump), a round pen, a small
cross country course, and many bombproofng obstacles for the
outdoor riding arena.
Horses that come through the Maker’s Mark Secretariat
Center are put through many rounds of groundwork, including
“bombproofng” or desensitizing. “Every horse is treated like
an individual,” Susanna said. If a certain method works for one
horse, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for another
horse. A horse may retire sound but still have issues from being
a racehorse. This is one reason why Susanna has embraced
the idea of “Horsenality,” a concept created by famed natural
horsemanship trainer Pat Parelli. It encompasses the body, mind
and spirit of the horse, and treats the issues the horse possesses
in that order. “It’s one thing when people tell me they’re sound; it’s
another thing when the horses tell me something,” Susanna said.
Many horses have gone on to fnd new homes with new careers:
one of them being Fly Lite. Fly had a trying past, due to the fact
that she almost starved to death in a feld and was given up for
adoption and “lost” several times by the mismanagement of her
handlers. Eventually adopted by Melissa DeCarlo Recknor in
October of 2009, who worked at the MMSC as the adoptions and
volunteer coordinator, Fly Lite was originally the ambassador for
the Secretariat Center, travelling to events and representing the
organization as the offcial MMSC mascot.
When Melissa switched jobs and barns, Fly Lite changed
careers and started her life as an eventer. Fly Lite and Melissa
just began this transition in February 2012 and Fly has already
been named Zone Champion and National Reserve Champion
of the Beginner Novice division of the USEF Performance Horse
Registry!
Another horse in the spotlight from the Secretariat Center is
Henry, otherwise known as Take the Balance by the racing world
– he was adopted by Mandy Su in October of 2009. Henry only ran
one race – it clearly was not his destined career path. According
to Mandy, a South Florida native who rode for the University of
Kentucky Equestrian Team, “Henry slipped right into the hunter
lifestyle; that’s his personality.” He has competed in many shows
with Mandy and also with other riders in Regional and Zone IHSA
horse shows. In addition to his showmanship qualities, Henry also
Henry has adapted quickly to life as a hunter. He and owner
Mandy Su take part in the Thoroughbred Horse Show
Association Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2012.
Photo by Audrey Crosby McLellan
The Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center:
The “Tiffany’s” of Horse Retraining
e
Horse Rescue
Secretariat Center Intern Catherine Flowers works on
groundwork with PromiseI’llBeHome, an ex-racehorse with
earnings totaling $152,000 who is now focused on training for a
new career.
Photo by Evan Leach