50 SIDELINES AUGUST 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Arianna Delin
Many Thoroughbreds that come off the track are given a second
chance, finding careers in the show world as hunters or jumpers.
For one horse in particular, the world of racing was not where
he was meant to be. Bonus Point, an eight-year-old off-the-track-
Thoroughbred raced 18 times, only winning one race before being
given his second chance in December of 2010.
Only a few weeks after arriving at New Vocations Racehorse
Adoption Program in Lexington, Kentucky, Bonus Point, more
commonly known as “BP,” had many admirers hoping to adopt
him and make him part of their family. One girl in Tennessee had
her heart set on him as soon as she found him on the Internet.
“I was sitting in class one day and had been following online on
New Vocations’ website every day looking at horses and came
across his picture. Something was like, ‘You need to get this
horse,’” said Victoria Bennett. “I called my mom and begged her
to get him.”
Unfortunately, Victoria thought that she had lost out on the
horse of her dreams. Without her knowledge, Victoria’s mother,
Heidi Rockhold, had decided to adopt BP as a surprise present
for Victoria.
“New Vocations told me he had been adopted, and then he
showed up in my driveway on Christmas morning. He was my
Christmas present two years ago,” exclaimed Victoria “It was the
best present ever. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
It only took a few weeks for the shy Thoroughbred to come
around and get used to his new home and owner. And now after
two years, the pair has formed an unbreakable bond.
Bonus Point, who couldn’t quite make it on the track, has found
his true calling in the world of show jumping. Victoria has been
showing the gelding in the 3-foot jumper division at local shows, where they recently earned a championship ribbon. In addition to
jumping, the pair enjoys taking it slow on the trails.
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to move up by the end of this year, he’s
doing so well. He loves it and he’s such a good boy. I couldn’t ask
for a better horse,” Victoria said. “He’s not really a fast one, he
likes to go slow. So I think he found the right career.”
The gelding, whom Victoria says has a great personality, never
seems to act like a racehorse and is quite the attention grabber.
When in the crossties, he will grab her jacket, take the zipper and
zip it up and down various times, keeping himself amused.
“He has the greatest personality, always has the cutest
expressions on his face and he loves to give kisses. He will lick
your hair if you’re not careful and he loves to be groomed,” Victoria
said.
Before adopting BP, Victoria, who already owned another off-
the-track- Thoroughbred, had spoken with a few friends who had
previously adopted and knew from the start that this was the path
she was going to take to find her new horse. The adoption process
is fairly extensive, and involves a lengthy approval process,
however, once an owner is approved, they must act fast when
they find the horse they want.
Since adopting BP, Victoria has adopted two more off-the-track-
Thoroughbreds from New Vocations. “And I would do it again in a
heartbeat. Adopting a horse from New Vocations has been one of
the best experiences of my life.”
About the writer: Arianna Delin is a 24-year-old Pennsylvania State University
graduate, who is currently a news editor at a community paper in New Jersey. She
has grown up around horses her entire life, competing in ‘A’ rated shows along the
Northeast.
All photos by Heidi Rockhold
Victoria and BP
An Unbreakable Bond
e
Second Chances
BP has found his true calling in the world of show jumping.
