FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES JULY 2014 69
Teaming Up to Give Racehorses
A Second Chance
By Lauren R. Giannini
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption and the Retired Racehorse
Project (RRP) teamed up for the third year during the Rolex
Kentucky Three-Day Event to present Thoroughbreds For All
Kentucky, an “expo” program organized and moderated by Steuart
Pittman of RRP and Anna Ford,
New Vocations’ Program Director.
Thoroughbreds For All celebrated
and showcased the versatility and
trainability of ex-racehorses in front
of an audience of 600 horse lovers
from 22 states and Canada.
“Anna Ford and I first met when
we both spoke at a National
Thoroughbred Racing Association
seminar at Keeneland in the fall of
2011,” said Steuart. “RRP had been
looking for an opportunity to do an
educational event for the crowd
that converges in Lexington for the
Rolex Three-Day Event, and the
logistics of doing it at the Kentucky
Horse Park were not looking good.
The New Vocations facility down
the road, West Wind Farm, offered
not only the right facility, but also a
great opportunity to showcase a very
effective Thoroughbred placement
operation. It has been a great team
effort.”
Demonstrations
included
international event rider and Pan
New Vocations’ OTTB Dave in Dixie jumps his first oxer with New Vocations trainer Melissa
King.
Photo by Lauren R Giannini
Linda Zang and Boyd Martin contributed their time and expertise
to Thoroughbreds For All Kentucky 2014.
Photo by Sandy Seabrook/New Vocations
American Team Gold Medalist Lynn Symansky and Donner, who
were in town for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to perform
the test ride that kicked off two days of dressage competition and
local event rider/trainer Cathy Wieschoff schooling an off-the-
track Thoroughbred over fences. Nuno Santos and Ken’s Kitten,
just two years off the track, proved beyond any doubt that ex-
racehorses possess the athletic potential for upper level dressage.
New Vocations and RRP riders presented in hand recently-
retired-from-racing Thoroughbreds with commentary from FEI
dressage judge Linda Zang, Olympic event rider Boyd Martin, and
Jen Roytz, Thoroughbred industry marketing specialist and writer.
Their evaluations, insights and nuggets of practical expertise
added greatly to the entire Thoroughbreds For All experience.
“Anna presented the horses’ racing backgrounds, Jen talked
about the pedigrees from a sport horse perspective, and Boyd
spoke from his own experience of having trained 11 Thoroughbred
ex-racehorses to the four-star level of eventing,” said Steuart.
“Everything Linda says is clear, articulate and understandable
even when she explains the biomechanics that allow a racehorse
to develop into a dressage horse.”
“We look forward to planning another event for next year during
Rolex,” said Anna. “The interest in Thoroughbreds is there. We
just have to keep doing what we’re doing and bring together a
great lineup of riders and trainers who can share their knowledge
and experience.”
Meanwhile, get involved and learn more. Thoroughbreds come
in all sizes, colors and temperaments. There’s a very special one
out there, all heart and willing to please, looking for a forever
home with you.
For information about New Vocations and the Retired
Racehorse Project, please visit
and
.
