Horse Country

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Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, OTTB, Thoroughbred, retired racehorse, aftercare, training, M G Junior, gelding, CANTER, Michigan, retraining, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Love at First Sight for Junior and Mary

Mary’s love for horses began in childhood, where she spent her time riding and showing horses in 4-H. The idea of owning a horse again stayed with her as she grew older. As an adult, she took up riding lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “With the extra free time, I figured it was the perfect time and started my search.”

OTTB, Thoroughbred Makeover, ex-racehorse, Salesman, Richard Mandella, Audra Mandella, training, temperament, aftercare, breeding, personality, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Perspectives on Salesman’s Cool, Calm Personality

One of Salesman’s best qualities is his temperament. In Richard Mandella’s racing barn, Salesman was always calm, cool and collected. He was never one to be temperamental or overly sensitive and, even when something new may have surprised him, he was reasonable about it all. Salesman was easy for his grooms which added to his popularity in the barn. He had no shortage of fans, especially if they were packing peppermints!

Whats in It for Me, gelding, aftercare, OTTB, William Grey, Anna Hollander, gentle giant, ex-racehorse, retired racehorse, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, injury, emotional, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Whats in It for Me Finds What He Needed Most

Whats in It for Me, a 2017 gray gelding, had nine starts and earned $11,007 before retiring from racing in 2021. He arrived at Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga in September of that year, but something wasn’t quite right. After sustaining a sesamoid fracture on the track, he had spent nearly a year on stall rest at the organization.

“Erin Sisk, co-founder of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, asked me to come and look at Grey [Whats in It for Me] because he didn't fit their program. He didn't seem happy,” said Anna Hollander.

OTTB, ex-racehorse, retired racehorse, Pep Talking, gelding, Al Gillen, adoption, trail riding, training, retraining, MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, aftercare, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Pep Talking’s Big Personality and Bigger Heart

When Al Gillen set out to adopt another horse from MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in 2022, he had a clear vision: something smaller, older, and ready to settle into a quieter life alongside his senior horse, Stardust. What he found instead was Pep Talking: a big-bodied, 6-year-old Thoroughbred with a bold personality and plenty to say.

Gillen had known Beverly Strauss of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue for nearly 20 years and trusted the process completely.

Thoroughbred Makeover, diary, Jordon Sigmon, Maverick, OTTB, cross country, eventing, show dressage, retired racehorse, ex-racehorse, Alltech, Kentucky Horse Park, trial, Jennie Brannigan, clinic, training, equestrian, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Diary: First-Show Success for Maverick

I left off last time with a lot of anticipation of things to come with Maverick, and boy have they unfolded so well since my last installment.

We’ll start with the Jennie Brannigan clinic we did. I had kind of made the decision to do that sort of last minute, as my original plan had been to do a mini-trial at Meadowlake that weekend. But when I saw this opportunity, I felt like it would be way more beneficial for the both of us in the long run.

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