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There’s fifty-one days left until the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Fifty-one days to finish showcasing Team Teddy Spaghetti’s retraining efforts and set him up in the best possible way for success. So, what has he been up to? Since we last checked in, Teddy has had a few more off-property schooling trips, a lot more trail rides and summer fun with his kids and even went to his first away horse show.  

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.”

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, 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.

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.

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