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Lamartine: A Special Horse
Lamartine: A Special Horse
By: Alexis Arbaugh
Heather Rowan had always dreamed of owning a horse, and for her, adoption was the only option. “I knew how special Thoroughbreds were, and I was thrilled at the chance to give one of these magnificent horses a loving home for the next chapter of their life,” Heather shared. Knowing that CANTER Michigan consistently offers exceptional horses, she decided to submit an adoption application.
CANTER Michigan, accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, plays a vital role in helping racehorses transition into second careers. For the past twenty-six years, CANTER Michigan has partnered closely with racetracks in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to find forever homes for hundreds of Thoroughbreds.
Heather recalled the application process as thorough yet not restrictive. It was clear to her that CANTER Michigan cared deeply about her experience as an adopter, working diligently to ensure they matched her with the perfect horse. Their recommendation was a horse named Lamartine. Although Heather could only find a name and a picture on their website, something about him captivated her, and she knew she had to schedule a visit.
Heather made the trip to CANTER Michigan’s W. Brown Performance Horses facility to meet Lamartine. Reflecting on their first encounter, she remembered walking into his stall, where he immediately turned, approached her, and playfully shoved his nose into her armpit. In that moment, Lamartine’s sweet and goofy personality won her heart, and she knew he was the horse for her.
Lamartine had just started his retraining after being on stall rest while recovering from a tendon injury. Instead of riding him, Heather spent a couple of hours in his stall, getting to know his personality. By late May 2023, Heather officially adopted “Martin.”
Martin, a 2015 dark bay gelding bred in Brazil, boasted an impressive race record, earning $251,684 over his four-year racing career. He competed in Brazil, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas. In 2019, Martin even raced in the Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs, hinting at his future at a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited facility.
Heather and Martin spent their first few months together focusing on groundwork to complete his rehab. “We primarily worked on groundwork and strength training to rebuild his topline and core,” Heather recalled. He needed to gain strength before becoming a riding horse. By November, as they grew closer to reaching that goal, Heather was determined to find the perfect saddle for Martin—something that would fit him like a glove, ensuring it wouldn’t interfere with his body or movement.
Heather enlisted a saddle expert to fit Martin for an all-purpose saddle. This allowed them to start the under-saddle retraining process while continuing to accommodate his back as it filled out. The following May, when Martin was more muscled, the saddle expert fit them for a higher-quality saddle. Heather purchased a Stubben monoflap saddle. “The priority was finding something that fit us both as our workload increased, ensuring there were no signs of discomfort,” Heather said. She continued to work with the saddle fitter every couple of months to ensure the saddle remained a proper fit.
Being cautious with Martin in the beginning, Heather was mindful not to put too much pressure on his recovering bowed tendon as he eased back into riding. “We took it slow and steady, focusing on building our relationship and hacking out on the trail,” Heather wrote. Their focus was on getting to know each other while giving Martin “plenty of time to just be a horse.”
Recently, Heather and Martin wrapped up their first show season together in 2024, participating in a Hunter/Jumper schooling show, a Dressage show, and a mini Cross-Country Derby. “Martin is so brave and smart, and he’s discovered he really loves jumping over things,” Heather shared. Her hope is that they will eventually compete in lower-level eventing, but she is committed to letting Martin “dictate what we do in the future.”
Heather expressed her deep affection for Martin by saying, “Martin is my heart horse, and we have had the best journey together so far.” She added, “I feel so lucky to have built such a strong bond with him and that he trusts me.”
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