Success story

All Posts Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Previous PostNext Post The Many Careers of Missn Suesann The Many Careers of Missn Suesann By: Alexis Arbaugh October 9, 2023 Other, Success Stories Tags:Remember Me Rescue, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance With only one start on her record as a three-year-old, Missn Suesann was not long for the racehorse life. Trained by Dallas Keen, husband of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Remember Me Rescue Executive Director Donna Keen, there were no questions about her retirement just one month after her exit from race training. “Missn Suesann was sent to us in the fall of 2009 along with 2 other horses from a small breeder named Todd Martin. She was always a little spitfire,” Keen recalled. “I can not remember what ended her career, but I was so glad Mr. Martin let us rehome her.” Missn Suesann would retire to Remember Me Rescue after her first and only race in March 2010, where she would find her true calling at her forever home with Amanda Frye. Amanda found her long-term partner on Remember Me Rescue’s Facebook page in April of 2010. “When I first saw her photo, I was amazed at her beauty and athleticism,” said Frye. “She had the kindest, sweetest eyes and face.” Not wanting to waste any time in contacting the organization, and after a lengthy conversation with Executive Director Donna Keen, Frye made the trip to Remember Me in Burleston, Texas the very next day. Although Amanda had originally been drawn to the bay filly for her outward appearance, the deal was sealed when they met and experienced Susie’s kind demeanor in person. “It was love at first sight,” Frye recalled. “When I first met Susie, we just clicked. I think we both knew we belonged to each other.” After filling out the required adoption application and awaiting her approval, Susie was on her way home to begin her new life. For the first five and half years with Frye, Susie was retrained and worked as a ranch horse. “[She was] sorting pairs, doctoring, roping, riding fence,” she recalled. “Just whatever we needed done on our ranch.” Although, Susie loved he ranch horse life, it wouldn’t be long before the duo began a new journey that lead them to the show ring. “When I decided I missed jumping, I pulled her out of the pasture and she started the show horse life,” said Frye. They began competing in the Show Jumpers in 2016 and have enjoyed their time cruising around the Jumper ring together for the last seven years. In 2021, Susie stepped into her fourth “career” as a mother. Her foal was born on April 16, 2021, and was affectionately named “Dragon” as a way of honoring her mother’s fiery spirit. “She gave me a beautiful filly,” Frye gushed. “Susie was the original fire breathing dragon, so baby dragon just stuck. [Her] registered name is Capchure FR.” When looking towards the future, Amanda and Susie’s goals haven’t shifted much. “Most of my goals have been accomplished with Susie over the years. But our main one now is to work our way back up to the .95-1M Jumpers and maybe do some Take2 Thoroughbred classes,” Frye reports. “[I’m] hoping to possibly qualify for TIP Championship in the fall of 2023.” Although Susie showed no interest in racing, her athleticism and passion made her capable of so much more. “I have ridden close to a hundred [Off Track Thoroughbreds] in my life. And I have yet to find another breed that has the heart and try that a TB does,” Frye stated. “They give you their all every single time you climb on their back. If a Thoroughbred gives you their heart, you will have a partner for life.” Share This Article   Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

All Posts Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Previous PostNext Post The Bright Future of Fast Leroy Brown The Bright Future of Fast Leroy Brown By: Alexis Arbaugh September 25, 2023 Other, Success Stories Tags:Remember Me Rescue, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance The Son of the multiple graded stakes winner Early Flyer, Fast Leroy Brown would only start on the track five times in his entire racing career. Never breaking his maiden, it was clear to trainer Dallas Keen and the rest of Fast Leroy Brown’s connections that the three-year-old gelding just wasn’t interested in racing. Luckily for “Leroy,” his connections at the track ensured that he went to an excellent retirement facility. Founded in 2008 by Donna Keen, wife of Thoroughbred trainer Dallas Keen, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Remember Me Rescue was started with the mission to provide owners and trainers with a safe, trustworthy option for retiring their equine athletes. So just three days after Leroy’s final race at Louisiana Downs in September 2018, Leroy was headed to Keen and her team in Burleston, TX. While Leroy was adjusting to life off the track, April Prince was busy looking for her next Eventing prospect. “I wrote to several rescues while looking for my horse,” April reported. There was something about Remember Me Rescue that stood out to her because she decided to make the trip to meet and try some of the horses they offered. After looking at a few but not feeling a strong connection, April finally met Leroy. “I knew Leroy and I were a match!” she said, citing his sweet demeanor as what sealed the deal. “I’m an adult amateur, and I knew I wanted a horse that would make me feel safe,” said April. “Leroy certainly calmed me.” For the last four years, April and Leroy have taken things easy, allowing the young Thoroughbred to ease into his retraining and build a solid foundation. “We’ve taken our time, as I’ve done a lot of the retraining myself,” April said. “We started working on dressage, did small schooling shows, attended clinics, and have a solid training program.” The duo’s slow and steady approach has already paid off, as they boasted a second-place finish at a recent combined test! The future looks bright for Fast Leroy Brown with April’s goals remaining clear and consistent. “We’re at the starter level gaining confidence, and I hope we can slowly make our way up the levels,” she reported. “I feel so lucky that I found Leroy. He is such a joy to be around, and we have learned so much together.” April hopes that they are able to compete in the Novice Eventing division some days soon! Share This Article   Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission The Bright Future of Fast Leroy Brown Monday, September 25, 2023 By: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Fast Leroy Brown and April ride dressage in eventing competition After looking at a few but not feeling a strong connection, April finally met Leroy. “I knew Leroy and I were a match!” she said, citing his sweet demeanor as what sealed the deal. “I’m an adult amateur, and I knew I wanted a horse that would make me feel safe,” said April. “Leroy certainly calmed me.” For the last four years, April and Leroy have taken things easy, allowing the young Thoroughbred to ease into his retraining and build a solid foundation. “We’ve taken our time, as I’ve done a lot of the retraining myself,” April said. “We started working on dressage, did small schooling shows, attended clinics, and have a solid training program.” The duo’s slow and steady approach has already paid off, as they boasted a second-place finish at a recent combined test! The future looks bright for Fast Leroy Brown with April’s goals remaining clear and consistent. “We’re at the starter level gaining confidence, and I hope we can slowly make our way up the levels,” she reported. “I feel so lucky that I found Leroy. He is such a joy to be around, and we have learned so much together.” April hopes that they are able to compete in the Novice Eventng devision some days soon!     Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

The New Life of Money Talks Thursday, September 21, 2023 By: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance A promising young racehorse with $195,248 in career earnings, Money Talks had multiple listed stakes under his belt by the time he was four-years-old. He even ran in the Prince of Wales (Black Type) at Woodbine in 2014. Unfortunately, after being stepped on during the OLG Elgin Stakes (Black Type) a month later, his interest in racing waned significantly over the following years and his connections made the responsible decision to retire him. Located on over 100 acres of beautiful landscape in Hillsburgh, Ontario, LongRun, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization, was the perfect place for the son of multiple graded stakes winner Mobil to begin his new life off track. When he stepped off the trailer in November of 2019, Money Talks exuded confidence. “The main thing I remember about Money was his class. He walked off the trailer and settled in like he owned the place”, recalled Farm Manager Lauren Millet-Sampson about the day Money Talks arrived at LongRun’s facility. “He did everything we asked of him with such high class and took his new life in stride from day one”. While Money Talks was assessing his new domain at LongRun, adult amateur Jillian Wainwright was beginning a new journey of her own. “My Quarter Horse mare was well into her twenties and I had been looking for a new horse for some time,” she said. “I saw many horses, but nothing about them said this is ‘The One’.” When a friend suggested that she take a look at an off track Thoroughbred and pointed her in LongRun’s direction, Wainwright was hesitant to say the least. “My first thought was ‘That’s insane!’ I could never ride a racehorse! I knew nothing about Thoroughbreds or racing,” she recalled. “However, I went onto the website and knew instantly that there was something special about these horses. Their gentle, soft eyes caught my attention right away.” Money Talks being silly at Jillian’s farm After filling out an adoption form for pre-approval, it didn’t take long for the team at LongRun to find the right fit for Wainwright- the nine-year-old recent retiree, Money Talks. “Within a few weeks LongRun contacted me saying that they had a horse they thought I might like to meet,” said Wainwright. Wainwright saw herself go from being hesitant, to considering an ex-racehorse, to being interested in one with 49 starts on his record. In May of 2020, she and a friend made the over six-hour drive to LongRun to meet Money Talks. “He was in his stall and as I approached, he put his head over the door. There was an instant connection, he looked right into my eyes and put his head on my shoulder,” she recalled. “It was like being reunited with an old friend and I knew right then and there that I had found ‘The One.’ I spent time grooming him and walking him around in the arena, but I already knew this beautiful horse and I were going to have a future together.” It was official, Money Talks had found his forever home. A sweet moment between Money Talks and Jillian   One month later, on June 17, 2020, Wainwright welcomed Money Talks to her farm, grateful to see that she wasn’t the only one excited for her new partner to arrive. “My other horses accepted him immediately, no whinnying, no squealing,” she said. “It was almost as if they knew he was meant to be there! It was the easiest transition I have ever experienced.” Money Talks would spend the next several months relaxing and enjoying his transition to life as a retired racehorse. “We spent time together, just getting to know each other,” said Wainwright. Ever the cool customer, the bay gelding had no issues adjusting to his new life, so it came as no shock when he effortlessly began retraining for his new career. “Our transition to riding went just as smoothly,” Wainwright reported. “We are taking our time with training and are being helped by a good friend who is an experienced trainer. There is no rush, no deadlines that have to be met.” With Wainwright and her trainer’s help, Money Talks has begun to slowly accept more contact in the bridle as well as tackle the strange new world of trot poles. “He thinks is the most bizarre activity as why step over them when you can just go around?” Wainwright said. His personality continued to shine and it wouldn’t take long for him to earn a new name. “Money Talks is a ray of sunshine in my life and it wasn’t long before he became known as Sunny,” reported Wainwright. “Sunny is truly Mr. Personality! He is incredibly smart and has an amazing work ethic. He learns so quickly and doesn’t forget. He gives his best every time we ride.”   Money Talks and Jillian practicing Since they have been taking things slow and steady, the duo has developed a strong foundation together and Wainwright couldn’t be happier. “Adopting Money Talks, aka Sunny, was the best decision I have ever made,” she proudly stated. “He is an amazing horse, and I am incredibly lucky to have him. I will be forever grateful to his owners and to LongRun. They have given me the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dreams.”   Jillian giving Money Talks a bath Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

Have you adopted an OTTB from a TAA-accredited organization? Is your OTTB thriving in their second or third career? The TAA wants to celebrate your success by sharing your story on our website and social media.

Ivan Fallunovalot, a current resident at TAA-accredited Old Friends, made a total of 32 starts in his six seasons on the track, accumulating a 17-6-2 record and earning just over $1 million.

Multiple graded stakes winner and multimillionaire Game on Dude is a popular resident at TAA-accredited Old Friends in Georgetown, KY.

Warhorse and fan favorite Big Blue Nation earned just over $240,000 in his seven seasons and 65 starts on the track.

The Maryland-bred son of MGSW Petionville sustained a fractured sesamoid and was retired through Beyond the Wire, but as since healed and now competes in local shows.

Born with the makings of a great racehorse, by Unbridled’s Song and out of a stakes-placed daughter of Malibu Moon, life on the track wasn’t for him and he retired with a 29-3-4-3 record.