TAA

Talon’s of Tuscany and Prince Hansen were adopted by USEF and USHJA Professional, Ali Barros, from TAA-Accredited Second Stride

Hushin’ Russian (ON) made just three starts for trainer W. Phillip Gracey before retiring with a record of 1-1-0 and earnings just under $50,000. The gelding’s breeder/owner, William Diamant, is married to Vicki Pappas, founder of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-Accredited organization, LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society. 

After six starts on the track, Jardin de Giverny never broke her maiden. In 2020, the four-year-old began the next chapter of her life at TAA-accredited MidAtlantic Horse Rescue.  After rehoming thousands of former racehorses, Executive Director Bev Strauss has had plenty of experience transitioning Thoroughbreds off-the-track.  “When Jardin came in it was obvious she was a total athlete with a good brain, but needed a program and direction,” Strauss said. “So, we sent her to Sally Shirley for a consistent program.”  The Kentucky-bred was off to begin retraining for her second career at Shirley’s Westminster, Maryland farm. Meanwhile, a young Sarah Laderman had just begun the search for her first horse.  At the age of eight, Sarah rode a horse for the first time thanks to father who enrolled her in a week-long day camp. It wouldn’t be long before she was taking lessons and entering competitions. Her father, Steve, recognized early on that his daughter’s passion for horses was serious, and eventually he agreed it was time for Sarah to have a horse of her own. “Sarah has a fairly natural ability to handle herself around horses and I was confident in her ability to train and bring a horse along,” Steve Laderman said.  Sarah had done her research and decided she would be looking specifically at off-track Thoroughbreds— something MidAtlantic had in spades.  “I saw the ad for MidAtlantic Horse Rescue on Facebook,” Sarah said. “I checked out their website and found Jardin.”  A couple days later Sarah and her dad were on their way to Sally Shirley’s farm, ready to meet Jardin de Giverny.  “She was almost exactly what I was looking for,” Sarah said. “She was a really pretty mover which stood out to me, but it was that she was willing to learn and picked up on things really quickly that convinced me.” Just three months after arriving at MidAtlantic, the daughter of Superfly had found her forever home.  Sarah and Jardin stayed in Shirley’s training program for a month to give the new partnership a good foundation and to work out those OTTB quirks— something Steve Laderman has enjoyed watching from the sidelines.  “It has been crazy watching Sarah and Jardin grow as a team and both being able to anticipate each other’s movements and actions,” Steve said. “The amount of trust and comfort level continues to build as we go and Jardin’s maturity is beginning to shine through. That trust has helped tremendously in Jardin’s transition to her new life as a show horse. Sarah and Jardin earned 15th place in the Show Jumping division at the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover, making their team third overall among the junior competitors. “Sarah makes the mare look super easy to ride, but she is not,” Strauss said. “Young people like Sarah are the future for OTTBs.” Looking ahead, Steve has high hopes for his daughter and has enjoyed witnessing her passion grow.  “There very well may be a career in the horse or animal world for her,” he said. “And if not, the skills, life lessons, and experiences will be something she can leverage through the rest of her life.”     Cover Image: JARDIN de GIVERNY

Bred in Kildare County, Ireland, Spotters Hill (IRE) was foaled February 23, 2018. The Newtown Stud-bred sold for $100,989 at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale and again at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for $211,698.  Ready to begin the young bay’s race training, Spotters Hill (IRE) left his Irish homeland and began his new life in the United States under the ownership of China Horse Club and Maverick Racing (WinStar LLC.). Spotters Hill (IRE) ran three times under trainer William Mott at Gulfstream Park and Belmont Park. After not succeeding in breaking his maiden and facing soundness issues, WinStar LLC. retired Spotters Hill (IRE) to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Secretariat Center.  Spotter’s Hill, now known as “Spot,” arrived at the Secretariat Center in need of some time to rehabilitate before being adopted. While his previous owners had done the first 30 days of treatment, the Secretariat Center staff was more than happy to take on the task. “He was a perfect gentleman from day one,” Secretariat Center Executive Director Shelley Mann recalled. “He did have a previous injury that his owners did the first 30 days of rehab on, but there would be no limitations on his future once he was fully rehabbed.”  It was Spot’s gentle demeanor that stood out the most to Mann during his time at the center. Kelly Rhinelander, the Secretariat Center’s program coordinator, remembers the son of Iffraaj (GB)’s immediate bond to their miniature pony, Seabiscuit.  “He loved to play with his miniature horse companion, Seabiscuit,” Rhinelander said. “They would often race each other in the paddock.”  When Spot wasn’t frolicking with his mini counterpart, he could be found hamming it up with the TAA-accredited organization’s staff.  “Spot was a joy to be around,” Rhinelander said. “The easiest way to become his best friend is to scratch under his chin. He would often fall asleep if you scratched him long enough.” The Secretariat Center staff came to love Spot’s in-your-pocket personality, but they knew they would have to say goodbye when the right person came along. That’s when Patti Jo Walker would enter Spot’s story.  Walker was looking for another horse and heard about the Secretariat Center from a friend who had recently made the trip to Kentucky.   “A good friend of mine was looking at adopting an OTTB from the Secretariat Center,” Walker recalled. “She told me about how wonderful it was and that they had awesome horses, so I checked them out and everything she said was spot on.”  Although the Secretariat Center had a variety of adoptable Thoroughbreds to choose from, Walker and Spot were immediately drawn to one another. “I’m Irish and he was born in Ireland,” Walker said. “I have had one other Irish born OTTB I just loved, plus Spot was young with only a few starts.”  Although the Secretariat Center had not yet had the chance to evaluate Spot under saddle and begin his retraining, Walker was determined to adopt him.  It seems the luck of the Irish paid off for this little bay gelding from across the pond as he settles into his new home. “He’s awesome,” Walker said. “I have had him approximately three months now and could not be happier.”   After plenty of let down time while under the care of Mann and Rhinelander, Spot has taken to his retraining under saddle with ease. Walker reports Spot has been exceptional at listening to her seat and legs, seemingly getting softer in the bridle with every ride. “This horse is super talented with a great brain,” Walker said. “He is smart, willing, happy, athletic, and talented – I am not sure what more I could ask for.”   As for the future, Walker is looking forward to competing with Spot in low-level eventing and has her sights set on returning to Kentucky with her Irish partner soon.  “We think he found the perfect home with Patti Jo,” Rhinelander said. “We cannot wait to cheer him on when he returns this fall for the Retired Racehorse Project Competition.”   COVER: SPOTTER’S HILL (IRE) – IMAGE: SECRETARIAT CENTER

Bred by Don G. Trett, No Saint Sister was born in 2015. After 22 starts, the daughter of National Saint was decidedly not destined for success as a racehorse. No Saint Sister retired in 2019 with a record of 3-0-2 and earnings of $36,153. While she did not have much luck on the track, No Saint Sister certainly hit the jackpot when she arrived at TAA-accredited Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation. Co-founder of the Oklahoma-based aftercare organization, Nelda Kettles remembers her first impression of No Saint Sister’s striking features. “She was a lovely filly with unusual markings,” Kettles recalled. “She was your typical rather flighty filly so we gave her plenty of time to forget the racetrack and just be a horse.” After some well-earned time off, Kettles and her team slowly began the retraining process in the round pen with groundwork. The sweet bay filly spent the next year in retraining, preparing to be someone’s perfect fit. “We were just waiting for the right person and the right career,” Kettles explained.  “Horse and Hound has had several of our adopted horses go to the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover and we just bust our buttons with pride with what these great off-track Thoroughbreds can accomplish.”  Working as an assistant trainer at JAKK Farms in Huntsville, Texas, it did not take Virginia Kate Morton long to recognize her boss, Karlie LeBlanc’s, passion and devotion to off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs).  “(Karlie) had several in the barn that she was working with, along with a brand-new horse she recently acquired from Horse and Hound,” Morton explained. “He was tall and kind. I was intrigued by the breed and giving horses a second chance at a new career.”  After her experience with LeBlanc’s new OTTB, Morton decided to take the short drive to Horse and Hound to see what other horses they had available for adoption.  “Virginia had actually driven up from Texas to meet another filly,” Kettles said. “But she fell in love with Sister.” It was love at first sight, according to Morton.  “She was taller than the others and moved with the grace of a horse that knew she was something special,” Morton said. “After watching her prance around like the queen she knew she was, I needed to meet her closer up.  As they caught her and brought her in, I noticed a distinct blaze down her face and a sparkle in her eye.”  The rest, as they say, was history— Sister was headed to Texas. In her new home at JAKK Farms—a multi-discipline facility—Sister and Morton explored the many second career paths available to them.   “She was quick to learn her gates and control, but as we started to work over ground poles she got an extra spring in her stride and the sparkle in her eye got brighter,” Morton said. “So, we started working her in a program to allow her to develop strong foot work, which led her to develop an amazing form over jumps.” With JAKK Farms head trainer Karlie LeBlanc aboard, Sister competed in the jumper division of the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover last October in Kentucky. While the two did not make it to the finale, Morton was proud of Sister all the same.  “What I grew to love most about this mare was the fact that she always gave me 100 percent everyday, no matter what,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for more from her because she was already giving me her all, each and every ride.”       Cover image: NO SAINT SISTER and Karlie LeBlanc of JAKK Farms at the RRP TB Makeover (image: CanterClix)