American Turf Magazine
/ December-January 2015-2016
14
husband and I wanted a change and
moved to Austin, Texas. We thought
we’d work day jobs and pursue a career
change of sorts with horses on the side,
but it was tough finding work. I’d vol-
unteered with CANTER in the past,
and when there was nothing similar in
Austin, we just started our own Thor-
oughbred retirement organization.”
Q:
How did you begin working in
racing/with Thoroughbreds?
A:
“We basically just started our
non-profit organization that was like
a Craigslist for former racehorses at
first, and it just mushroomed. We were
renting pastures that we filled up with
horses, and ultimately bought what
became our ranch today and before
we knew it maintained 40-50 horses.
“In time, I became more and more
interested to learn how to work with
the horses and it helped me broaden
my perspective in terms of what I’m
capable of, and what horses are capable
of, also. They can sometimes have the
perception that they can be tough, and
like pitbulls, but they aren’t. They are
wonderful animals. I came into this as
an amateur, but have learned plenty
and I think you just have to give them
time to let down off the track, work with
them and re-start them.
“About a year and a half ago, we hit
1,000 horses transitioned and decided
to stop counting. We don’t think the
number is incredibly important, but it’s
about the common good. We support
all people doing similar work, and try
to give back any way we can – through
education, clinics, and whatever we
can offer.”
Q:
What is your day-to-day routine
like?
A:
“I guess it’s a bit like an exercise
rider’s or assistant trainer’s routine.
We make sure all the horses are fed
and cared for, and supervise over the
students that help us out. We check
up on all the horses in the barn and
paddocks. After everyone is fed, we
would then likely work with the horses
that need to be ridden and/or are in
process of being re-trained for other
disciplines. Generally, I’d put the first
ride on the new horses that come our
way. We also have horses that might
need rehab work because they have
come to us off the racetrack with a
minor sports injury, so those horses
need to be monitored closely. Days fly
by. The rest of our time is spent like
anyone else in non-profit work can tell
you – fundraising. I’ve found the best
way to do that is to tell a story.”
Q:
What do you enjoy about your job?
A:
“Horses are so interesting, and
their jock personality comes with them.
They can have very strong opinions
and you are dealing with 1,200-pound
kindergarten kids the way I see it, but
I love the work that goes in and I love
the world of horses and horse rac-
ing. It’s very timeless. You can be on
a backstretch and close your eyes and
imagine it is 80 years ago. If you take
away the cars back there, it’s very much
the same world and the horses are so
beautiful.”
Q:
What do you dislike about your
job?
A:
“I can wish at times that I had a
nine-to-five job, but that’s very rare.
All I do is think about the cubicle I
had when I did, and I realize I was very
fortunate to find my way out of it even
if I found it in an odd way.”
Q:
Have any memorable horses
passed through the LOPE program?
A:
“We had Wooden Phone, a horse
who had beaten Horse of the Year
Tiznow. He was just a quirky horse who
had been through a lot and wouldn’t
stop running – he had bowed a tendon
twice, fractured a shoulder, just a nice
horse. Suzanne Minter, who works for
us full time, loved the horse, adopted
him, and has made him a dressage
performer. At age 18, he made his
dressage debut and just rocked it and
was awarded ribbons and the whole
deal.
“We sent some information to his
former trainer Bob Baffert, and he was
nice enough to donate one of American
Pharoah’s halters to us in October.”
Q:
What advice would you give to a
young person looking to follow a simi-
lar career path?
A:
“I think it’s important that you
immerse yourself to the best of your
ability. Read all you can, and whenever
you can. If you want to be an exercise
rider or assistant, get to the track as
often and as best you can, read maga-
zines, and get to know the sport.
“It is such an intricate and beauti-
ful sport with so much history, and it
requires hands-on work to understand.
If you admire a local trainer, see if you
can talk to them to learn. If you don’t
live near a racetrack, maybe you can
get familiar with the breed through
local shows and events. Get in, and
get your hands dirty. And, there is also
social media and many outlets and
resources at your disposal.”
Q:
As a racing fan, who has been your
favorite horse?
A:
“I loved racing as any horse crazy
young girl, and thought John Henry
was such a cool horse, but I wasn’t an
aficionado. It wasn’t until later in life
that I saw the backstretch and got to see
and understand how things worked. I
wasn’t one to be into it from a betting
standpoint and knowing stats, but I
did learn to appreciate the athletes
and bloodlines.
“Of course everyone loves American
Pharoah, and I really liked California
Chrome because of his spirit. I tend to
follow horses a bit more offbeat, and
right now really like a Texas horse
named Get in Da House. He’s won
more than a half million dollars in
purses and has done it the hard way
as a seven-year-old gelding. He’ll be
retiring soon, and I’m hopeful he’ll
come our way. He’s just a horse that
ran ahead of his pedigree and pulls out
wins when you think he’s not supposed
to hit the board. I just think horses like
him are the heart and soul of racing.”
East Coast Update
