SAVE MORE SHADOWS CAMPAIGN: Help LOPE raise $20,000 by December 31st! Learn More →
We get many inquiries about our training technique at the LOPE Ranch. It’s usually a straightforward process that simply involves some time and patience with the new ex-racehorses that arrive here. Below is the basic outline of our approach: Turnout If the horses are coming straight from the track, we like to give them some [...]
Big Bold Red is a lovely 6-year-old dark chestnut mare with a very nice pedigree (including Alydar and Seattle Slew). Her race owner gave her a year off from racing and then donated her to LOPE so that Big Bold could find a terrific new career. Big Bold immediately impressed us with her sweet and [...]
Lucky Maria is a beautiful 7-year-old dark bay mare with a lovely pedigree (including Alydar). Her race owner gave her a year off from racing and then donated her to LOPE so that Maria could find a terrific new career. Maria had been the herd boss back at the race farm. A stocky, well-built mare, [...]
Ruff Slew (aka “Parker”) had been making terrific progress in his training with Holly Flint of Flint Equestrian. He was working quietly in his walk-trot-canter sessions in the big covered arena. Parker had begun stepping over poles as part of a long, slow introduction to jumping one day in the future too. As a three-year-old [...]
Assessment of Cleo Call Me Cleo is a three-year-old gelding at LOPE. He was donated by his breeder after his initial under saddle work revealed that Cleo was not a good candidate for racing. As the trainer at the race training facility noted, Cleo is a big, growing horse — and he runs like a [...]
Call Me Cleo is a three-year-old chestnut TB gelding with a blaze. He went to a farm to begin his under saddle and race training in December — but didn’t show much aptitude for speed. Cleo was home raised by a responsible and caring race breeder named Karen. She had waited an extra year to [...]
Red Bird has just finished her 30-day assessment with Laura at Poseidon Sport Horses! She has made great progress since her arrival there. At first, Red Bird was hesitant to relax in new surroundings — and she was quite worried about trusting new people. Her initial response was to go right into “flee” mode — [...]
King has just finished his 30-day assessment with Laura at Poseidon Sport Horses! He has done incredibly well with everything — and has become quite a favorite at the barn. King came straight from Retama Race Park to Poseidon — he had run in a race just a few days beforehand. Typically, we like to [...]
Apalache King is a super handsome, five-year-old @16.3H bay gelding now in LOPE’s training initiative program. King came straight to Poseidon Sport Horses from Retama racetrack — and he is now in a 30-day assessment there with Laura Whitfield. He will be up for adoption soon — we just want to get to know him [...]
Silver Red Bird (aka “Red Bird”) is a beautiful, six-year-old grey mare at LOPE. She came directly into our Training Initiative Program straight from Retama racetrack in early January. Red Bird had come in second and third a few times, but had never won a race. As a six-year-old maiden, her racing options were limited [...]
It’s time for the third chapter in Shadow’s story. A true warhorse, Shadow knew how to push for victory at the wire. But hardship/crisis had created much damage. Shadow had become troubled, even dangerous at times. With time and patience, Shadow began to slowly make progress at LOPE. But In a series of unexpected events, Shadow suddenly had to face his worst fears.
Would he prevail – or slip back into intense trouble? The outcome was deeply moving and changed Shadow’s life (as well as many others). To understand why, please read the third chapter of his story here: mailchi.mp/lopetx/shadow-warrior-a-heros-tale-3235509
Warhorses like Shadow are extra deserving yet often overlooked. Yet they are so valuable as teachers for future industry leaders as well as at-risk youth. We have started a campaign to raise $20,000 by 12/31 so we can take in more warhorses in 2019. We’ve reached 50% of the goal already, thanks to generous supporters!
Your donation this year would help us continue programs that made a significant difference in Shadow’s life. Pls see the end of the chapter for more details on how to help.
6 days ago ·
