What started as a simple field trip for a small pilot school has grown into something extraordinary. Over the past decade, LOPE's retired Thoroughbreds have discovered their true calling – not as racehorses, but as educators. And this summer, we're taking their teaching talents in an exciting new direction: professional development for the K-12 teachers themselves.
A Decade of Educational Innovation
Ten years ago, LOPE began hosting field trips for a handful of students from a local pilot school. Those early visits planted the seed for what would become a comprehensive educational program that has now reached nearly 1,600 students across Texas in just the past three years – with over 1,000 students participating in 2025 alone.
The secret ingredient? Our Horse Wise® curriculum, licensed exclusively to LOPE, which transforms retired racehorses into powerful teaching partners for STEM and ELA subjects. These aren't just petting zoo encounters. Our horses facilitate real learning experiences that engage students in ways traditional classrooms often cannot.
Masters of Adaptation
What makes our program truly unique is its versatility. Our warhorses have proven themselves master educators across an impressive range of formats and audiences:
Intensive Learning: From one-on-one mentorship in our equine and veterinary vocational internships to small group intensives that dive deep into curriculum concepts.
Traditional Settings: Single classroom visits, full-grade presentations, and even entire student body assemblies where hundreds of students learn together.
Community Outreach: Public settings like racetrack youth events, bringing education directly to diverse communities.
Geographic Reach: Programs spanning from Houston to San Antonio to Austin, making this innovative education accessible across Central and South Texas.
Age Diversity: Our horses have taught everyone from wide-eyed preschoolers to recent veterinary school graduates to seasoned public school teachers seeking fresh approaches.
The common thread? Every student, regardless of age or background, connects with these former athletes in ways that unlock new understanding and engagement.
Ex-Racehorses: Natural-Born Teachers
There's something uniquely powerful about learning alongside a 1,200-pound former athlete who has their own story of adaptation and second chances. These horses embody resilience, the ability to learn new skills, and the grace to find purpose beyond their original calling – lessons that resonate deeply with students of all ages.
Our warhorses don't just deliver curriculum; they demonstrate it. When students work with a horse who has successfully transitioned from the intensity of racing to the patience required for education, they're witnessing real-world examples of growth, adaptation, and finding new purpose.
A New Chapter: Supporting the Teachers
This summer marks an exciting evolution in our mission. For the first time, we're focusing our educational expertise on the educators themselves. Our inaugural program – a 5-day continuing education internship for Dripping Springs High School teachers – offers professional development credits while introducing teachers to innovative curriculum approaches developed through our decade of field experience.
But we're not stopping there. Plans are underway for elementary teacher workshops in both the Austin and Houston areas, expanding our reach to support educators across multiple grade levels and regions.
The Winner's Circle Reimagined
Our retired racehorses may have left the track behind, but they've found their way to a different kind of winner's circle. Instead of racing against each other, they're now partnering with students and teachers to cross finish lines that matter in entirely new ways – breakthrough moments of understanding, confidence gained, creativity unlocked, and potential realized.
After teaching nearly 1,600 students across Texas, working with learners from preschool through professional development, and adapting to countless different educational settings, it's fair to say our warhorses have once again shown their great heart. They've proven that the end of one career can be the beginning of something even more meaningful.
Supporting Innovation in Education
These teacher programs represent more than professional development – they're an investment in educational innovation that ripples outward to impact countless students. When we equip teachers with fresh approaches and creative curriculum tools, we're ultimately serving every student who enters their classrooms.
Our programs are offered free to public school teachers, made possible through the generosity of sponsors and supporters who believe in the power of innovative education. For organizations interested in supporting teachers and ex-racehorses making educational magic together, we invite you to be part of this story.
For teachers interested in our summer programs or organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out. Together, we can continue writing the next chapter of what's possible when retired racehorses become master educators.
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Learn more about LOPE's educational programs and how you can get involved. Every retired racehorse deserves a meaningful second career – and as it turns out, some of them are natural-born teachers.
