At LOPE, our senior ex-racehorses are more than just retired athletes—they’re teachers, mentors, and living examples of science, history, and character. For the youth who visit our farm, the LOPE horses provide a hands-on, unforgettable way to learn about everything from biology and physics to courage and resilience.
The photo above says it all. A young girl reaches up, eyes full of wonder, to touch a horse much taller than herself. Her face is alight with curiosity, excitement, and maybe even a little awe. The horse beside her stands calm and steady, his gentle presence showing he knows his role: to guide her quietly into a learning moment that is tailored to her.
Learning Through Horses
The LOPE education program connects K-12 students to concepts in math, science, and veterinary care through the lens of real-life racehorses. Using racing tack, training methods, and the horses themselves, we bring these ideas to life:
- Physics and Engineering: Racing saddles, hoof angles, and stride length demonstrate the forces and mechanics that make racehorses such phenomenal athletes.
- Biology and Geometry: From evaluating conformation to understanding rehabilitation of old sport injuries, the horses show how biology, angles, and balance work together in motion.
- Veterinary Science: Older warhorses with proud racing careers often have injuries, like Jet Set Cat’s one eye or Cozy Kitten’s suspensory challenges. These stories teach kids about anatomy, recovery, and care.
The LOPE horses are living, breathing science lessons, but they teach something even more profound: the value of heart, perseverance, and individuality.
What Makes the LOPE Horses Special
Warhorses like Cozy Kitten and Jet Set Cat defy the odds. With over 50 starts and careers that stretch well beyond the average, they are like 60-year-old quarterbacks—running longer and harder because of their competitive fire. Yet, here at LOPE, they stand patiently for curious children, their large frames lowering to meet the tiniest hands.
These horses are more than retired racers; they are symbols of resilience. Cozy Kitten may have run 94 races, but he also frets over his herd mates, balancing confidence and worry as a pasture leader. Jet Set Cat’s sweetly judgmental personality shines through, teaching teens that strength comes with quirks and imperfections.
What Will They Become?
The children who visit LOPE’s education program are at the beginning of their own journeys. Their futures are full of possibility—will they become equestrians, veterinarians, or horse caretakers? Perhaps their time here will spark a new love for science or a deeper understanding of responsibility and care.
The warhorses stand at the other end of the spectrum. Their days on the track are behind them, but they are far from finished. They still yearn to be useful, to connect, to teach. And somehow, it’s this contrast—the limitless potential of the children meeting the steady wisdom of the warhorses—that makes magic happen at LOPE.
The children who visit LOPE’s education program are at the beginning of their own journeys. Their futures are full of possibility—will they become equestrians, veterinarians, or horse caretakers? Perhaps their time here will spark a new love for science or a deeper understanding of responsibility and care.
A Quiet Connection
Every group of kids is its own herd, full of energy, movement, and curiosity. And every LOPE horse meets that herd where it is—becoming gentle for the littlest children and showing their full, quirky personalities to teenagers who need to see the whole picture.
In the photo, the young girl and the LOPE horse share a quiet, powerful moment. It’s the essence of our program—bridging worlds, opening doors, and reminding us all that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms. Sometimes, it happens outside, under the Texas sky, with a warhorse standing calmly at your side.
What will this girl become? We don’t know. But because of LOPE’s teaching herd, her possibilities are endless.
In 2024, LOPE’s education program grew rapidly. For photos and fun details, pls go to our annual report here.
