Horse Tales from the LOPE Ranch

Stepping Forward

A Decade of Learning

Almost ten years ago, LOPE began its work. Our debut was modest — in 2003, LOPE was simply a website listing service for race trainers trying to rehome their horses from the track. The adoption ranch followed soon after — and we’ve never really stopped to think for a minute since then. There were always so many ex-racehorses that needed help, homes, and care through LOPE. The experiences were intense and fascinating — a whirlwind of horses, vet dramas, and training lessons that ultimately culminated in a book and a DVD.

We’ve observed quite a lot in the racehorse adoption world and horse rescue community over the years. And of course there have been many interesting and positive encounters with prospective adopters, professional horsemen, general horse lovers and the clinician community. I personally have learned a tremendous amount from teachers like Ray Hunt, Tom Curtin, Hy Court Farm, Peter Campbell and Buck Brannaman — as well as from the LOPE horses themselves (the best teachers of all).

We have always been drawn to the world of classical horsemanship and its emphasis on foundation building for the horse and rider. LOPE has also learned much about the importance of quality horse husbandry and veterinary care. Most of all, we have come to understand the nature of responsibility and commitment — and how key both are to becoming a good rider and horse owner.

The Challenge

The challenge of transitioning ex-racehorses from the track into new careers has many dimensions. Some groups focus on rescuing the horses directly from dire situations, such as kill auctions or abusive homes. Others devote their mission to reforming the racing industry or to lobbying against horse slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Numerous organizations take in donations of horses and then adopt them to new homes — while several charities act as permanent retirement sanctuaries for the horses they take in.

There are so many wonderful groups and individuals committed to the cause of helping ex-racehorses after they can no longer race. Yet even with all of their dedication and hard work, there is still a persistent, ongoing problem — every year, too many ex-racehorses need homes and too few people want to own them. In short, there is not much of a true market for these horses — the supply is high and the demand is low.

Many people are reluctant to take a chance on ex-racehorses — they are worried about their reputations for bad behavior as well as lingering track injuries. We think the best cure for this anxiety is knowledge about the true nature of ex-racehorses and their track-to-trail (or show ring) transition process.

We have consistently found that education — for both horse and human — is the biggest key to reducing risk for ex-racehorses. If the horses are better prepared for new careers, they are much less likely to have difficulties finding jobs and keeping them. And if prospective homes are aware of the ex-racehorse’s special circumstances and needs, they are much more likely to feel confident about adopting and committing to a track horse.

The Education Gap

After nearly ten years of rehoming Texas racehorses, we have seen a persistent gap in this type of education. And because we think it is such an important area, LOPE will now focus its work on providing the best possible professional education to the ex-racehorses under our care, and sharing what we have learned with the equestrian and horse lover world. Our purpose is twofold: to demonstrate the great potential of these horses to excel in new careers, and to promote a philosophy of classical horsemanship that focuses on foundation training for both horse and rider.

It is our hope that by highlighting specific horses and their journeys to new careers, we will help inspire people to admire the enormous talent of ex-racehorses — while also raising their profile, desirability, and value in the equestrian world.

For the future, we will be taking in fewer horses at LOPE, but doing more with them, such as providing professional training and longer term rehabilitation. And we will be chronicling the progress of these horses in full detail, so that our supporters, fans and the wider horse lover community can learn from these experiences, just like we do.

LOPE will be reaching out to potential sponsors to help each individual horse receive professional training in whatever discipline that is ideal for that horse. The horses in rehab for injuries will stay longer at LOPE — and full details of vet exams and the rehab process will be discussed and shared openly.

On our website and blog, each LOPE horse will be treated like a rock star — whether injured, sound, talented, or spectacularly average. LOPE will also be doing more public outreach with our rock star horses — attending clinics and schooling shows as well as hosting training demonstrations and rehab seminars.

LOPE will still be providing online listing and networking services for Texas ex-racehorses — and will be enhancing these outreach efforts to help even more ex-racehorses find homes.

We are very excited about this new direction! At LOPE, we think ex-racehorses are magnificent for their heart, athleticism, and entertaining personalities. We look forward to giving them the in-depth job skills they all deserve so much — as well as sharing their stories in bigger and better ways.

PS: The horses currently up for adoption at LOPE are Mystery Blessing, Sally, Junior, Zuper and Queenie. Please check out their listings — and get ready to hear a lot more information about them in future blog posts.

Fire Update and Online Auction

As you may have heard, the fires in Bastrop came close to the LOPE Ranch on Monday, and we decided to evacuate all the horses. Thanks to a huge outpouring of trailer help and foster homes from the Texas horse community, all of the LOPE horses were relocated to safety within hours. We are very grateful for everyone's support -- and our thoughts and sympathy are with the other friends and families in Bastrop who lost so much in the fire.

We have returned to the ranch -- there was no damage to the property and we are gradually bringing the LOPE horses back (as the fire risk diminishes).

Benefit Horse Show Still Scheduled

Many people have asked what they can do to help LOPE, now that the immediate threat of fire has been reduced. We would like to hold our planned Benefit Horse Show and Silent Auction Fundraiser on 9/17 at Hy Court Farm as scheduled. The LOPE volunteers, Hy Court staff, show sponsors and class judges have all worked hard to create a terrific event for a good cause. And we would like to move forward with the event and begin the process of putting the fire behind us. The fire crisis was a good reminder to us of how suddenly many horses can be at risk -- and we want to raise hay and care funds for the LOPE Ranch (so that we can help more horses in the future).

If you can attend the show, please register online here or download and mail the entry form and enjoy a fun, laid back show. For folks who can't come to the show but would like to support the event, please consider donating a $15 "virtual" show registration entry to LOPE here.

2011 LOPE Benefit Show Online Auction Now Open

The silent auction is now open for online bidding -- please check out the terrific collection of items our volunteers gathered for the auction (including a custom designed Derby hat, a VIP tour of Three Chimneys Farm in KY and tickets/passes to the 2012 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering). The auction will culminate with live bidding at the Benefit Horse Show on 9/17.

Thank you so much for all of your support, prayers and good thoughts this week for the LOPE horses -- it made a huge difference and kept us safe.

LOPE in Cowboys and Indians Magazine

The July issue of Cowboys and Indians magazine includes an article about LOPE. We are especially excited because the story includes several photos of the horses and the ranch taken by Lynn's husband, Tom. The writer of this piece had read Beyond the Homestretch and liked the book so much she decided to approach Cowboys and Indians about us!

You can download the article here (PDF). As you can imagine, we are thrilled to see LOPE in Cowboys and Indians Magazine. Our article is just a few pages away from a story about Buck (the documentary about Buck Brannaman) -- so we feel quite honored to be in such terrific company in the July issue. The story also includes information about our DVD on Retraining Racehorses (with Tom Curtin). Tom is a master horseman and did wonderful work with LOPE horses in the DVD.

And if you’d like to read more about our work with the horses, please check out the book on Amazon, at your local bookstore or at Costco. Proceeds go to help the LOPE horses!

LOPE in Oprah Magazine

The May issue of O Magazine includes an article about LOPE. The writer had read my book about the LOPE horses (Beyond the Homestretch), and enjoyed the book so much that she asked the magazine if she could write a story about our work here with the horses.

You can read the story here (PDF). As you can imagine, we are very excited to see LOPE in O Magazine. That's Sally by my side in the photo, which is quite fitting. I refer to Sally as a "prom queen" in my book, and she was much more comfortable being photographed than I was. I think she considers being in O Magazine as her destiny.

If you’d like to read more about my career change from Washington, DC accountant to racehorse adoption ranch manager, please check out the book on Amazon, at your local bookstore or at Costco. Proceeds go to help the LOPE horses!

Buck Brannaman Film at SXSW

Cindy Meehl spent several years filming Buck Brannaman at his clinics across the US. Her film ("Buck") was recently screened at the Sundance film festival and won the audience award there.

I just saw that the film will be shown in Austin this week for SXSW. The screenings are Tues, 3/15, 2:30 pm at the Paramount and Sat, 3/19, 5:30 pm at the State.

The film trailer looks terrific and the film has received much praise from film critics and viewers. The link between horsemanship and life philosophy is a fascinating topic to explore in a film -- and I'm looking forward to seeing the film soon.

Here's a SXSW interview with Buck and Cindy Meehl.

Who Makes the Best Adopters?

I’m often asked what it takes to become an approved adopter of LOPE horses. There are a couple of answers to that question.

The first answer is practical: we have folks fill out our approval form, check their references and watch how they interact with the horse they are interested in. We like to see experienced horse people (although we’ve occasionally placed gentle horses with novice riders) who understand the commitment involved in owning a horse.

That commitment comes in many forms that all horse owners recognize: financial, physical, emotional, veterinary and so on. But there is another, less obvious type of commitment -- and it’s the one we think is most important.

And that leads me to the second answer.

We only want to adopt the LOPE horses to people who truly value, respect and admire them. If you want to adopt a horse here because you feel sorry for it, we’ll very politely direct you elsewhere. Because the LOPE horses deserve so much better than pity.

We think they are the best, coolest horses ever. Whether they’ve raced until age 9 (like Double Again, pictured) or had a short career due to injury (like Quick Chris), we love their heart, their courage, their loyalty and their tremendously unique personalities.

And so should their adopters. ☺

Meaningful Work

When I meet new people in social settings, my favorite moment is when I’m asked what I do for a living. The answer -- “I run a nonprofit racehorse adoption ranch -- often creates a flurry of surprised faces and eager questions. People like hearing about horse-related jobs, especially ones with a charitable twist. And I enjoy telling entertaining stories about the vivid racehorse personalities I’ve encountered. A perfect antidote to the usual tales of management positions and sterile office jobs.

At one party, a woman with wire rimmed glasses latched on to the nonprofit part of my work. Shaking her head, she intoned sadly, “That’s so wonderful. You alleviate suffering. I admire that so much.” Hiding my internal wince with a smile, I quickly retreated in search of a more cheerful conversational partner elsewhere.

It took me a few days to figure why I found her response so off-putting. After all, she was complimenting me, in her depressive sort of way. She saw me as an altruistic hero, committed to wearily combating evil and hardship in the name of charitable do-gooding. Yet nothing could be further from truth. In reality, I do this for my pleasure -- because I love ex-racehorses and the never-dull challenge of finding them new jobs. I once read a quote that summed up my attitude toward nonprofit work perfectly:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
– Harold Thurman Whitman

Many people yearn for meaningful work, to make a difference in the world. Some are drawn to nonprofit endeavors, but aren’t sure how to take that plunge. As someone who unexpectedly ended up starting a nonprofit, I can offer some practical advice.

1. Meaningful work needs to be meaningful to you. The first (and most important) step is to recognize what you truly love to do, no matter how odd, selfish or utterly non-charitable it may seem. I believe that we do the most good when we inspire other people. To do that, we must be passionate about our work. So, do you go crazy for deep sea fishing? Then deep sea fish and invite disadvantaged youth along. Do you obsess over snowboarding? Then snowboard and volunteer for a mountain conservation program. Are you a hardcore political junkie? Then find a job with a policy think tank or advocacy group.
2. Experiment with nonprofit work before committing further. It’s easy to volunteer your time for a local organization that interests you. Most groups are happy to work out a schedule that fits your time availability. If animal welfare inspires you, help a local dog or cat rescue with fostering, adoption approvals or fundraising. Short on time? Volunteer for a one-day fundraiser (such as a fun run, silent auction or concert) -- helpers are often in short supply for these events and your assistance will make a big difference. Volunteering gives you a great opportunity to learn more about the people and mission of the organization. If the work is a good match, you can steadily increase your time commitment (or apply for a position).
3. Don’t assume that nonprofit work must be dreary, hard or unpleasant in order to “count” as charitable. Before I started the racehorse adoption ranch, I worked for several nonprofits (non-equestrian) as a finance/administrative manager. The organizations included economic think tanks, art schools and an education training association. While their budgets were smaller than for-profit groups, each nonprofit had interesting job descriptions, fun fringe benefits (like free art lessons) and a casual office environment. I enjoyed the nonprofit culture so much that I rarely have pursued employment in traditional business.
4. The biggest downside to nonprofit employment is that the pay is usually lower than in the private sector. However, I’ve found that the trade-off of doing what I love more than outweighs this consideration. In many ways, my personal finances have improved since taking a salary cut as a nonprofit ranch manager. Because I enjoy my days at work (instead of dreading or merely tolerating them), I have much more creative energy. My lifestyle has simplified greatly since I now no longer fill my weekends with expensive recreational activities to “recover” from the work week. On the positive side, many nonprofits try to balance their lower pay scales with good benefits, flexible schedules and other quality of life features. Before you take the plunge, review your household budget and do a cost-benefit analysis of full-time nonprofit employment. The results will help you make the right job decision and give you good information about your current lifestyle priorities.
5. You don’t have to be a nonprofit employee to do meaningful work. If manufacturing machine parts or selling antique jewelry is your passion, then start a for-profit business and work at your heart’s delight every day. Because that is ultimately what makes the biggest difference in the world -- people doing what they love and enjoying their life to the hilt. That’s what I did and look what happened. And if you feel guilty about making lots of money at your passion, just give me a call. I’ve a great nonprofit racehorse adoption ranch you can endow.

LOPE and Twitter

I’m not exactly the cutting-edge type, especially when it comes to computers and social media. But a good friend talked me into trying Twitter last spring -- and I’ve been truly impressed with the friends and colleagues I’ve met there.

There are many terrific horse people “tweeting” -- both locally and nationally. Some of my favorites include:

@alexbrownracing: Alex Brown is committed to racehorse welfare and also is an exercise rider at Steve Asmussen’s barn at Woodbine.

@juliegoodnight: Julie is the star of The Horse Master, a RFD-TV show about horsemanship.

@Monty_Roberts: The original horse whisperer and author of The Man Who Listens to Horses.

@Featherliteinc: Featherlite Trailers has turned out to be very active on Twitter, often providing great advice on trailer shopping and maintenance.

What I like about Twitter is that you can follow people’s “tweets” without having to tweet about anything yourself. It’s very much like listening in on many conversations at a big party. I’ve found myself following all kinds of horse people from every part of the US. And I also follow nature photographers, rattlesnake experts, lady truck drivers and mountain climbers -- just for fun.

Since the spring, the LOPE Twitter account has collected around 2400 followers. We’ve even placed two horses through Twitter too!

If you’d like to see what LOPE is tweeting about, please check out our Twitter account.

Black Diamond & Blake

Black Diamond & Blake by Deborah Blumenthal is a terrific children's book about the bond between an ex-racehorse and a prison inmate. Once the fastest horse in his racing stable, Black Diamond falls on hard times and is sent to a retirement farm at a penitentiary. There he meets Blake, his assigned caretaker and soon-to-be best friend.

I was especially impressed with how well the book captures the horse-human relationship. Both Blake and Black Diamond are down and out when they meet. But together they find a way to move forward into a brighter future.

The book is beautifully written and illustrated in a rich, almost vintage style technique. Although it's a children's book, I was touched by the story -- it made me think of all the "Black Diamonds" that have come to the LOPE Ranch.

Please check it out on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Lights On Broadway

Lights On Broadway has had a racing career worthy of his name. He was the Texas Horse of The Year in 2001. And he won over $500,000 on the track -- wow!

He is still racing at 11 years old in Oklahoma. His race trainer/owner has agreed to sell him to the Fans of Barbaro, a forum of racing fans and horse lovers. The Fans of Barbaro want to buy Lights On Broadway so they can retire him from racing. He would come home to Texas to his breeder's ranch or to LOPE.

Although donations to the Fans of Barbaro fundraiser aren't tax deductible, it is still a very worthy cause. If you would like to see a great racing warrior retire safely from racing, please check out the fundraiser!

LOPE in Texas Co-op Power Magazine

Please check your mailboxes for the December issue of the Texas Co-op Power magazine. (This is a complimentary magazine sent to you by your local electric cooperative.) The cover story is about Bob Phillips, host of the Texas Country Reporter television show.

In that article (starting on page 7), LOPE has several mentions plus some photos of the horses here at the ranch. Bob and Texas Country Reporter were filming a story about LOPE when he was interviewed for the Texas Co-op Power article.

If you missed the issue, you can download a pdf from their website.

Vocation Vacations

LOPE is part of a terrific outfit called Vocation Vacations. Recently featured on the Today Show, Vocation Vacations allows people to "test-drive" their dream job - by offering their clients ("vocationers") one-to-three day, hands-on, dream job vacation experiences.

If you secretly wonder what it's like to be an actor, a sports announcer, an alpaca farmer - well, you can take a Vocation Vacation to explore those unusual careers – and enjoy a fun, unique learning experience.

And LOPE is one of their "vacations." In 2007 so far, we have already had three vocationers come to the LOPE ranch to learn about running a racehorse adoption agency. And because I had an unusual career change (see the first post on this blog), I really enjoy the opportunity to share what I learned along the way.

Two sisters, Rebecca and Cassie, came together in March. Both were so much fun to work with - the vacation was over before we knew it! Cassie was especially interested in learning round pen techniques - she did a great job, even though she didn’t have much experience with horses.

And Kelly was the best sport ever. Traveling here from NY, she came to Texas during one of the rainiest weekends in the spring. In spite of the torrential rain and peanut-butter-like mud in our pastures, she had a terrific time. And she was a wonderful apprentice, helping with racehorse photo shoots at the track as well as riding green horses. Kelly even put together a photo slideshow of her experience here.

We are proud to be part of the Vocation Vacations "team" - though during these rain-soaked days when I am covered in mud, slogging through the liquid manure coating our pastures, I smile at the thought that somewhere out there, someone is reading all about the LOPE "dream job" on the Vocation Vacations website!

Welcome to the LOPE Ranch Blog!

We have had so many questions from folks about our work with the racehorses, about our nonprofit adoption program here at the ranch.

A blog seems like the best way to share the horse stories from the LOPE Ranch - to tell the tales of the racehorses that come here, with their fascinating histories and vivid personalities.

Over 115 horses have come here in just three years! We have seen all types: from the unbroken 2-year-olds donated by their breeders; to the early washout youngsters who show zero aptitude for racing; to the hardworking racetrack warriors, who gallantly win $50K over dozens of races; and even the hardworking racetrack pony horses, the older ones nearing retirement.

I’m kind of like a career counselor for the racehorses. Here at the ranch, I rehab their injuries, assess their personalities and even restart them under saddle sometimes. It’s my job to match these wonderful equine athletes to their perfect new jobs and loving homes.

We think ex-racehorses are winners even after their racing careers end. They have so much heart, athleticism and intelligence – all they need is a chance to find that second career and new life after the finish line. They just need some help making that transition, some time, some patience. Because it can be hard at first to change careers.

I can sympathize with that. See, I used to be a accountant in Washington DC. If you had told me then that I would run a racehorse adoption group in Texas, I would have thought you were crazy. Interesting, but crazy.

Stay tuned!