Horse Tales from the LOPE Ranch

10 Lessons Learned from Racehorse Career Counseling

I have an unusual job in the horse world. Instead of a more traditional equestrian career such as teaching lessons or training horses, I manage a nonprofit adoption program for ex-racehorses. My work is varied, often straddling the line between farm hand, equine psychologist, horse wrangler and kindergarten teacher -- I often refer to myself as a career counselor for ex-racehorses. Here are some of the things I've learned about running a racehorse adoption ranch:

1. If there is a single, ¼ inch long sharp object in a 15-acre pasture full of soft grass, a horse will find it and promptly fling himself on it vigorously until he has lacerated a hoof, leg or eye. This is an especially irresistible activity at midnight, so that the wound won't be discovered until the morning feeding (by which time it is usually oozing many unpleasant secretions).
2. When a trainer tells you that the racehorse he just sent you is "dog gentle, but really needs a job," he means that the horse will buck, rear or spin if not ridden daily at a gallop for thirty minutes or more. If he then tells you that the horse is "playful," he is subtly cueing you that the horse also likes to buck/rear/spin in the pasture, on the lead rope and in the trailer -- plus he might occasionally bite.
3. If you have scheduled a farm call with the vet, one or more of the following will automatically occur: a) Your emotionally fragile farrier (or hay guy or feed store delivery crew) will show up unexpectedly. Any attempt on your part to reschedule the unplanned visit will result in scowls, sulks and unreturned calls for weeks. b) it will begin to rain violently, just as the vet and farrier/hay guy/feed store delivery crew arrive simultaneously. c) Someone you've never seen before will pull into your driveway with a dubious looking horse trailer, demanding to drop off a horse, pick up a horse or obtain employment.
4. One dainty, 14.3H filly can wreck complete havoc on the social structure of a herd of staid, middle-aged geldings within five minutes.
5. If a breeder donates an unraced two-year-old and describes him as being green broke with a "good thirty days on him," it means: a) The horse stood around in a pasture for a month before they decided to donate him; b) The ranch assistant mounted him and rode him for a total of thirty minutes spread out over a month; c) he had some halter training for about thirty days. Under no circumstances will the horse actually have thirty days of under saddle training.
6. A clean, freshly swept barn porch and center aisle will instantly fill with manure deposits (seemingly from ghost horses), if left unattended for ten minutes. If an important visitor, such as a funder or prospective adopter, is on the way, the amount of manure doubles automatically.
7. When riding an ex-racehorse for the first time out in the open pasture, it's very important to turn down your cell phone's "Good, The Bad and The Ugly" ring tone from Loud/Vibrate to Silent. Otherwise, you'll get a call and the Hugo Montenegro score will blare (and vibrate) the instant that ten deer and a suicidal rabbit leap in front of your horse, setting him over the edge from mild spook to panicked bucking session.
8. If you describe a horse as being green, not for beginners and spirited, you will be deluged with adoption applications from parents looking for a first horse for their 5-year-old daughter. If you describe another as being an aged, retiring track pony horse looking for an easy job as a family trail mount, your email box will fill with inquiries from avid barrel racers asking about his speed index.
9. When a tall, 16.3H gelding is adopted, his new owner will come to pick him up in a homemade two-horse trailer with 6 foot high ceilings and a malfunctioning hay net. The horse always loads eventually, a faint memory of starting gates perhaps prompting him forward. However, when a 15.1H filly is adopted and a roomy show trailer custom made for draft horses arrives for her, she will refuse to step into it for hours.
10. At the end of a week when all of the above incidents have occurred, when you are exhausted and contemplating a shift to an easier career (say, diesel mechanics or prison management), you will have an unusual encounter with one of the ex-racehorses. Maybe the 9-year-old gelding, the racing warrior with over 80 starts, will surprise you with his calm enjoyment of your first ride together. Or the nervous filly will finally let you catch her on the first try, her head down and eyes soft. Perhaps the mare who has been in rehab for months finally takes her first sound steps from stall rest to pasture turnout, turning to nicker at you as she strides joyfully across the grass. That one gesture, ride or step will instantly outweigh all the bad days for the week -- and inspire you for the months ahead.

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.

Texas Wrangler Darlins

A couple of weeks ago, a group of Texas Wrangler Darlins came out to the LOPE Ranch for a volunteer day.

They came early, worked hard and left behind a clean barn, swept tack room and well-groomed horses. Zuper especially enjoyed all of the attention.

Thank you Texas Wrangler Darlins!

Pony Club Visit

Members of the Hill Top Pony Club visited the LOPE Ranch recently. They volunteered their excellent grooming skills — the LOPE horses received extreme beauty makeovers, thanks to the Pony Clubbers! Afterward, three vet techs (Anne, Meredith and Julia) from Austin Equine Associates gave a great presentation. They demonstrated vet exam techniques, did a full lameness assessment on a horse, and showed off their formidable bandaging skills. It was a fun and educational day for everyone — thank you, Hill Top Pony Club and Austin Equine Associates!

Boring Days at the Ranch

Sometimes we have boring days at the ranch. Those are the days when I go to the feed store, stack hay, do paperwork or clean out the water troughs. There are lots of especially mundane chores that go into the ranch work here -- and every once in awhile, an entire day (or week) gets filled up with them.

But whenever I start to complain about a "boring" day here, I remember that sometimes "exciting" isn't always fun either. Like the time I was mistaken for a feed bucket. Or the windy day I nearly rode a horse right into an angry rattlesnake (I couldn't hear the snake in the wind -- fortunately my horse did and talked me into changing direction). Or the time the county water main broke in our front pasture -- on a 22 degree day, right as the sun was setting on Christmas eve.

So sometimes boring is good!

Horses and Treats

I used to give treats to horses while I was working with them. A treat for being caught, a treat for opening their mouth for the bit, a treat for standing while I mounted. My pockets were filled with sweet feed – leftover grain "mulch" would regularly spill into the washing machine from my jeans.

Several professional trainers, from cowboys to dressage divas, warned me off this practice. "Horses won't respect you if they take food from your hand," they all said, shaking their heads.

They also thought it was dangerous. I decided to believe the professionals and stopped using treats. And I did notice a difference – the horses no longer crowded my space, looking for a handful of grain or a horse cookie.

Was that really such a big deal though? After all, the horses and I knew each other well – I couldn't imagine that they would hurt me, even if they occasionally crowded me.

I was wrong.

One of the horses had been raised as a foal by inexperienced horse people. They loved their colt, the first of their breeding crop – and treated him like a puppy. He was hand-fed and taught cute tricks and fussed over. He loved people and would trot up to them, eager for treats. The colt would follow his owners right on their heels, nudging their backs with his nose, until they paid attention to him, feeding him carrots and other goodies.

He was a sweet, friendly, cute baby. And he grew up to be a sweet, friendly, cute gelding. I loved working with him – he was fun to ride, liked to follow me around the pasture and even tried to climb on the porch with me. He was one of my all-time favorite horses.

Until he bit me on the chest.

What happened? He was following me too closely while I carried a feed bucket – so I turned to shoo him away. That day, he decided he was 1000 pounds, fully grown and really ought to be the herd boss. And he did a rapid, snake-like move with his head and bit me. Who was I to shoo him away, anyway?

Of course, he immediately regretted that bite – as shrieking noises, the bucket, and a halter all suddenly rained on his head. To this day, he isn’t allowed to come within ten feet of his feed bucket until after the grain is scooped.

So – who is at fault here? The horse? Me? The breeders?

The answer is me.

Because I ignored warning signs that he was being disrespectful on the ground. To me, he was just being playful - I could trust him. After all, I knew him well.  His puppy-like personality seemed so sweet, so non-threatening – I didn't see the spoiled horse beneath the cute antics.

The gelding and I learned a valuable lesson that day about horse-human dynamics – and we both are much wiser (and happier) because of that.

But I'd hate for anyone else to have to learn this "the hard way" - like I did.

So please be careful about training with treats. You never know what you might be setting in motion - what might literally bite you (or someone else) in the butt one day.