Coming out of the tunnel!!

So it's been a long but very productive 2 weeks during the World Equestrian Games. Firstly big thanks to all of you that visited the booth or the farm. It was so busy that it was difficult to spend as much time with you as we would have liked.

The Lexington facility has been hectic with visitors and viewings of the horses. Since my last blog, 7 horses have been adopted, to name a few these included  my beloved Toots, Determined Again, Silver Patch and Cat Singer. Hank The Billymax who was a website favorite underwent surgery at Park Equine Hospital to remove a chip from his knee and his fetlock and while on stall rest, he too has been adopted and will leave upon the completion of his rehab. A big thanks is always owed to Dr Park and everyone at the clinic not only for the work done on Hank but for supporting and helping with all our horses. Satin Kddin flew out of the door after only a few weeks with us and is settling in well with his new family, Brittany and Mike. It's a reminder to people to have that adopter's application in and approved. Horses tend to move very quickly and will very often be gone before you have your application approved.

And of course, as horses leave more will fill their places. This week we welcomed Kiloton who is a gorgeous black gelding (gelded yesterday actually), just 3 years old and extremely well handled and quiet. While his papers state dark brown for registration purposes, he is actually true black due to his black muzzle and blue pigmented skin. Then yesterday, we got another very special youngster in, Dundee! Cute as a button and big for a 3 year old, he is by the same sire as Hank The Billymax - Medaglia Doro. New Blaine, a gray will also make an appearance in the near future.

With all these recent adoptions and the steady pace that we've been going at all year, I estimate that about 45 horses so far have been rehomed via the Lexington farm and I hope that we can really end 2010 on a high note in terms of numbers and horses placed. With the exceptional quality of the horses that we are seeing such as Kilo and Dundee, I have exceedingly high hopes!

An ever continung circle

I started the day slightly depressed by how chilly the early morning air had become, a sure sign that Winter is fast approaching. I don't know about anyone else but I love the heat and long evenings.

Things rapidly improved despite the weather though. By lunchtime, Determined Again had been adopted and had found a home with someone that could devote time to his continued rehab.

Continuing on with my day's work, I took Toots for a leisurely stroll in the rain - being English, I love riding in the rain and Toots was happy to indulge me. I then got the 3 new additions started. All went exceptionally well on the lunge, in both directions and I can see tremendous potential in all 3. Atticus is a wonderful mover and very attentive to direction even with another horse going around in the arena next to him. Bonus Point and Satin Kddin also did great and stayed calm and focused even though the arena can be a bit like a wind tunnel. All in all, I was extremely pleased with how they all went.

The day ended on a high note too - You're Darn Tootin' was adopted and is bound for a wonderful home down on the Florida Gulf Coast. While I shall be sad to see him go as we have become firm friends, I am glad that he has found someone that so clearly wanted him. Love you Toots xx

Hello and welcome!!

Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog!

For those not familar with me, I manage the New Vocations facility in Lexington KY and the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program is the biggest of it's kind in the country, adopting out over 3000 horses. New Vocations also has locations in Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Indiana.

Here in Kentucky, I started with just 3 horses in the program when the Lexington facility first opened and 13 months later and with nearly 80 horses adopted, we now maintain around 10 to 12 horses at a time!

I decided to keep a blog due to the vast amount of calls, emails and Facebook messages I receive every day and thought this was an excellent way to keep people informed and up to date with the day to day activities at the farm and what's happening with horses coming in and out of the program. I hope this will give people some insight into what we do on a daily basis.

The next 2 weeks are a busy time with New Vocations hosting a booth at the World Equestrian Games and visitors from the Games expected out at the farm to view horses that are available for adoption. With having had so many new horses arrive within the past 14 days, there are several that are settled and have already graduated to group turnout - the next step means a return to work. Besides riding the ones that are already transitioning, tomorrow means the start of a new life for our treasures from the track!