The 2nd Annual LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society’s Graduate Horse Present is ready to run this Saturday, October 19, from 8 am to 4 pm. The occasion will happen at LongRun’s farm in Hillsburgh, Ontario, the place horse lovers and racing followers can see ex-racehorses of their new careers as they strut their stuff with their adoptive homeowners and riders.
It was Lauren Millet-Simpson, LongRun’s farm supervisor, and Julie Belanger, LongRun’s social media particular person, who first obtained the concept, impressed by the Thoroughbred Makeover occasion in Kentucky that’s hosted by the Retired Racehorse Undertaking and held every October. The Makeover occasion showcases off-the-track Thoroughbreds of their post-racing careers, one thing Millet-Simpson and Belanger felt could possibly be performed in Canada. They took the concept to LongRun’s board of administrators, who felt a present that targeted on OTTB’s who had gone by means of LongRun’s program can be an effective way to advertise the horses and this system.
A proud present attendee; there are courses over fences, on the flat and in-hand. (Julie Wright picture)
The graduate present contains six courses and two divisions. The hunter division has two 2’3” over-fences courses and one hunter beneath saddle class. Then for many who adopted horses however don’t bounce, the present creators included a flat division consisting of a pleasure hack class, a dressage class which could be performed beneath English or Western tack, and a conformation in-hand class for many who don’t experience their horse.
“We actually wish to embrace completely everyone, so in the event you needed to come back to the present, there was no less than one class, no matter what you do along with your horse, that you can take part in,” Millet-Simpson explains.
On the inaugural occasion in 2023, the Graduate Present had 11 horses competing and the suggestions was overwhelmingly optimistic. “Everybody that was right here talked about simply how enjoyable it was,” says Millet-Simpson. “There’s no stress. The competitors may be very pleasant. All people is simply right here to have a very good time and exhibit their horse.”
To this point it appears to be like just like the Graduate Present will nearly double in dimension, and it has garnered assist from throughout the racing trade and horse trade typically together with prizes from Woodbine, CTHA, HBPA, Jockey Membership of Canada, and Ontario Racing, in addition to native companies and shops similar to Greenhawk. Ribbons will likely be awarded 1st-Fifth ribbons with money prizes in addition to general division winners.
Millet-Simpson provides the present can be an incredible alternative for individuals from each side of the equation – racetrack individuals and adopters – to combine and mingle. “There have been a whole lot of racetrack connections final yr that noticed their horse of their new self-discipline, and so they have been in a position to chat with the brand new adopter and inform tales about ‘when this horse was on the monitor, he liked to do that, and we used to play this recreation’,” she says. “And it was actually cool for the riders to get to satisfy the previous connections and ask questions on what their horse was like earlier than. That was one of many huge attracts for everybody.”
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