Who Rescued Whom?

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS STORY it all started here… or 15 miles from here. 

The Saratoga racecourse is generally acknowledged to be the oldest sporting venue in United States. On August 3, 1863 the first four-day meet was held. Its success lead to a 150-year (and counting) celebration of equine athletes, social interaction, and wagering.

Winslow Homer’s illustration of the Saratoga racecourse in the August, 1865 Harper’s Weekly and an early jockey

Living in and around Saratoga Springs for almost thirty years, of course I was familiar with the track and, more recently, the Thoroughbred retirement community. 

Unless horses are superstars, thousands of them are on a Road to Nowhere after they peak in their career, generally after four years or so. A survey performed by the ASPCA in 2017 suggests there could be an estimated 1.2 million homes that have both the perceived resources and desire to house an unwanted horse. This number exceeds the approximately 200,000 unwanted horses living each year in the United States. So the key is finding those off-track retirement placements for equine athletes past their peak.

However there are a large number of people in the racing community who don’t view the horses simply as commodities. A number of organizations, locally and nationally, have sprung up to assist Thoroughbreds with their off-track lives, after competitive racing.

Of course the transition isn’t an easy one. Many say the mark of a true pro is making a tough job look easy. Anyone who has been to the races at Saratoga must marvel at the grace, strength, and speed of the horses. It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to get to that stage, however, and many don’t stay there for long. So what happens to them?

A pile of halters from unwanted horses (credit Ashley DiFelice)

How does one – horse or human – go from the competitive fast track to the compassionate slow lane?

I live in a restored farmhouse along the Hudson River. Rural “neighborhoods” are vastly different than the way “the other 80.7%” of the population (according to the 2016 Census) live. Mostly it has to do with the absence of neighbors, but I live “next door” to Stonebridge Farm – a large and lavish Thoroughbred facility perhaps best-known as the property of the single largest investor in Bernard Madoff’s fund, where the owner constructed a copy of the Saratoga racecourse here in Northumberland – and there’s a Standardbred farm on a 50 acre island right at the end of my driveway.  Even though cattle far outnumber horses in this portion of Saratoga County, it sure feels like Horse Country right here.

And the horse network, I’ve learned, is pretty close-knit. In this “one degree of separation” world a friend who knows I’m a tool looking for a project told me about a “humanitarian horsewoman” named Valerie Buck.

Through the magic of the Internet I learned about Valerie and her ACTT Naturally programs (that’s “Aftercare Continued Thoroughbred Training” for we civilians) and was impressed. Having left my formal career in higher education, my passion for developing human capital has intersected with local needs so I reached out to her expressing an interest in seeing her work in person. 

Valerie responded, punting my request off since it was during the track season this summer, where she still works part-time when the races are on. (Her Rolodex is a “Who’s Who” of the greats and near-greats in that world).

I learned that she founded ACTT Naturally in 2013, after many years of repurposing off-track-Thoroughbreds. Valerie worked 28 years in many of the top stables in Thoroughbred racing – sitting aboard some of the best horses in her generation – and she also found value in horses no longer able to compete. I learned that Valerie uses the same patient touch she had for champions to retrain forgotten horses. She’s found success locating “forever homes” and useful careers for many horses (not to mention canines: she named her Hansel-and-Gretel-like home along the Battenkill “Camp Waggin’ Tails”).

Synchronicity or what?

Here’s what Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has to say about her:“Valerie Buck is an extraordinary and outstanding horsewoman. Her dedication and care to the welfare of the horses is second to none. She has a marvelous feel for what each horse needs and a work ethic to carry it out.” 

Buck (left) with trainers Todd Pletcher and D. Wayne Lukas (hard to recognize without his trademark sunglasses)

When the track season ended after Labor Day, Valerie reached out to me and invited me to Long Shadows Farm, in Cambridge, where her programming and many of her horses are located.

The 20-minute drive from my house across the river was beautiful and took me through the stunning Washington County rolling hills. Long Shadows is located at the end of a short rustic dirt road. Passing several paddocks where retired Thoroughbreds graze next to furry ponies, it is made even more picture-perfect when the colorful “feral chickens” peacefully cris-cross the turf.

An imposing structure that looks like an airplane hangar is at the end of the lane, surrounded by more barns and run-in sheds. This building is the multipurpose indoor arena and “classroom” when the activity isn’t taking place on the five miles of trails groomed out of the hills around the property.

ACTT Naturally has partnered with Long Shadows and they blend horse rescue with human rehabilitation using what they dub the “horse-human bond,” with a growing circle-of-care that started with female veterans and has grown to include their families and first-responders, as well as teens.

 “I’ll drink to that!”

Because their programs are offered at no charge, ACTT Naturally relies on sponsorship to underwrite the cost of horse care. And now, thanks to a grant from local star trainer Chad Brown, there are opportunities for students from his hometown of Mechanicville. The local YMCA is another partner for young people. As word of their great work spreads and grows the support has increased, but there is always need....

Yes I digress. But the context and background make the story.

So take a “tool looking for a project” (moi) and zipper-in the righteous work of ACTT Naturally and Long Shadows. 

Much of ACCT Naturally’s activity moves south for the winter but some of the horses – the Old Boys in this case – don’t care for the long trailer ride. “Snow Birds” they are not. (I’m told horses prefer cold to heat anyway and, if you are like me and wonder if it is cruel to see horses without blankets in winter, dispel skepticism and trust their caregivers.)

I can’t count the number of times, over the past four years I’ve lived here, that people have asked me “so what do you ‘farm’ on your farm?” And, until now, I’ve jokingly/honestly said “grass.” But given the opportunity to host Gordon and Chief for “winter break,” I knew I had the chance to be helpful and, somewhat selfishly (?), to do some good and be a sort-of real farmer.

Gordon (left) and Chief arrived while I was away. I was reminded of when my 

used tractor was delivered four years ago… without a user’s manual: “help!”

I returned from my meeting – Valerie texted me saying they were dropped off and that she would be back – and I cannot describe the feeling I had when I pulled far enough along the driveway to see the horses grazing in the field, the place that I’d been mowing now put to great, natural use… naturally. 

I felt peace. I thought of Winston Churchill’s quote. I was home. I was happy.

Each day that goes by we – the Old Boys and I – get to know and trust more and better. 

My dogs Sammy and Bosco included. Gordon is becoming a bit less bossy. Chief (who had career earnings of $300,000 before a hoof problem ended is on-track career) appears to be acclimating beautifully in his classy, laid-back way.                                                                                                                                                   

"A horse, a horse, my Kingdom for a horse."

Now I am not the only “retired” one at Five Porch Farm.