Second Chances at James River
A Chapter of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Latest News
- Congratulations to New
Graduates - A Happy Ending for Wild Eyed Dreamer
- Barn Tour III a Great Success
- Trainer's Exhibition Day
- Poster Boy Covert Action Goes to the Fair
- Southern States Equine Days
- Art in the Barn
- New Horses and Adoptions
- Life Behind Barz, aka “Dusty”
- National News
- Read All 2009 Stories
Calendar of Events
In 2007, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the
Virginia Department of Corrections entered into a partnership
to provide rehabilitation and training for inmates,
using ex-racehorses rescued by the Foundation.
Colebrook Lake
Come take a look at Colebrook Lake, aka CL, a retired racehorse whose recent rehabilitation has brought him to the winner’s circle once again! Through collective efforts of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, CL has competed in, and won, his first hunter trials! With Jessica Bowen in the irons, he jumped his way to the Senior Hunter over fences Championship! Ms Bowen commented that “he was soft and responsive and had as much fun as I did.”
CL and many others like him are currently available for adoption. To preview available horses, click on the starburst: Adopt a Horse, or make an appointment to see CL and the others simply by emailing michelle.beck@equestriansport.com.
Congratulations to New Graduates
Reid McLellan made a visit in October to work with the new trainees and to test three men for certification. We are proud to announce all three men passed with flying colors. Our new Groom Elite graduates are: Eric McMillan, Justin Darden and Marty Sepulveda.
Additionally, we have several graduates who have been released from JRWC. We wish them well. Two men are seeking employment in the horse industry, one in Northern Virginia and one in the Lynchburg area. We also have a graduate who is available for work release in the Tidewater area.
The men are bonded by the state for their first year of employment, and employers can claim a tax break for giving them a job.
If you know of a possible job opening, please contact us immediately at StateFarmHorses@aol.com.
A Happy Ending for Wild Eyed Dreamer
Dreamer was rescued in May 2008 when a compassionate groom at Delaware Park called us about the lame horse. He came to us with an old bow in his right front and a newly-bowed tendon in his left front. Will Washington iced and poulticed the leg every day for four months, then hand-walked the horse until he could be turned out. After several months of turnout, Dreamer was tacked up and ridden lightly. Last weekend, a 13-year-old girl named Claire Schiefer emptied her own piggy bank and adopted Dreamer. He is, she says, her dream horse, and the horse seems to return the girl’s affection. Dreamer and Claire will be under the supervision of trainer Crystal Rivers. Crystal is the coach for the Liberty University riding team and runs a boarding and training barn in Forest, VA.