In 2014, a flying gelding called Kid Blast created lasting memories for the Glass Race owner parting, winning, or finishing in all eight of his starts at the New York Racing Association tracks. Now, at 13, Kid Blast is still bringing joy to those around him like a therapy horse just 5 miles away. Racecourse Saratoga at Saratoga Horse Therapy.
Trained by Bruce Levine in his racing days, son of Own made 26 career starts during his 5 racing seasons, setting a 5-4-7 record with $151,576 earnings. After retiring from racing, “Kid”, as he was loved by all, became a racehorse at the NYRA, his friendly and easy-going personality making him a good candidate for support. Horses racing on the track.
When a back injury forced him to retire from horse farming, Lisa Molloy’s Re-Run Thoroughbred Retirement took over and provided him with a place to recuperate.
Tom Gallo, managing partner of Parting Glass Racing and now Dream Maker Racing, contacted Therapy Horses of Saratoga after Kid Blast retired from horse farming, suggesting gelding’s experience would allow him excellent as a therapy horse.
Laura LaRue, equine care director at Therapy Horses of Saratoga said: ‘The child’s personality is perfect. “We’ve got him in 2019 and he’s got the big brother type of personality. He’s got right into his role here and just wants to please everyone.”
A not-for-profit organization accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Therapy Horses of Saratoga was founded in 2018 with the mission of retraining retired thoroughbreds and crossbreds to become treatment horses. data for clients when partnering with ECS Psychological Services in Saratoga Springs, NY
Patients are taught horse breeding on the organization’s Lake Avenue ranch, learning to solve problems and work through their emotions.
“Our clients often spend time getting to know the horses the first few times they visit,” says LaRue. “We would ask them to catch and bring us a horse from the field and give them leash and lead, but most don’t know what that is or how to use them. Sometimes they will just trick them with a piece of hay This helps our patients learn to figure things out on their own and then down the road we can ask them to do other things like lead horses over obstacles. The horse challenges them to overcome it.”
Kid Blast has proven popular on the farm, a gentle giant that can work on many of the show’s activities.
LaRue said: “Kid does everything because he is amazing. Courses. We did what we call a car wash. It is made with pool noodles and the purpose is for the customer to guide the horses through it while the noodles brush against them. Kid Blast has done it a million times and sometimes plants his own legs and challenges them to pass.
LaRue adds: “We also ask clients to build a screen where they use things like traffic cones and hula hoop hoops to create a pen to guide the horse in. “There’s a lot of metaphors in there.”
As THS continues to see success in its programs, LaRue attributes the emotional capacity of horses to the reason that equestrian therapy can provide another level of support for patients alongside traditional therapies. system.
“Horses are very good at reading emotions and reacting in a way that is both challenging and comforting,” says LaRue. “They balance very well what the client needs. They can do all these things in a way that humans can’t. We’re setting up the experience but it’s the horses that are doing all the mental work. and feeling.”
With many success stories to reflect on over the three years of the organization, LaRue fondly recalls her favorite moment shared between Kid Blast and one of their clients.
“We’ve had someone say they’re okay when they’re not, and in therapy it’s sometimes hard to turn that off,” says LaRue. “They’re trying to put a leash on another horse and the horse keeps going. turn around and face the leash for them. He reaches out when you need him. He takes good care of everyone. ”
Now in his third career, Kid Blast is the epitome of a host of new jobs for racehorses as their days on the track come to an end. LaRue emphasizes that both thoroughbred and standard racehorses are favorable to working in the new environment because of the way they are handled on the track.
“Racehorses are exposed to things like starting gates, noise and crowds and they get used to that pretty quickly,” says LaRue. “Here on the ranch, they don’t have to worry about tractors or a tarpaulin blowing in the wind. All of their exposure on the track has made the transition here so much easier. That makes a big difference.”
The NYRA and its riders are advocates of the commitment of the TAA, which recognizes, examines, and awards grants to approved post-care organizations using industry-wide funding. .
Each owner competing at NYRA racecourses donates $10 per start to the TAA, which helps fund aftercare organizations that provide homes for retired racehorses. New York Riders also donate 1.5% of the purchase price of each horse requested at the NYRA racetrack to the TAA and the New York Thoroughbred Horse Association’s TAKE THE LEAD program, which provides tests and preliminary vet treatment, as well as costs associated with transportation and rehabilitation or retraining.
“Conversations have grown about childcare over the past few years, which is great,” says LaRue. “NYRA has a day at the races where they bring in horses from the TAA and educate their fans to show them racehorse options after their careers. It’s really important to continue the conversation later. care and we’re happy to be a part of it.”
For more information on Saratoga’s Therapeutic Horses, visit https://thsaratoga.org/.
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