Lest Old Acquaintance be forgot...

"They're great athletes. They work all their lives for our entertainment, and in some cases they make people very wealthy. And, at the end of the line, they don't have any social security or a 401K plan. And they should, because they earned all the money.... Some people go to the racetrack and don't even bet. They're just overwhelmed by the majesty of the performance. They did it. Without [these horses] there's nothing. There's no bluegrass, there's no racetracks... they are the essence of it."

I read Michael Blowen's quote, and it resonated deeply with me. Michael Blowen is the former film critic for the Boston Globe, and the Founder and President of Old Friends, a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned thoroughbreds.

Old Friends is a thoroughbred retirement with a difference, giving home to stallions and more recently, to mares. The plan to provide "at risk" racehorses (horses too old to race or breed) with the dignified and humane retirement they deserve, was born from the shocking death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002. Like many, Michael Blowen was beyond appalled that something like that could happen. 

Old Friends is located in Georgetown, Kentucky. Realizing that promoting these celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism would draw attention to the plight of racehorses and equines in need, Old Friends is open to the public. Tours are available, and the list of stallions and horses who call their fields and barns homes is humbling and impressive, the memorials and tributes to fallen heroes incredibly touching. 

Everyone who visits goes to see the once great horses who battled their way down the homestretch to bring fame and fortune to owners, trainers, and jockeys. Each one leaves touched by the beauty, dignity, courage and heart these thoroughbred heroes have.

Thank you, Michael Blowen!

In Memoriam - A Farewell to Sea Fox

Ottawa, ON— Equine Canada and the Canadian Equestrian Team extend our heartfelt condolences to Canadian Olympian Leslie Reid and her mother Edith Thomson on the passing of their horse, Sea Fox.

Sea Fox
Photo credit—Cealy Tetley

Sea Fox, a Dutch Warmblood stallion sired by Roemer, was born in the Netherlands in 1982 and imported by Reid as her new dressage partner in 1986. Sea Fox easily moved up the ranks, usually scoring top marks in each outing.

Under the tutelage of Udo Lange and Christilot Boylen, Reid trained in Europe from 1993 to 1996 in order to maximize the development of her handsome and talented stallion.  In 1995, the pair made their debut at the international grand prix level, earning many top 10 finishes at prestigious CDI competitions in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Donaueschingen. 

Reid was the first Canadian rider to be named to the 1996 Olympic Dressage Team, qualifying after the first two Olympic Trials. In November of 1996, Reid and Sea Fox captured the Volvo World Cup Dressage Canadian League Final held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Horse Show.

Reid and Sea Fox competed at Grand Prix until he was 17 year of age. For the next few years, Sea Fox taught Reid’s young rider students the ropes of upper level dressage until he was officially retired at the age of 20.

“He was the perfect horse,” said Reid. “Handsome, honest, and the most gentle stallion one could ever have.”

Sea Fox’s well-earned retirement consisted of relaxing in his field until he was almost 30-year-old.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism.  A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry.  Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.