Song of Laura is a 9 year old bay gelding with a blaze, retiring as a warhorse with 59 starts and $289,400 career earnings. He was adopted by Jeanie in CO, and is enjoying life as a pleasure and trail horse!
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Success Stories
Western Chrome was adopted in April 2022 by Cami! They will work together using positive reinforcement techniques with goals to move up the levels in eventing.
Western Chrome is a 3 year old bay gelding with four white socks and a blaze. “West” is a very flashy looking guy! He bowed a tendon in training and never made it to a start, but was track broke. He has rehabbed well and is sound without limitations going forward.
Update 1/29/2022 - Zenith has been adopted by Kaycee in Texas! He will join the Texas Tech Equestrian Team, eventually competing in english, western and hunter/jumper!
Zenith is a handsome young horse with classic TB good looks and a kind personality. He retired from racing after only a couple of starts due to a sesamoid fracture he sustained in July 2021. He came to Pas de Cheval Horse Rescue to rehab and is now fully healed and ready for work. His past injury should not limit his abilities going forward.
Zenith has been lightly restarted in groundwork using natural horsemanship techniques at liberty and on a longe line. He has been started over poles and has taken to it nicely. Zenith has lovely gaits and a good sense of his body for his age. He is very sweet and willing - really aims to please!
Zenith and Zephyr are full brothers who came to Pas de Cheval within a week of each other. They got to spend their rehab time in stalls next to each other and now live in large paddocks together. They are pretty cute!
3/25/22 - Congratulations to Katrell on adopting Lonesome Track!
“Zephyr” was track broke, but suffered a knee fracture in racing training. He required surgery upon arrival to repair it. He was given ample time to heal and rehab, and is now sound and ready to be a pleasure horse. Due to his past injury, he shouldn’t do a lot of jumping - but should be comfortable and happy as a mid-level sport horse. He just turned 3 and is loving his groundwork training - he is cute as can be!
“Ash” is a beautiful, 8 year old, black/bay gelding with a heart of gold. He retired from racing after 21 starts. He is slowly being restarted for his next career!
“Rio” is a 13 year old bay gelding who raced till he was 12, with 75 starts and over $400,000 career earnings. He spent the past year at the racetrack helping to train a jockey. Rio has a huge work ethic and is a super sweet guy. He arrived at Pas de Cheval in May 2021. So far, he is uncomplicated under saddle, and is a joy to work with. He is a perfect example of why we love OTTBs!
He was adopted in July 2021 by Jessica in Corrales!
“Erin was wonderful to work with throughout the adoption process. She is knowledgeable and honest - I am so happy with my new adopted horse. It’s clear that the right kind of work has been put into him to make him safe and pleasant to handle and ride. Highly recommend [Pas de Cheval]!” - Madelaine, who adopted Teddy
Teddy arrived in our program in January 2021. He retired sound at 7 years old after 48 starts, because his racing owner could no longer care for him. He was Kentucky bred and at one point sold for $145,000 at auction.
Photo by @el_baile_de_victoria
“I’ve had [Quincy] a year now! We’ve been having a blast together and we’ve started doing some liberty! He’s been absolutely amazing and he’s the sweetest guy. He loves jumping and we have a small track he likes to canter on from time to time! Thank you again for giving me the pleasure of owning him!” - testimonial from Brooklyn, Quincy’s adopted person.
Sir Quincy is a 4 year old that retired sound after 2 starts. He was adopted by Brooklyn, who rides him in hunter/jumper. They are pretty adorable together!
“Jackson” arrived in September 2020 with a fractured pelvis. He healed and rehabbed beautifully, and along the way he developed a relationship with one of our trainers. Jackson is currently ridden Western - using classical dressage work to build a foundation for all around and wilderness riding.
“Harlow” arrived in September 2020. She is currently rehabbing a pelvis injury. Harlow has developed a relationship with one of our trainers and is currently a sanctuary horse.
Woody was Adopted!
Arrival: April 2020
Date of Birth: March 22, 2012
Gender: Gelding
Color: Dark Bay
Height: 16hh
“Woody” is an 8 year old gelding who retired from racing in February of 2020. Immediately after retirement, he went on quite the journey over the next two months. Retiring from a racetrack in Arizona, he was discovered shortly after at a kill pen in Las Cruces, from there he was purchased by a sale barn, but then arrived at another kill pen in Greeley, CO before being picked up by a kind human who then offered him to our program.
Woody settled in right away. He is a very sweet horse with wise eyes. He has put on weight and received lots of TLC. We are very happy he has landed here and are ready to give him all the love.
He has been restarted under saddle and is a very well-mannered boy.
SALEM
Arrival: October 2018
Date of Birth: April 15, 2015
Gender: Gelding
Color: Dark Bay
Height: 16hh
“Salem” was bred in Kentucky and sold as a yearling for $30,000! He retired from racing in October 2018 after 6 starts and 1 win.
He has an osselet bone calcification on one of his front fetlocks, that luckily does not interfere with the joint. Radiographs are available. When going through a growth spurt, he developed a case of locking stifles. They no longer lock up, but he does experience some stiffness, especially when he can’t get out to move and be ridden often. The stiffness smooths out the more he can get out and walk. He recently went with a trainer for a trail-riding boot camp, where he got to see some wildlife, hack out on his own, and even ride through moving water. The more he moved, the better he moved! We think he could make a good trail horse with a confident rider.
Salem is a really cool horse with the longest, most luscious mane! He has a playful personality and a curious disposition. He really just wants to find his “person” - will you be his new best friend?
Salem has been adopted by Susie in CO!
Registered Name: Mr. T’s Fave
Gender: Gelding
DOB: March 21st, 2012
Arrival: December 2016
Height: 17hh
Color: Dark Bay, Star, Snip, 4 Socks
“Felix” came to Pas de Cheval after sustaining a knee fracture on the racetrack. He was an impressive racing athlete, winning his last race after the fracture had been diagnosed.
After 6 months of stall rest, followed by physical therapy and ground work, he has made a fantastic recovery. He is fully sound without any known limitations.
He is a very handsome boy and he knows it! He is very high-energy and would be best suited for someone who can give him a big job and daily work. He has studdish tendencies, but is really a big goofball without a mean bone in his body.
This tall, dark and handsome gelding has some serious untapped potential for someone with patience and savvy! Available to an experienced rider/trainer only.
Update 09/20: Felix found his person! Ariana and Felix clicked right away and are sure to an be unstoppable pair. Can’t wait to see what they do in eventing and beyond!
Meet Indy, he arrived on 7/21.
He is a 11 year old dark chocolatey bay gelding with 90 starts and $299,888 in career winnings. He was diagnosed with a sesamoid bone fracture, ending his long racing career, and was luckily surrendered to us. He has settled in nicely and has a very sweet disposition.
He has healed up nicely and has been started under saddle!
Arrival: July 2020
Foaled: March 23, 2010
Gender: Gelding
Color: Dark Bay
Height: 16.1
Update 09/13/20: Mickey has been restarted under saddle and is doing fantastic! He is quick to learn and has more whoa than go. View his video from 9/12 below!
Please reach out for more information on Mickey and if you’re interested in setting up an appointment to meet him or any of our other rescues, please send in an adoption interest form here.
Mickey arrived in July and settled in right away!
He is a 6 year old bay gelding with 21 starts, 1 first and $44,218 career earnings. According to his previous racing trainer, he has a 2 year old slab fracture that has healed. He moves well now, but we will assess his soundness further over time.
For now, he’s getting some down time and much needed groceries! He is already turning out to be a big sweetie. And what a beautiful face he has! 😍
Arrival: July 2020
Date of Birth: February 24, 2014
Gender: Gelding
Color: Bay
Height: 17hh
Mickey is available for adoption!
Arrival: December 2019
Date of Birth: March 27, 2006
Gender: Mare
Color: Chestnut
Height: 15.3hh
“Sylvie” raced a whopping 58 times, earning $115,000 in her racing career. Retiring at 8 years of age, she was destined for broodmare life. After several unsuccessful attempts to breed Sylvie, she spent a few years cooped up before finding her way to us. Sylvie was overdue for a hoof trim but in seemingly good health otherwise.
After arriving, Sylvie quickly made friends with the other horses and is very happy to have plenty of room to run and play. Her kind heart and sweet face are hard to resist.
Sylvie is currently in retraining and is available for adoption. At this time, Sylvie is sound for light work and needs an intermediate/advanced companion who will continue regular work with a professional trainer.
Sylvie is settled in at her forever home!
Karma
Arrival: July 2019
Date of Birth: March 2, 2010
Gender: Mare
Color: Bay
Height: 16.2hh
Karma was adopted in January 2021.
“Karma” came to us as an owner surrender. She raced as a young horse, retired, and was bred, giving birth to a filly in Indiana. Kar came to New Mexico, after a local bought her through another nationwide OTTB rescue program. A new life was waiting for her, with a hopeful jumping career. But unfortunately, somewhere along the way, Karma was pushed a little further than her body + mind could handle.
She arrived here with a suspensory ligament injury in her hind leg. Her soundness has greatly improved over the past year, due to consistent bodywork, nutritional support, and physical therapy. Karma also suffers from separation anxiety when leaving her herd friends. We have been treating her for stomach ulcers with UlcerGard and slippery elm for the past few months.
Kar is stunning, tall, bay mare, with the prettiest face. We hope that one day she will find a wonderful forever home with someone who is extremely patient, understanding and—most importantly—kind!
This sweet filly never even made it to the track! Sterling arrived to the rescue as a 2 year old with severely bowed tendons in both of her front legs that she received in training. She needed many months of stall rest. Our vet wasn’t sure if she would ever be sound enough for riding. Luckily, Nora had arrived only a month before, so the two fillies had company while they healed.
Sterling was not too friendly when she arrived, for good reason. Her short racing career had taught her that humans could be hazards. So we gave her space, until she slowly became curious about us. When we re-checked her tendons six months later, we were thrilled to discover that some near-miraculous healing at occurred. Sterling and Nora were ready to come out of stall rest together, enjoying jumping, galloping and playing together.
When her re-training began, she took some reassuring that we would treat her with kindness and not push her too far. Once that trust was established, a whole new side of her was revealed. She would run to the gate when she saw us coming to get her and she was very enthusiastic under saddle. With her affectionate disposition, flashy dapples with four white stockings, this mare did not last long when she was offered for adoption! She now lives just up the road.
Betsie was surrendered to the rescue after her one and only race. She fractured her front right knee and strained a ligament in her back left hind leg. Surgery was required to remove bone chips in the knee joint. Though she may not be able to endure a jumping or high impact career in the future, she will make a great riding horse and companion.
Even as a 2 year old filly, she was been unbelievably patient in the healing process. She was on stall rest for nearly 6 months! After, she was so excited to explore her new pasture, and hang out with her friends. She is a great horse, very kind, gentle and level headed. We are so excited to see what the future holds for her.
Betsie was adopted by our vet after they bonded during their many visits!
At 8 years of age, “Noche” finally retired from a lengthy and successful racing career. After 66 starts, this big, beautiful boy made his way to our rescue program. Noche came to us from Sunland Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico and was just a couple days away from being sent to slaughter. Luckily, we found out in time and were able to ensure that he found a better life ahead of him. He settled in quickly at the rescue and has been enjoying exploring large pastures and making friends.
Our trainers will be working with Noche preparing him for the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in 2021.
RRP is a competition that raises awareness for off the track horses and their versatile capabilities.
Arrival: February 2020
Date of Birth: April 9, 2011
Gender: Gelding
Color: Dapple Gray
Height: 17hh
Noche is not available for adoption, currently.