River River Ranch

River Run Thoroughbreds isn't really an organization, it isn't really a rescue...... it's more of an effort! I have been around horses as long as I can remember.... although had never had any insight on race horses.  We'll say, I was more of a quarter horse, ranch hand type girl.  When I finally decided to get a horse of my own in 2009, I came across a site with free thoroughbreds.... now, to this day, I have no idea what I was thinking.  I knew NOTHING about Thoroughbreds... In looking through the ads, I came across a 9 year old retired racer named "Luke", he had been off the track for a couple years due to a suspensory injury. He was GORGEOUS! (I know, ya can't ride color!)  I e-mailed the owner with a slew of questions about him. Turns out the owner loved Luke, but just couldn't handle him and his 'attitude' so she was looking for someone more suited for him. After a week, and more then 40 emails back and forth, it was decided that Luke was the one! Boy oh boy did I make a drastic mista.... er..... commitment.... Haha. After a 7 hour drive, almost 6 hours trying to load him in a 3 horse slant load trailer (which sadly finally resulted in the use of tranqualizers, a blindfold, backing the trailer up to a small hill and backing him into it), and an 9 hour drive back (picked up another horse along the way for my mom)...... Luke was home.

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Within the first 2 weeks at the barn where Luke was boarded, I was told by every boarder there (15+) that I needed to "get rid of him (Luke), he was going to kill me".  That just gave me the drive to push forward and break through to him.  He wasn't so much crazy, as he was older and had gotten his way for too long. Within' a couple months, I could ride Luke successfully (meaning staying in the saddle the entire time) in the arena and up and down the road behind the barn.  Within' 6 months, he went on his first trail ride. Within 2 1/2 years, he was our babysitter horse (as well as my show horse), we could put people on him who have never been on a horse, children or adult, and he will walk around with them all day following the horse in front of him on trails, in the arena, etc.

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My love of Thoroughbreds came from this relationship I have formed with Luke... The personality they possess is unlike any other breed of horse I have worked with.  They are definitely the jokesters of the equine world! After going to Fairmount Race Track in Collinsville, IL for the first time on opening day in 2011, I was now sure I wanted to go through with helping these horses.  Their passion and drive to race could definitely be used for other things once their owners pull them from racing. I had thought about starting a rescue for Off Track Thoroughbreds once before, now my mind was made up..... the idea just grew from there...

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I aquired my second thoroughbred, Ti, in May 2011 after Luke was sent to Kentucky in February 2011 to be on pasture to battle ulcers. Ti was meant to be a project horse to try and pass the time while Luke was gone........ I fell in love with him. The owner of the barn I boarded at is a horse trader and frequently gets thoroughbreds off the track from Fairmount, Ti just so happened to be one of those thoroughbreds. My friend Laura offered to let me board Ti out at her place on pasture through the summer to give him time to come down from consistancy of the track and to learn to be a horse, it was settled! Then, Luke recieved a clean bill of health in July and was coming home as well!! When Luke came home, he bonded with Ti after a couple weeks and they are now inseperable...

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As well as the rescue effort, I also specialize in training hard to handle horses of any breed! As an example, I have retrained Luke (remember that 6 hour, tranquilizer induced trailering episode mentioned above?) to where he now hops on the trailer without having to ask him! Sometimes before I have the door all the way opened! Have a hard to load horse, a stubborn horse, or one you just can't break through to? Just ask, I can probably give you the insight to start working towards a successful turn-around of your horse! 

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Stay tuned! Thanks for checking us out!