Page 65 - 2021 TAA Magazine

LoneStar Outreach REHABILITATION

to Place Ex-Racers RETRAINING/ADOPTION

TESTIMONIAL:
“TAA has been a
tremendous help to
LOPE! Thanks to its
support, LOPE can
commit to horses
that need longer-term
rehab and retraining.
We can offer more
public education
programs to
encourage OTTB
ownership. As a
TAA-accredited
organization, LOPE
has attracted much

TOM REARDON support and interest

Lone Star Outreach’s mission is to help older racing warhorses find second careers, while
inspiring youth through horsemanship education. from new supporters.”
“Every racehorse is waiting to be someone’s the American Association of Equine Veterinary FOUNDED: 2003
special champion.” Technicians.
With that credo, LoneStar Outreach to Place Older stock, yearlings/weanlings, and brood- ADDRESS:
Ex-Racers (LOPE) has done business in Texas mares are not accepted into LOPE, which accepts 901 Darden Hill Rd.
since 2003. Founded by Lynn Reardon, author of only off-the-track horses (of any racing breed) Driftwood, TX 78619
the best-selling, award-winning book “Beyond voluntarily donated by their owners or trainers.
the Homestretch,” LOPE is today one of the coun- Each is assessed as to its particular needs, then PHONE:
try’s leading organizations working with off-the- placed either into rehab or the academy (retrain- (512) 565-1824
track racehorses. ing) program. Horses cannot be adopted until
Established on the premise that horses need their training regimen is complete. MAIN CONTACT:
jobs, not pity, and that many ex-racers still have “For us, it’s an honor to work with such Lynn Reardon
much to offer – whether as trail horses, show tremendous athletes,” said Reardon, who had

competitors, pets, or pasture companions – LOPE little equine background when she first visited WEB ADDRESS:
sees to it that they receive the attention required a racetrack backside and fell in love with the lopetx.org
to become “champions” in a post-racing world. heart, intelligence, and athleticism of the horses
Believing that a better-educated horse is less she encountered. “I couldn’t believe that such SOCIAL:

likely to be at-risk, and that a well-educated rider magnificent athletes could ever be at-risk, and I LOPETEXAS
makes the best adopter, LOPE provides individu- am honored now to help them transition into new
alized retraining of horses, along with lessons lives. AVERAGE NUMBER OF
and clinics for people interested in adopting. “Every horse is special – and we believe that THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR:
LOPE also offers vocational training for at-risk every horse needs a vocation in order to be happy 12
youth, and is in an educational partnership with and true to its nature.”

DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 63