Mr. Cowboy at Saratoga Race Course
Old Friends at
Cabin Creek
Commentator
WRITTEN BY JOYCE ANDERSON | PHOTOS BY CONNIE BUSH AND SAMANTHA DECKER
The beauty and speed of Thoroughbreds on the track is spell binding to watch. Hoofs pounding, muscles pumping and complete focus on the task at hand. The grace of these magnificent athletes is a sight to behold. However, a racing career represents a small portion of a Thoroughbreds natural life span. So what happens to racehorses once their careers are over? The number of former racehorses in need of an alternative to racing is quite large and the options are few. Some are rehomed as recreational horses, others are retrained for new jobs, some are used for breeding, and many meet a cruel fate. This is where Old Friends at Cabin Creek steps in. Old Friends at Cabin Creek is able to provide a few racehorses a way to retire with dignity receiving stellar care while being educators to the public for the need for Aftercare programs for all former racehorses. Like so many organizations, Old Friends at Cabin Creek was 54 | EQUICUREAN | JULY/AUGUST 2021
impacted by a lockdown and worldwide pandemic. One day life was normal, and the next morning it was not. We had to immediately develop a plan to continue caring for our horses while keeping them and our volunteers safe. There was no time for strategic planning or long discussions. We had to hit the ground running and implement our new reality without delay. We imposed protocols and mandates for all our volunteers to follow that far exceeded the recommendations of the CDC, federal and state governments. Volunteers were required to be masked, gloved and socially distanced at all times when they were working at the farm. Procedures such as one person in a paddock at a time, the office or hay room kept everyone safe. Horses were no longer fed treats by hand but in clean buckets only. All shovels, rakes and tools were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every day. SARATOGATODAYNEWSPAPER.COM
