Why are we driving to Kentucky to get Dulce? Well, that’s a good question. Growing up in horse racing you hear about states that are more likely to funnel horses to the kill pens, and Louisiana was one of the worst. I always wanted to take in a horse from Louisiana because of this.
National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization started with the promise that they would never turn away any horse from Louisiana, which spoke to my heart. They have lived up to this promise taking in all the horses no matter what kind of injuries they may have. The vets at Rood & Riddle, which is one of the premiere thoroughbred veterinary and surgical hospitals in the country, inspect all of the horses. If a horse has a chip, they do the surgeries for free. They do everything they can to get these horses into good shape to be adopted out, and they are upfront and honest about their conditions and what they may or may not do.
Because of them and others, things are changing in Louisiana.
Dulce raced 16 times in Louisiana before he ended up at the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization. He was never involved in a wreck, and it seems he wasn’t too enthusiastic about racing. He is a bit on the thin side still, and he needs work done on his hooves, but I know he can go far. I saw it in his eyes the first time I saw pictures of him. This is why I’m driving to Kentucky to get him. I know it would make my grandpa happy to know that we are taking in a horse from Louisiana.
I have no idea what he will want to do, but he’ll tell me as we try new things out. One thing I hope to do with Chaco and Dulce is to show everyone on the Western Slope how wonderful thoroughbreds are by doing demonstrations at rodeos. I haven’t worked it all out in my mind yet, but I have time. Chaco needs time for his leg to get stronger, and Dulce needs training. I figure next summer hopefully. What will Harley do? He is going to be their teacher on the trails, and be with us every step of the way.
So, we continue driving east losing time with the time zone changes through misty clouds and winds on I-70. We drove through mainly hay fields on the Colorado plains, and now we are driving past corn field after corn field with a huge house here and there and church steeples trying to stand higher than the trees around it.
Soon enough we’ll be in Thoroughbred country meeting Dulce. Keeping my fingers crossed for a great meeting. So many butterflies!
Reenchanted Thoroughbreds 