But a friend, the late Dick Hancock, longtime executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, talked Evans into taking the job, telling him that the program needed help and someone with his myriad skills would be a perfect fit.

“Dick told me he had a job for me at a prison,” Evans said. “He wanted me to come and straighten things out.”

That was in 2005 and 18 years later, Evans retired last week.

“Why did I retire? Because I am 75. That's a good enough reason.”

He left a job that far exceeded his expectations. As soon as he got there, he knew that he had the chance to change the lives for the better for the more than 275 inmates that came through the program while he was there.

“Was this the most gratifying job that I had in racing? It was. There's no question about it,” said Evans, who, in 2016, received the first Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit for his work with the TRF. “To see a lot of these girls go on to be successful, that's the best thing that I accomplished in my life.”

Yes, the TRF, the oldest and largest Thoroughbred rescue in the U.S., is about the horses. It has given a good home to thousands since its founding in 1983. The Lowell herd normally numbered about 50. But it's also about helping people who need help the most. The majority of the TRF's retirees can be found at prison facilities spread across the country, where inmates care for the horses. The interaction between the inmates and the horses has proven to be nothing short of miraculous. The recidivism rate is much lower than it is at non-TRF prisons and most of the inmates turn a corner, leading productive lives after they've been released.

“Hardly any of our inmates come back,” Evans said. “Normally, once they start coming to prison they keep coming back to prison. There were a lot of things I didn't expect when I got there so far as having a positive influence on other people. That was the best thing about this job.”

The Lowell program was the TRF's first at a women's prison and Evans believes that female inmates blossom in the program even more so than the men.

“A lot of them are mothers and this gave them something to nurture,” Evans said. “The horses really benefitted from that and the women really benefitted because they were locked up here without their children. I would say 65% of them had children. That was a big factor right there so far as them moving forward. Because of the horses, they had something to do and an importance in their lives that they hadn't had since got incarcerated. That was a big part of it.

“When I was in the horse business, I worked for a lot of wealthy people and you're just trying to produce for them. It makes a big difference when there isn't the pressure of having to win a race. This is more a matter of motivating people to better their lives. That was the really good part of about it.”

When it became known that Evans was going to retire, tributes came pouring in from some of the inmates who were under his supervision. They all spoke of how much better their lives had become because they had worked with Evans and the horses.

Here is a sampling:

“I don't even know where to begin, but I am going to go ahead and begin with this…Thank You! You and the horses played a HUGE part in me becoming who I am today. I am forever grateful for the time and work you put in teaching me and sharing all of your endless knowledge with me. When I came to prison, I was lost and broken. And having you and the farm and the horses not only healed me, but helped me find my way. The years you have spent at TRF Second Chance farm have made a huge impact on so many broken people's lives…I applaud you, you have done so much good for so many people, it's truly inspiring. So again, thank you…You helped me turn my life around and for that I am eternally grateful.” –Carmen Padilla

“Mr Evans, I never expected to learn so much in such a short amount of time! You are the best teacher and mentor I've ever had. You have taught me life lessons and lessons about how to care for those beautiful horses. You have a beautiful spirit and I wish you the best and hope to see you soon! –Angie Rubiolo

“Thank you to Mr. Evans for believing in me even before I believed in myself. I am so lucky to have known such an amazing man, teacher and mentor. I had zero confidence coming into this program, scared I wasn't good enough. You helped me build that confidence to the point I no longer needed validation for everything I did anymore. Your trust was the most important thing. For example, if I was unsure of a horse's treatment or diagnosis, or the right way to handle it, you would turn to me and say, 'Well, you tell me what do you think should be done.' By giving me this time to talk about the problem, I would have actually solved it. I am so grateful for his teachings not only with the horses but the teaching within ourselves. Definitely the two most important things he gave me back were my confidence and trust. Thank you for giving me my best two years of growing. I wish you the best retirement, relax and enjoy. You definitely have given the tools to so many women to learn and be successful in life. I will never forget you! –Corinda Colins

“A real cowboy knows about pain, love and shame but never cares about being famous…you are an amazing person and famous to anyone who knows you. Thanks for your time and teaching.” –Rebecca Farless

As Evans started to get older, the inmates returned the favor and started to take care of their supervisor.

“These girls, especially after I got older, they wouldn't let me do anything,” he said. “All they wanted to know was what I knew and could teach them.”

He's been off the job about a week, and admits that he misses it.

“I got up this morning wanting to go to work,” he said. “But I didn't have a job. My dogs were the same. They wanted to go to work too.”

His wife Marsha, a retired professor at the University of Central Florida, is certain that Evans will come to miss the job even more.

“What I know that he doesn't know is how much he will miss the interaction with the women and miss how that was his primary focus. We've been getting cards and notes from graduates of the program and they will knock your socks off.”

Another inmate, who gave her name only as J.J., agrees.

“You are one special angel that God placed in my path,” she wrote in her tribute to Evans.

“My husband,” Marsha Evans said, “has made a huge difference in a lot of lives. It's something to be proud of.”

The post Having Made A ‘Huge Difference,’ TRF’s John Evans Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“An IMU consists of small, wearable sensors that record information about a horse's movement, particularly the type, speed, and step count,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist. For many injuries, successful rehabilitation depends on a certain amount of movement. “Bearing weight during rehabilitation promotes circulation by delivering nutrients and oxygen to the injured tissues,” Whitehouse said.

Decreased mobility of an injured horse during stall confinement could be an early indication of poorly managed pain or a potentially life-threatening complication. If identified early, specific interventions can be implemented, such as improved pain management and alterations in the rehabilitation protocol.

To assess the validity of a commercial IMU, a Canadian veterinary team recruited six horses.^* Sensors were placed at three different locations on the same horse (withers, right forelimb, and right hindlimb), and the horse's movements measured on the IMU were compared to direct observation.

“The data showed that the limb sensors accurately counted steps in stalled horses,” Whitehouse said. “The IMU proved itself a valuable tool in the early detection of movement reduction that could signal pain or complications and ultimately improve patient outcome.”

Another way to support horses during layup is by offering a nutritional supplement designed to support the skeletal system.

^*Steinke, S.L., J.B. Montgomery, and J.M. Barden. 2021. Accelerometry-based step count validation for horse movement analysis during stall confinement. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8:681213.

Article reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Visit equinews.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to The Weekly Feed to receive these articles directly (equinews.com/newsletters).   

The post Stave Off Rehab Setbacks With An Equine Motion Sensor appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Since 2004, the Secretariat Center has been considered the gold standard in retraining and rehabilitating former racehorses to prepare them for post-track careers. Through boarding and reschooling, the Center's goal is to create harmonious matches with adopters and educate the community about the American Thoroughbred breed. To date, they have successfully rehoused more than 800 Thoroughbreds.

“We are so excited about our new partnership with AWF,” said Shelley Mann, Executive Director of the Secretariat Center. “As our exclusive sponsor, they are helping us keep our stalls clean and comfortable, contributing to the health and wellbeing of our Thoroughbreds as we place them into loving families.”

The ongoing donation of animal bedding will help maintain the care and comfort of the horses housed at the facility. Most of the Thoroughbreds require stall rest for a successful transition, and AWF's large flake shavings will create a better environment during their stay. The premium softwood shavings are all-natural and eco-friendly.

“AWF is incredibly proud to support the Secretariat Center,” said Michael Keefe, VP of Sales and Marketing. “We are honored to partner with a visionary nonprofit  who shares our enthusiasm for the equine industry.”

Despite temporarily closing their doors due to the pandemic, the Center was able to rehome 33 Thoroughbreds last year. The facility is now open and members of the community are welcome to attend virtual and in-person tours, watch training sessions and donate to their programs. Visit www.secretariatcenter.org for more information.

Read more here.

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This is not the jockey's first trip to rehab in an attempt overcome substance issues. His most recent stint came in 2016. Desormeaux says that this three-month period has been his strongest effort yet.

“This one was not a resort. It was not a vacation. It was not intended to buy some time,” he said to TDN's Dan Ross. “I learned a lot about myself and came back to reality. There's a lot of people who certainly care about me, love me and they were deeply concerned.”

Desormeaux's return to Santa Anita to ride for his brother, Keith Desormeaux, comes with some strict requirements concerning his sobriety. One of those requirements is having to undergo routine testing for narcotics and alcohol. He told Ross that this testing schedule allows no room for slipping up without getting caught.

Desormeaux will make his first start back in race three at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, 2020.

Read more at throughbreddailynews.com.

The post ‘I Learned A Lot About Myself’: Desormeaux Makes A Return To Racing After Rehab appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Smith works diligently to make placing horses in the program as easy as possible. Owners retiring horses to the program need not complete the transfer paperwork themselves; the program also takes horses in on very short notice and there is no mandatory monetary donation for horses entering the program, though most owners and trainers will offer one, Smith says.

The goal is to make it easy for those in the industry to do the right thing—and to help as many horses as possible. Smith is very focused on relationship building, knowing that if she takes on a horse that requires extensive rehabilitation, down the road, that same owner may also offer her a sound horse that is retiring that needs no rehab.

Horses accepted into Second Stride need not be recently retired, either; the program accepts broodmares as well as stallions, which are gelded upon entering the program. Assisted by many volunteers, horses are typically adopted quickly; the program has rehomed over 1,000 horses since its inception, placing them in homes all over the country and in a variety of disciplines.

With the increase in Thoroughbred-specific shows and events like the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, many horses retiring sound are being sold privately. Smith said she wishes more owners and trainers would consider donating their sound horses to nonprofit aftercare organizations. Sound horses can be adopted out for a higher fee than those horses with limited second career options, helping fund the horses that need longer-term care or more rehabilitation before they are rideable and able to be adopted out, she notes,

For more information about Second Stride, Inc., click here.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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