Letter To The Editor: A Blueprint for Industry Transformation and Resurrecting True Horsemanship

In a time when true horsemanship is increasingly considered a lost art, and our industry faces a barrage of criticism and skepticism, Frank Taylor's Stable Recovery initiative shines as a beacon of what can be accomplished. This program is not just a cutting-edge approach to addiction recovery; it is a call to arms for an industry that needs both positive PR and meaningful solutions to real-world challenges.

True Horsemanship: The Heart of Stable Recovery

What stands out about Stable Recovery is its focus on horsemanship as a cornerstone of recovery. Horsemanship is an invaluable skill that is slipping through the cracks in our industry. Frank Taylor's initiative serves as an antidote to this trend, emphasizing the healing power of horses and the importance of caring for them in a way that honors their role in our lives and our industry. 

The Power of the Horse in Healing

The industry has long understood the untapped potential for horses to heal the human spirit. Stable Recovery takes this one step further by incorporating addiction recovery into daily life on a Thoroughbred farm. Frank Taylor's insight into the “secret sauce” of combining horse care with a 12-step program exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between horsemanship and healing.

 

Stable Recovery | Stable Recovery

Two-Fold Impact: On People and Industry

Stable Recovery is not only a compassionate endeavor; it is a strategic workforce development for our industry. Participants become not just architects of their recovery, but valuable contributors to an industry that urgently needs passionate, skilled workers.

Our Responsibility to Scale

Programs like Stable Recovery should not be anomalies; they should be models for what our industry can achieve on a larger scale. Frank Taylor envisions a future where more Kentucky thoroughbred farms embrace similar initiatives. Here is where the rest of the industry can make a significant impact.

Actionable Steps:
  • Investment: Financial backing from within the industry can help expand the reach of programs like Stable Recovery.
  • Collaboration and Sponsorship: Involve other key industry players in partnerships to extend these programs' resources and scope.
  • Spread Awareness: Leverage media platforms to make these initiatives well known and well understood.
A Challenge to Fans and Stakeholders

To fans and stakeholders alike, your role is indispensable. Social media advocacy, financial support, and open dialogue about the importance of such programs can propel them into mainstream consciousness.

Conclusion

The Thoroughbred industry has a unique opportunity to not only change its social narrative, but also to lead in transformative programs that benefit both humans and horses. Frank Taylor's Stable Recovery is proof that we can simultaneously resurrect true horsemanship while healing lives.

Let us be part of this impactful change, one horse and one healed soul at a time. God Bless!

–Clark Shepherd is the principal of Shepherd Equine Advisers, Inc.

Editor's Note: To sign up for or sponsor an item in the John Hall Memorial Golf Scramble, click here. To make a donation to Stable Recovery, click here. To learn more, visit stablerecovery.net

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New Chaplain Hired At Churchill Downs

The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy has named Pavel Urruchi as Churchill Downs's new chaplain, the track said in a release Wednesday morning.

Originally from Lima, Peru, Urruchi has a B.A. in Religion, an M.A. in Divinity, and he is working on a Ph.D. in Applied Theology. Bilingual in Spanish and English, the new chaplain has served for the past five years at Turfway and Belterra Parks.

“I am excited that Pavel has accepted this position, and I can assure you he is eager to build on the momentum of human connections already underway at CDRT alongside Women's Ministry Director Melanie Case, Children's Ministry Director Erica Williamson, and Ministry Coordinator Drew Lindman,” said Rich Gimmel, Director of Ministry Staff. “We are truly blessed to have Chaplain Pavel on our team, and we're excited to see his energy and his love for our Lord and His people brought to our Churchill Downs ministry.”

Chaplain Urruchi will be responsible for developing relationships with everyone in the backside community from the workers in the barns and on the track as well as the various organizations located there serving the racing community.

“Primarily, I am here to show them God's love in tangible ways,” said Urruchi, who is married with two kids. “In the end, I want everyone to experience the love of God, be transformed by Him and find a family to belong.”

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Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database Adds Surface And Track Condition Analysis

The Jockey Club of America has added a link online to its Equine Injury Database (EID) page which provides an analysis of racing fatalities based on surface and track conditions for 2021 and 2022, the organization said in a release early Wednesday morning. Additional statistics will be added to the EID page as they become available.

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Maryland Horse Foundation Receives TCA Grant

The Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) was named as a 2023 Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) grant recipient, the institution said in a release Wednesday.

The grant will focus on the Foundation's educational outreach efforts, including the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program (MTCP), whose fellows have landed jobs in the Thoroughbred industry from the breeding shed to the racing office.

“I believe that it is important to for these young folks to see that there are various opportunities that will allow them to embrace their passion for horses, while using their talents to make a career in the equine industry,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Foundation. “That is the goal of this program.”

The MHF has also created a Work Experience Program, which allows qualified applicants to design a custom internship experience that will benefit their long-term career goals. Click here to learn more about MHF programs.

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