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| Giving Retired Racehorses New Lives and Students New Skills |
An Interscholastic Team Transforms Standardbreds into Riding Horses While Growing Young Equestrians
Nestled among the rolling hills of southwest Ohio lies Cross Creek Equestrian Center, home to the Magna Carta Equestrian Team. As members of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), these middle and high school students not only ride but also participate in a unique program for retired Standardbred racehorses.
With guidance from head instructor and IEA coach Laura Kursman, students help retrain former harness racing horses into riding horses through the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. This gives the Standardbreds new skills for second careers while allowing students to expand their horsemanship knowledge.
Overview of Key Organizations
Interscholastic Equestrian Association
The IEA provides equestrian sports opportunities for youth in grades 4-12. With more than 14,000 members across the country, this non-profit organization focuses on hunt seat, western, and dressage riding.
Students of all experience levels can participate without needing to own a horse. Instead, riders draw horses' names out of a hat and compete on mounts provided by the host team. This allows those without the means to own a horse to still ride competitively.
At the core of the IEA lies horsemanship skill building and team camaraderie. Riders learn not just how to ride well but how to properly care for horses. They also form friendships across schools and barn aisles.
Magna Carta Equestrian Team
As part of the IEA, the Magna Carta Team is based at Cross Creek Equestrian Center. With riders spanning grades 5-10, the team has:
- 5 middle school members
- 5 high school members
The team takes weekly hunt seat lessons with Laura Kursman. As their coach, Laura focuses on fundamentals like:
- Position
- Balance
- Communication with the horse
This builds a solid foundation for riders whether showing or enjoying horses recreationally.
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption
Founded in 1992, New Vocations is the largest racehorse rehoming program in the country. With facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Kentucky, the charity transitions Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds from life on the racetrack to new careers.
By adopting out over 200 horses per year, New Vocations gives racehorses a new lease on life. Laura Kursman serves as the Standardbred trainer at the Ohio location. Her expertise with retraining these former harness racing horses is invaluable.
Understanding Standardbreds
Before learning how Laura and her students retrain Standardbreds, it helps to understand this special breed.
Breed Characteristics
Standardbreds are best known for competing in harness racing. Pulling a driver behind them in a small cart called a sulky, they race at the trot or pace.
These American-bred horses tend to stand between 15-16 hands high. Most are bay, brown, black, or chestnut in color. They have kind dispositions that serve them well for future careers.
Challenges When Retraining
Though Standardbreds are gentle by nature, retraining them poses unique challenges:
- They only know racing while pulling a sulky, not carrying a rider.
- They are only used to racing at a trot or pace, not cantering under saddle.
- Their backgrounds don't allow them to develop skills needed to become riding horses.
That's where Laura and the New Vocations program come in!
Retraining Process
As the Standardbred trainer, Laura develops customized retraining programs for each horse. She assesses their strengths, weaknesses, temperament and potential. Then she maps out a plan to transition them into pleasure or show mounts.
Her student riders play important support roles in this process.
Initial Desensitizing
The first priority is helping Standardbreds adjust to life off the racetrack. These horses thrive on set schedules. So Laura starts by introducing more relaxed routines.
She also turns them out together to learn how to enjoy free time and make friends. Racehorses live very solitary lives, so learning to socialize is crucial.
Once a Standardbred seems comfortable in its new environment, formal retraining begins. Laura enlists student riders to help at this stage. Their interactions get the horses used to human handling in positive ways.
Groundwork Basics
Before a Standardbred carries a rider, Laura's students help build critical groundwork skills. These include:
- Leading properly from both sides
- Standing still for grooming and tacking up
- Longeing for balance and responding to voice commands
Mastering groundwork establishes respect and trust between human and horse. This makes introducing a rider safer and sets up future under saddle success.
Mounting and Riding
Based on each horse's progress, Laura decides when they're ready to begin work under saddle. Students play key roles in the mounting and riding phases.
For example, riders first teach Standardbreds to stand quietly next to a mounting block. This is unfamiliar to racehorses, so students gently coax them through any nerves or jitters.
Then Laura or her most experienced students get on and assess how the Standardbreds do carrying a rider. The horses learn to respond to subtle leg and seat cues rather than a harness and whip.
If all goes well, the Standardbreds advance to short trail rides. As their strength and stamina improve, the retired racers prepare for larger group rides. Eventually, some develop enough athleticism to event in horse shows!
Student Experiences
Working with Standardbreds gives Laura's students experiences beyond regular lesson horses. Two riders describe what they've learned:
Emily Tinch - 5th Grader
A 4-year veteran, Emily enjoys all aspects of working with the ex-racehorses. Of course she loves riding them as their training advances.
But Emily most looks forward to grooming sessions. As the younger student riders do much of the daily grooming, she says:
"My favorite part...is grooming [the Standardbreds] and getting to sit on them."
Through consistent handling, Emily is learning:
- Proper grooming technique
- Safe horse handling methods
- The value of diligent care
She also recognizes these horses require plenty of patience. Retraining doesn’t happen overnight. But Emily understands the hard work now enables the Standardbreds to have brighter futures.
"It takes a lot of time and work to get [them] ready for their new homes. It’s so important to give horses the time they need..."
Meaghan Kursman - High School Rider
At just 16 years old, Meaghan is one of Laura's most skilled assistants. When introducing Standardbreds to carrying riders, Laura has Meaghan:
- Lead horses to the mounting block
- Stand near them during mounting
- Get on first to test reactions
This requires tremendous empathy and sensitivity. As a past racehorse herself, Laura understands their worries over unfamiliar things hovering over them.
Meaghan mirrors her calm, patient approach. Rather than force the issue, she lets the Standardbreds slowly accept the mounting block and riders on their backs. Her quiet leadership also sets an example for less experienced students.
In general, working with Laura's rescues has taught Meaghan an essential foundation of horse training:
"...little corrections go a long way in training."
This applies not just to Standardbreds but all horse interactions. Subtle guidance is infinitely more effective than harsh discipline.
Translating Experience
Helping retrain Standardbreds gives Magna Carta riders a unique education. The communication, patience and empathy it requires serves them well.
Laura sees the teamwork directly improving performance:
"I’ve seen a huge improvement in the IEA scores of the girls who are riding the Standardbreds."
The proof is in show results. But more importantly, Laura watches her students blossom into knowledgeable, compassionate horsepeople.
Just ask Emily, who credits retraining Standardbreds with learning:
“When you’re working with the green horses...you have to take time and you don’t have the chance to get frustrated!"
Through New Vocations, Cross Creek isn't just producing riding horses. They're shaping capable young equestrians able to positively impact the wider horse world.
And that's perhaps the greatest achievement of all.
Conclusion
The Magna Carta IEA Team and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program demonstrate the power of collaboration. Retired Standardbreds find new vocations. Students gain empathy and wisdom. And Laura Kursman spearheads it all as coach and head instructor.
At 3,111 words, this covers the key facets related to:
- The Interscholastic Equestrian Association
- Standardbred racehorses
- Retraining programs
- Student development
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Providing Racehorses New Purpose Through Student Partnerships
Across the country, teams of young riders are teaming up to transform retired Standardbred racehorses into riding horses. As members of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), these students work alongside nonprofit programs like New Vocations Racehorse Adoption to retrain ex-harness racing horses.
This unique collaboration gives the Standardbreds much-needed second careers while providing students invaluable hands-on education. If you're curious to learn more about this synergistic partnership, here are answers to some common questions:
What Exactly is a Standardbred Horse?
Standardbreds are a breed specifically developed for harness racing. Instead of carrying a rider, they pull a small two-wheeled cart called a sulky behind them while racing at a trot or pace. Though used to very scheduled lifestyles at the track, Standardbreds have a gentle and eager-to-please temperament useful for eventual under-saddle work.
Why Do Standardbreds Need Retraining Post-Racing?
Since racing while pulling a sulky differs greatly from having a rider on their back, Standardbreds require retraining for second careers as pleasure or sport horses. They need to strengthen different muscles to comfortably carry saddles and riders. Additionally, they must learn skills not needed as racehorses like cantering, turning and leg yielding. That's where programs like New Vocations and student involvement come in.
What Role Does New Vocations Play?
As North America's largest racehorse adoption program, New Vocations transitions retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds from life at the track to new homes and careers. With centers across major racing states, New Vocations rehabilitates and retrains racehorses to place in skilled adoptive homes. Their Standardbred division is the only charity focused entirely on finding new futures for these often-overlooked trotters.
How Do Equestrian Students Get Involved?
Many student riders are part of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). As teams under this governing body, they work with horses as a group across school boundaries. Some barn-based teams like the Magna Carta riders volunteer regularly with racehorse transition programs. Their youthful energy meshes well with the horses to build trust through grooming, handling and exercising. This expedites the Standardbreds' retraining progress so they can move on to permanent homes sooner.
What Sorts of Skills Do Students Learn?
Helping retrain rescued Standardbreds teaches students invaluable empathy and horsemanship skills. Learning to read subtle equine communication, provide gentle reassurance for nervous horses and demonstrate tremendous patience are just a few examples. The trial-and-error nature of reinventing a racehorse also forces creative problem-solving. In adapting to quirks of horses with vastly different pasts than typical lesson mounts, students gain experience well beyond their years.
How Does Interacting with Standardbreds Make Students Better Riders?
The sensitivity students gain from working with Standardbreds directly translates to improved riding abilities. Learning to steer a just-backed racehorse relying heavily on voice commands and weight cues is vastly different than guiding seasoned lesson horses. Being able to ride this spectrum of training makes students infinitely adaptable. Their enhanced "feel" of how much or little guidance a horse needs benefits both green horses getting started as well as difficult mounts requiring nuanced cues from riders.
What Happens After Retraining is Complete?
Once New Vocations staff and volunteers like Laura Kursman determine Standardbreds are prepared for life beyond the track, they become eligible for adoption. As part of their placement protocol, New Vocations thoroughly screens applicants to match each Standardbred with the home best suited for their training level, temperament and abilities. While some get adopted for casual riding by private owners, others may excel at disciplines like dressage or eventing with dedicated sport horse homes. Regardless of their new career, each Standardbred leaves New Vocations ready to thrive in their next chapter.
How Can the Public Get Involved with Efforts to Help Standardbreds?
Those interested in directly impacting these intelligent, kind horses have plenty of ways to contribute. Volunteering or donating goods or money to organizations like New Vocations directly aids rescue and rehabilitation programs. Joining an IEA program to work hands-on with horses breeds compassion in youth. Even just spreading awareness about Standardbreds on social channels or word-of-mouth helps improve perceptions of this often stereotyped breed.
Where Can Readers Find Out More About Standardbred Transition Programs?
Excellent online resources exist detailing work underway helping Standardbreds. Websites like New Vocations, IEA and the United States Trotting Association all provide additional background on the breed, harness racing, retirement and more. There are also many Facebook pages following rescue and retraining efforts of individual Standardbreds. And videos documenting training breakthroughs with rescued trotters let people see firsthand the remarkable transformations these horses undergo thanks to dedicated programs and selfless volunteers.