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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Eight Belles, Triumph Beyond The Wire Fundraiser for RMR

Merry Christmas to all.

Just in time for gift giving we are offering the outstanding book by 16 year old author Maria Michalak, Eight Belles, Triumph Beyond The Wire. For a $100 tax deductible donation to Remember Me Racehorse Rescue we will send you one of these special books. They are autographed by the author and by Eight Belles trainer, Larry Jones. We only have ten of these books so don't wait, email us now for your copy at remembermerescue@live.com

You may make your donation via paypal or by check. Please add $10 for shipping.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Bridleless Riding, transitioning racehorses to bridleless horses

Many people that know Dallas and I know that we enjoy riding our track ponies bridleless. Some people think we are just showing off and in a way they are right. We are showing the retrainability of exracehorses. If a horse recently retired from racing can ride without a bridle there is a definitely possibility that horse could be retrained for anything.


It all started with a paint gelding I purchased in 2006 from quarterhorse trainer Roe Gordon. Roe had loaned the horse to the Lone Star Park outrider to use during morning training at the track. The horse, appropriately named Spot, was a quick super flashy thing with catlike moves. You could see that he had some previous reining and or cutting training in his past. I really liked the looks of this horse and inquired about purchasing him.
When I asked Roe if I could arrange a test ride before buying the horse he said he would ask the outrider to bring him over after training. After training I received a phone call from Roe, laughing himself silly, saying the outrider said I wasn't a good enough hand to ride a horse like Spot. Me being the hard headed easily wound up type person I am I told Roe, 'Well, I was going to have him vetted, but not now, just come get your check', and Dallas and I went to pick up Spot.
When we arrived at Spot's stall. When we open the gate he wheeled around. As Dallas stepped in the stall to halter him he wheeled away again. After 2 or 3 more attempts Dallas looks at me and says, "HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THIS HORSE???"
After we caught him and made our way back to the barn our vet, Diamond W's Dr. Jacks, arrived. I told him about purchasing Spot and he said, "I sure wish you would have told me. You have to tranq him to shoe him, tranq him to clip him, in fact you have to tranq him to tranq him". I immediately got the 'look' again from Dallas.
Needless to say within a very short time Spot improved leaps and bounds. He loved life and his new stable pony job and never needed any tranquilizer, just a calm quiet hand.
We began training Spot to ride bridless at Louisiana Downs. He loved it. Dallas put together our first bridleless collar. Spot was the closest I think we will ever have to having a horse with telepathy. He new what you wanted before you could ask for it. Shortly after arriving in New Orleans for the Fair Grounds meet East Coast trainer Steve Klesaris fell in love with Spot. We sold him at the end of the meet for $15,000. (That time I gave the look)
Since then we have trained many horses to ride without bridles. Texas Horse of the Year Lights On Broadway, Outrider Pony Kansas, and Dallas current rides retired racehorse Eye Man Who. I am currently riding Majestic Commander, stake winner of over $250K, as my totally bridleless stable pony.


Dallas and I operate a non profit organization called Remember Me Racehorse Rescue. We have many horses donated to our program yearly that we rehab and retrain after their careers at the track are over. We rely totally on donations from horse lovers, breeders, and friends to keep our program going.
We recently started a new website, www.thewayiride.com offering information about bridleless riding and how you can purchase a bridleless collar for yourself. 100% of the proceeds from the collars will go to our rescue efforts. Yeah, it takes some training and some trust but it will be one of the best experiences you have with your horse.
Please consider making a tax deductible donation to Remember Me Racehorse Rescue to help us help retired racehorses in their transition from the track to the families that will love them. Donations can be made through the RMR website by clicking the paypal button or by check to the address on the site.
For more information about adopting or sponsoring a horse in the RMR program go to www.teamkeen.com or call Donna Keen 817-689-1214.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Oceans Finer get a new Chance, and a new name



Oceans Finer, newly named Chance, is a thoroughbred gelding recovering from a really rough few months. Chance, (who won his last race as a racehorse), along with 3 other horses were sold by their owner/breeder at a slaughter sale in Louisiana. These horses along with others were purchased by a killer buyer. After several days they made their way to the holding pens of Eagle Pass on the Texas Mexico border to await their entry into Mexico for slaughter processing. With the intervention of many hard working dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly raising money and making plans to rescue Chance he and the other thoroughbreds there were purchased and relocated to safety.

Chance seemed to be suffering from some aggression issues after all of the traumatic experiences he had endured. He frequently pinned his ears at the people trying to take care of him causing much concern. Lynn Parks, the woman in charge of finding Chance a new life, called me asking if we could help. Chance was moved to Remember Me Rescue for therapy and training.

Chance bit two people the first week he was here. When I arrived home later in the week we began working with him and to my surprise with no problems. One day I led Chance up to the fence to meet some folks and he pinned his ears at them when they tried to pet him. I began working him through some paces and brought him back to the fence. He was good that time. He was a very unpredictable horse to say the least.

After several days in a row of working with Chance with no issues I gave him a day off. The following day as I walked into the pasture to get him he started walking towards me, his big ears flopping and a kind look in his eye. Suddenly he charged me with no warning. Luckily I had a lead rope in my hand and swung it at him and he retreated.

Back to the drawing board. After I caught Chance I took him to the round pen and began a new more intense training regiment. Chance was desensitized to tarps, pool noodles and taught to walk up and down our mounted patrol training steps. He is also being ridden several times a week and on days he is not ridden he is worked in the round pen. We still do not let volunteers approach him without supervision but I feel like we have made big progress in teaching him he is not as tough and scary as he thought he was. Because of his previous aggression issues Chance will not be suitable as a family horse but needs a real job and a real leader to help him work through his issues.


(Training Obstacle Sponsored by Maggie Moss)




ADOPTION PENDING

Chance has a pending adoption with a young man who is an accomplished horsemen. He will have a challenging job and be ridden frequently by his new owner if the adoption is a success. I wanted to thank everyone who participated the rescue of this really neat horse. He has come so far and looks like it is going to be a success. A big special thank you to Michelle Fields who has donated her time to ride Chance and start him on his path to a new career. Thanks to Lynn and all who helped her by researching and raising the money needed to rescue Chance from Eagle Pass.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Attention Ladies of Horse Racing...

Calendar Model Opportunity






If you are woman involved in the horse racing industry we invite you to take part in a "Ladies of Horse Racing" Calendar. In the year of Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra it seems only fair we recognize the other hard working women in our sport. Proceeds from this calendar will be to donated to Remember Me Racehorse Rescue and will go towards rehabilitating and retraining the horses we all love so much.

You may submit your photo's to remembermerescue@live.com along with your name, address, and tons of information about YOU. We hope this fundraiser is a huge success for our program and with any luck we can do more than one calendar, hopefully several calendars for different regions of the country.

When you submit your photo you are expressing that you own the photo being submitted and are giving Remember Me Rescue and their agents permission to use the photo or photos for fundraising events. You are also giving Remember Me Rescue and their agents permission to use your name for advertising and promotional purposes upon submission of your photo.


Thanks to all the women of racing who send in photos and good luck!!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

ZENYATTA could break the record of CITATION and CIGAR

On June 13 ZENYATTA could very possibly make history. By winning The Vanity she will break the record of 16 wins in a row by great horses in racing history, CIGAR, CITATION and MISTER FRISKY.

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue is auctioning a Mike Smith autographed photo of ZENYATTA, matted and framed. 100% of the proceeds from the auction will be designated to a Mounted Patrol Training Course for the purpose of retraining retired racehorses for new careers in the police field.



You could own a piece of her history making career and help retrain retired racehorses at the same time. For current bid information or to place a bid please go to the Remember Me Racehorse Rescue site at www.teamkeen.com.

Remember Me Rescue is also looking for training obstacle sponsors. The cost to sponsor an obstacle is $1000 and your name, business logo, or silks will be placed on the obstacle to show your support in the retraining of retired thoroughbred racehorses.

Please mail your tax deductible donations to

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue
Obstacle Sponsor
4100 Conveyor Drive
Burleson, Texas 76028

Monday, May 24, 2010

Mike Smith autographed picture of Zenyatta Auction, proceeds benefit mounted patrol training of exracehorses at Remember Me Racehorse Rescue


Remember Me Racehorse Rescue is building a mounted patrol training course and to kick off the fundraising and awareness campaign we are auctioning a Zenyatta photo autographed by her jockey Mike Smith. The auction will be run through June 10th, 3 days before the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park. Proceeds from this auction will go towards purchasing materials needed to build a course specifically for training horses to overcome obstacles that they might encounter as a mounted patrol, police, or search and rescue horses. Many of the objects needed for training the horses to be qualified for police work are costly. Although we plan on building many of the training aids ourselves the expected cost to complete this project is around $25,000. All donations are truly appreciated and are tax deductible as Remember Me Racehorse Rescue is a 501(c)3 non profit organization.

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue has been endorsed by members of one of the most difficult and most challenging police departments in the United States, the New Orleans Police Mounted Patrol Division. After the training course is completed we plan on producing training and horsemanship videos to benefit police and mounted patrol divisions around the country.

As this project progresses our goal will be to provide these retrained retired racehorses to mounted patrols free of charge, but to do that we need annual sponsors. For more information you may contact Donna Keen at 817-689-1214.

Donations for the Mounted Patrol Training Course can be mailed to

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue
Training Course Project
4100 Conveyor Drive
Burleson, Texas 76028

You may email your bids for the Zenyatta photo to remembermerescue@live.com and check the Remember Me Racehorse Rescue website for updates on the bidding at www.teamkeen.com.

Friday, April 23, 2010

"Moneigh" to be Raffled at Lone Star Park



Remember Me Racehorse Rescue and Lone Star Park are raffling a "Moneigh" with 100% of the proceeds going towards the rehabilitation and retraining of retired racehorses. Raffle tickets may be purchased early for $1 each or you can buy them in person on Kentucky Derby Day at Lone Star Park.

For those of you not familiar with a "Moneigh" it is an original work of abstract art, created by a horse using a brush, muzzle, chin, whiskers, tail, and or hoof. The name is derived from the name of a famous artist and the sound a horse makes. The word "Moneigh" is a registered trademark of ReRun, Inc., a Thoroughbred horse charity.

The "Moneigh" we are offering was painted by FRANCONIA, a retired thoroughbred mare. The painting comes framed with a certificate of authenticity and pictures of FRANCONIA painting her masterpiece.

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue is operated by Dallas and Donna Keen in Burleson, Texas. RMR retrained and placed 36 retired racehorses in new homes last year. This year the need for donations and fundraising is greater than ever. The Keens have plans to begin retraining the retired racehorses to become mounted patrol horses and will place them free of charge to police and sheriff departments all over the United States. With your help and support of Remember Me Rescue we can not only provide these horses with the retraining they need to live productive lives after racing but become a helpful part of the safety provided by the brave men and women who need quality horses in our mounted patrol divisions.

Remember Me Rescue is building a barn, arena, and mounted patrol certified training course. Any donations towards the police project are tax deductible as RMR is a 501(c)3 non profit.

For more information contact Donna Keen at 817-689-1214 or go to www.teamkeen.com to see the horses currently available in the adoption program.

Please help us by forwarding this link with the information to everyone in your contacts.

Remember Me Racehorse Rescue

Monday, March 8, 2010

Pre Race Veterinary Exam, Changes Are Needed

Early on race days at most tracks across the country veterinarians inspect horses for soundness prior to racing. The attending state veterinarian will check the horses tattoo, feel or look thoroughly at the legs, and then watch the horse jog away and back towards him. Horses that do not pass the pre-race soundness exam are scratched from the days race card and placed on the vets list. Once on the vets list the horse must have a published workout before the state vet and often a barn exam follows to ensure the horses soundness before he can be entered in another race.

This has been a good practice and many horses have been saved from injury from trainers who neglect their best interest. Although I applaud the pre-race vet exam I feel like it does not go far enough to protect our horses. In my opinion a horse should also be evaluated on his or her overall health as well. An underweight or unhealthy horse should not be allowed to race. This is overlooked in many pre-race exams as long as the horse appears to be sound.

On February 27th, 2010 an owner contacted me about a 3 year old filly that he was interested in claiming. She had been performing poorly in Maiden Allowance races and was dropping in for a claiming price of $10,000 at Sam Houston Race Park. I glanced at the filly before the race and called the owner to pass on the claim. I informed him she was very, very thin and has large sores on her hocks that usually come from a lack of bedding in their stalls. Her overall shape was very poor. I requested that the owner allow me to make the trainer an offer of $500 the next morning after the race, a much more realistic price for the skinny filly. The owner asked me, "What if he will not sell her, what will happen to her?" He insisted that we make the claim to 'save' the filly.

After the claim was made and the filly returned to our barn I examined her thoroughly to find she was in worse shape than I had originally thought. Although her legs were clean and tight and she passed her pre-race soundness exam I could count every rib on her side and several vertebrae in her back. Her shoulders and hips protruded from her thin body. Her teeth were some of the worst I have ever seen on any horse, especially a three year old filly in race training. I would dare to say they have never been touched before. Of course she couldn't eat much of the grain we feed so the next day we ordered a couple of bags of Equine Senior and made a mash for her. She loved it and carefully ate every bite.

Until she is in better condition and the sores in her mouth have healed we will not send her to back to the track. Her new owner is thrilled with his claim and her condition is dramatically improving daily.

My concern with the pre-race vet exam is why are horses in this shape allowed to race without so much as a mention to the trainer of their condition. This particular filly ran back in 7 days in this horrid shape. Since the veterinarians perform these exams to protect our horses why can they not, 1. at the least mention the horses poor condition to the trainer, 2. Offer suggestions to help the horse gain weight, or 3. Give the trainer a warning and place the horse on the vets list for 30 days.

I leave you with this question, just how many bones should we be able to count on a horse before they are deemed unfit for racing?

(ATTENTION COMMENTORS, Please keep in mind this article is not only about protecting horses but changing the way our horses are viewed by the public at the races. Do you really think the public doesn't notice unusually thin horses? In no way is this article meant to attack any certain trainer or stable regaurdless of how it has been perceived by some. Unless attention is drawn and an example is made out of the issue of extraordinarily thin horses the improvement in care of these animals will not be addressed. The article was suggesting the state vet could potentially help trainers with thin horses by offering suggestions towards their care or madating a few extra days before a horse could race again to possibily put on weight. Each and everytime we go to the paddock we are putting on a 'show' for the public. Without the public none of us could enjoy this sport we love so much.)

Asmussen happy with Rachel Alexandra's work

Rachel Alexandra worked a half mile in 49 seconds flat early this morning at the Fair Grounds in preperation for her return to racing this Saturday March 13th. Steve Asmussen commented that he was very happy with the work.
Rachel Alexandra schooled in the paddock earlier this week. She was very quiet and was in terrific form. She did show off a little leaving the paddock breaking into a slow diva-like jog inbetween her groom and assistant trainer Scott Blasi as they walked back to the barn. We expect her to school in the paddock again on Friday.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

RACHEL ALEXANDRA prepares for her return

Horse Of The Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA worked 51 seconds for the half and 1:13.3 for 6 furlongs this morning under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry at The Fair Grounds Race Course. She worked in a set with an unknown stablemate ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez. RACHEL ALEXANDRA is preparing for her return to racing on March 13th in the New Orleans Ladies, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares with a $200,000 purse. It is being used as a prep race to prepare her for the unbeaten Zenyatta in the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park in April. RACHEL ALEXANDRA reportedly outworked the chestnut stallion she was paired with by 6 or 7 lengths down the lane and walked off the track without blowing at all.



Own a peice of racing history





RACHEL ALEXANDRA'S stable halter was donated by Steve Asmussen and Jess Jackson to raise funds for REMEMBER ME RACEHORSE RESCUE. The halter is displayed in a wood shadow box with autographs from Steve Asmussen and Calvin Borel. Silent auction bids currently being taken at http://www.teamkeen.com/ where the 2 highest bidders will move on the to the live auction on March 25th to be held at the dinner party the night before The Fair Grounds Oaks which Rachel won last year. For more information on the auction to raise funds for the new therapy barn at Remember Me Rescue please visit the site at http://www.teamkeen.com/.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

A Sweet Reunion, 27 Year Old Yeah Me Do gets a visit from his breeder


Yeah Me Do, winning in California for owners Roy and Sue Andolfo

On February 19, 1983 a grey colt by Macarther Park was born to California racehorse breeders Roy and Sue Andolfo. These long time horse racing owners had high hopes for the colt out of Romantically, a mare trained by Joe Shell who had earned over $21,000 for the Andolfo's back in the late 70's. The colt named Yeah Me Do grew into a beautiful grey gelding that raced in California for the Andolfo's earning over $72,000 . He was claimed from his owners as a 6 year old. A year or so later the Andolfo's ran into the man who claimed their horse and asked how he was doing. They were very disappointed when the man told him that Yeah Me Do had died.

May 2009
Last summer I received a phone call from a man who had an old thoroughbred named Sonny that he had purchased from a killer sale in Cleburne, Texas 8 years earlier. He informed me that even though the horse had been wonderful riding partner for his children he could no longer afford to meet the needs of this older thinning gelding. He had attempted to seek a home for Sonny but with no luck. He tried other horse rescues but was turned down due to the geldings age, which he thought to be in his late teens. He then went on to tell me if we couldn't help him he would regrettably have to take him back to the sale where he had originally purchased him.

I offered to take Sonny but when he arrived I was shocked to see he was not just thin, but severely malnutrition. So much in fact that his hooves had actually started to turn loose and most of his teeth were either missing or deformed from being kicked in the mouth a few years earlier. To eat hay he would have to chew, spit it out, pick it up and chew again, and then repeat the process once more before swallowing each bite. I frantically called Dr Gene White from Diamond W Equine and he came to our farm within a few hours fighting rush hour traffic to help our new rescue.

After pulling one tooth that was protruding out from Sonny's mouth and having another one fall out while he was being floated, Dr White wormed and and vaccinated the poor thin guy. We started him on feed slowly and worked our way up with a bran, senior mash and all of the timothy hay he could eat. Within a week you could see a difference in not only his appearance but his attitude as well. I knew he was going to make it.


Horseshoer Pat Burton came and worked on Sonny's feet, the worst he had ever seen. The hooves were cracked from one side to the other not up and down like regular uncared for hooves. They would move each step the gelding took causing severe pain and discomfort. Pat used a product that formed a hardened sole, which made a stable surface for Sonny to stand on and he immediately began to move with more confidence and courage.


During this first week I contacted the Jockey Club with the few numbers I could read from the geldings mouth. After several tries and lots of guessing we narrowed it down to one old gelding, Yeah Me Do. I immediately posted the news on the Alex Brown's Horse Forum and to my surprise was contact by Joe Shell, the trainer of Yeah Me Do's dam. He generously donated to Yeah Me Do's care and offered to try to contact his breeders, in which he succeeded. Now retired, but still living in California, the Andolfo's couldn't believe Yeah Me Do was still alive but through photographs his identity was confirmed.

Yeah Me Do continued to gain weight. His hooves grew with the help of a few good supplements and he turned into a beautiful horse once more. We even started riding him a little, bridle-less of course like we do our racetrack ponies.
A Special Surprise

Yeah Me Do's breeders also contributed to his care and rehabilitation. But the greatest gift they have given us was a visit. In December while traveling to see family for the holidays the Andolfo's were reunited with their missing boy that they had thought was dead for so many years. The recognized their Yammi immediately even with his thick winter coat. What a wonderful day it was for them to see their horse after all these years.
There is a special fund to donate to Yeah Me Do's continuing needs. Please click the Paypal button on the Remember Me Racehorse Rescue website at www.teamkeen.com and be sure to send an email dedicating your funds to Yeah Me Do.
We also have other horses at Remember Me that needs sponsors to support them while they rehabilitate and are retrained for new careers. Catsky with an injured tendon, Santo who was just too slow, and Classic Cozzene, a broodmare who lost her usefullness when she couldn't carry anymore foals just to name a few. Please help us continue to help retired racehorses find their forever homes by donating to Remember Me Racehorse Rescue today.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

CATSKY nearly euthanized, now coming to Remember Me Racehorse Rescue

A trainer contacted me a couple of weeks ago about a horse that had been injured on December 21st during a race at the Fair Grounds. He asked me if I had any openings at our rescue for a horse needing rehabilitation. When I asked what had happened to the horse he told me the horse had torn his suspensory ligament and would need many months of rehab if he had any chance of having a normal life. I told him to fill out our horse donation application and also asked if he wouldn't mind keeping him at the track until we could get the horse a ride to Texas.

I immediately contacted John Christensen who owns and operates a Cold Salt Water Spa at the Fair Grounds and asked if he would consider donating a few treatments to our new injured horse. John not only offered to treat him a few times, but graciously offer to treat him daily until he can be moved to Remember Me Rescue.

I arranged with the trainer to pick up the horse for his first spa treatment. When I first saw Catsky he was standing in the back of his stall, ears pinned, and shaking his head as if to scare me away. His leg with the suspensory injury was swollen twice the size of the other and the back of his ankle was dropping nearly to the ground as he stepped away from me. He didn't want to be bothered but his aggressive behavior was ignored as I opened his webbing and slipped the halter over his beautiful refined head. Just as I thought, he was all bluff.

I was very concerned as I led him towards the Salt Water Spa that I would be causing more harm than good by asking him to limp on the concrete from barn 35 to barn 11 where the Spa is located. He was nervously looking towards the racetrack but as soon as he would attemp to trot he would begin to limp terribly. We arrived at the Spa Catsky was a little shaken up from the excitement of being out of his stall for the first time since December 21st. He walked into the Spa and as the nearly freezing water started to fill under him he began to dig, splashing cold water on me and the Spa attendant. He spent 15 minuets in the Spa for his first treatment. Our walk back to his barn was much more comfortable for him.

To my surprise when I arrived to pick Catsky up for his second day of treatment he greated me a the front of the stall. I noticed his swelling had reduced a little, not much, but any improvement was much welcomed. This time he actually drug me to the Spa, not like the same sore horse from the day before, but happy and much more comfortable. He stood much better for his second spa treatment almost like he knew it had helped him the day before. He stayed in for nearly 20 minuets this treatment.

As we walked back to his barn I ran into Dr Hays, the vet that had taken care of Catsky after his injury. I told him that Catsky's trainer had donated him to us and that I was taking him to the Spa for daily treatments until he left for Texas. Dr. Hays commented on how well his leg was looking after only his second treatment and said, "I am so glad they didn't euthanized this horse". Catsky has a chance to be a very special horse for someone. Dr. Hays has always been quick to help with our rescue program and donated a wormer for Catsky and also told me that he was recently vaccinated.

Catsky is scheduled to arrive at Remember Me Racehorse Rescue by the weekend. He will be able to have visitors as soon as he gets settled in and gets used to his new surroundings.
We will need help while Catsky is here. His rehabilitation costs will be expensive and he will need long term stall care before he can be placed in a small outside paddock. We are accepting donations in Catsky's name through paypal or by sending a check to Remember Me Rescue, 4100 Conveyor Drive, Burleson, Texas 76028 and writing Catsky on the memo line. Please consider sponsoring Catsky with a tax deductible monthly donation to help with the cost of his rehabilitation and care. (For more information on donations visit our website at www.teamkeen.com.)

Catsky is a beautiful 6 year old bay gelding by Sky Classic and out of a granddaughter of Storm Cat. During his racing career he had 12 starts with 2 wins, a second and a third place finish earning $44,122 before being injured in his last race. Now he can just be a horse, thanks to his owner, trainer, his caring vet, a Salt Water Spa owner, and all the people that donate to our program. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this racetrack rescue!