Program Spotlight: Adena Springs Retirement Program
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Dual-race winner and Adena Springs Retirement Program graduate Grail Seeker (Photos courtesy of Adena Springs)
Program Spotlight: Adena Springs Retirement Program
Ask anyone in the racing industry and they will tell you that Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs is one of the most well-known operations in North America.
Mostly racing in Canada and the United States under the name of Stronach Stables, Stronach has his hand in nearly every part of the industry from breeding and racing Thoroughbreds to owning racetracks. But perhaps most important for those horses connected to Stronach who have retired from the racetrack is Stronach’s Adena Springs Retirement Program.
The Adena Springs Retirement Program was founded more than 10 years ago when the Stronach family recognized the need to find new homes for some of the horses that they had raced.
Since that time, the Retirement Program has adopted out more than 400 horses.
While all aftercare programs try to match horses and riders together, Adena Springs Retirement Program is different in that it selects horses for each potential adopter after finding out their riding ability and the expectations they have for their new mount.
“All our adoptees are interviewed and all come with references,” said Stacie Clark of the Adena Springs Retirement Program. “All are matched up based on riding ability and expectations for their use of the Thoroughbred. Each adoption is on an individual basis. Sometimes a person may have had to wait six months or a year until we have found them the perfect fit.”
Adena Springs Retirement Program graduates have had much success in the show ring over the years, finding their way to shows all around North America. One of the biggest successes in recent history for the program was at this year’s Royal Winter Fair in Ontario, Canada, where three former Adena Springs horses placed second, fourth, and fifth in a Thoroughbred leadline class.
Other Adena Springs Retirement Program horses have gone on to be successful in a range of disciplines in both the English and Western riding worlds.
Clark has seen the popularity of off-the-track Thoroughbreds grow in the last few years, especially with the addition of Thoroughbred-only horse shows and classes. She credits these additions for showing how versatile the Thoroughbred is away from the track.
Clark recommends that anyone looking to get an off-the-track Thoroughbred go through a reputable farm or organization.
She also recommends that an adopter find a trainer to work with when getting to know their new horse.
“[Adopters should also] take lots of time with the transition as they develop their own relationship with their new horse,” Clark said.
While Adena Springs Retirement program doesn’t take donations or volunteers, they do work with multiple other organizations and ask that donations go to those programs. Those aftercare efforts include the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Gulfstream Park Aftercare, and the Santa Anita Park After-Care Program.
“The Thoroughbred is the most versatile of horses and with the proper time and care and training they can do just about anything,” Clark said. “The diversity and loyalty of the Thoroughbred is second to none.”
More information about the Adena Springs Retirement Program can be found on their Facebook page or at www.Adenaretirement.com. Clark also welcomes emails about the program and can be reached at sclark@adenastallions.com.
If you know of a Thoroughbred Aftercare program that you think should be covered in America’s Best Racing’s Aftercare Program Spotlight, email Melissa Bauer-Herzog (mbauer-herzog@jockeyclub.com) with the program’s name and website.