Program Spotlight: Changing Leads

Stakes winner Zetterholm enjoying his second career. (Photos courtesy of Changing Leads)
When a love of Thoroughbreds brought a group of women together at the racetrack, it was the start of an idea that has helped racehorses find second careers.
Changing Leads was started in 2014 when three Team Valor International horses with connections to Changing Leads President Ali Goodrich retired. She was part of the Team Valor ownership group for Asunder, who was the first racehorse she ever owned, while Meistersinger and Standing O were Team Valor horses she had been watching.
With the help of the Team Valor team, including Megan Jones who is also part of Changing Leads, the program was started.
“My original plan was to have [horse trainer] Kirstin Murphy retrain Asunder and Meistersinger as jumpers for the Murphys’ Longview Farms,” Goodrich said. “Then, after consulting with Brad Weisbord [with Team Valor at the time], and with the support of Barry Irwin, as well as a number of Team Valor partners, Megan and I set our sights on retiring and retaining Standing O. That’s when Megan, Kirstin and I realized we had a bigger mission, and everything fell into place. Shortly thereafter, Team Valor’s Lelaps severely bowed a tendon, and we knew that rehabilitation would be an important aspect."
MEISTERSINGER ON THE TRACK

Getting involved with Changing Leads was a no-brainer for Murphy, who competes in hunters and jumpers and stands a son of A.P. Indy. She’d been looking for a way to unite horse lovers with Thoroughbreds who were ready for second careers and Changing Leads was the perfect program for her goal.
“I felt there was a need for a program that would take these horses and start them on the path of becoming amateur-friendly riding horses so they would appeal to riders in a variety of disciplines—riders who might not have access to a racetrack, but would gladly give a thoroughbred a chance to shine,” Murphy said.
Today, Murphy is the Vice President and Secretary of Changing Leads in addition to retraining the program’s horses with her husband Dennis Murphy Jr.
Changing Leads has rehomed 12 of the 27 horses that have entered its program since starting about a year and a half ago with most of those being connected to Team Valor. Some of those horses are ones that racing fans would easily recognize, with Zetterholm, who finished fourth in the 2012 Preakness, 2009 Derby Trial winner Hull and 2013 Rushaway Stakes winner Crop Report all either in the program or recent graduates of the program.
CROP REPORT WINNING THE RUSHAWAY AND IN TRAINING FOR HIS NEW CAREER

Recently, to better provide for their retired horses and help Changing Leads Team Valor has created a retirement fund for any male horse who doesn’t go to stud at the end of his career. Team Valor’s Barry Irwin also allows Changing Leads to know all the information about horses entering the program so it can better rehabilitate and find the right home for them.
“It was important to Barry to feel confident that each horse would be placed with someone he knew and trusted. We love it, too, because we know the history of each horse,” Goodrich said. “[The new fund] will help defray early rehab and/or retraining costs as [the horse] gets started. Not only is this a significant financial help to us, but it’s a really positive example for others in the horse racing industry to see owners plan allocated funds for post-racing careers, regardless of the horse’s success on the track. As we all know, it is often the less noteworthy horses who need the most help as they depart the track for a second career.”
Changing Leads gives each horse all the time needed to get comfortable in a second career with the Murphys following a three-part program for any of the horses that come to the farm.
“First, they are turned out and given a week or two to simply be a horse in the company of other horses. Then, they are ridden by Dennis Murphy Jr. and Kirstin Murphy. They spend a few months doing ring work, often including basic jumping, and learning to hack in the company of others,” Kirstin Murphy said. “Finally, we let our talented junior riders take them out, thus showing that they are safe for other amateurs to try. Each horse is different, and we tailor training programs to the needs of the individual horses. Some are ready for a new home in weeks, others take months.”
CHANGING LEADS HORSES IN THE MURPHY PROGRAM

While the popularity of Thoroughbreds had dropped over the last several decades, the woman involved with Changing Leads has seen the breed’s popularity jump back up in the last few years. Listening to them talk about Thoroughbreds, it’s easy to see that they believe the spike in popularity is much-deserved.
“They are so genuine and perceptive. Thoroughbreds are more sensitive than other breeds, and if you channel that into a positive connection, the relationship you can have with one knows no bounds. They give 110 percent every day and love nothing more than to please,” said Megan Jones, who is the vice president and treasurer of Changing Leads in addition to her role with Team Valor.
A FEW OF THE CHANGING LEADS HORSES

To help more Thoroughbreds find second careers, Changing Leads has started the Sudden Shift Fund, which allows people to donate to a fund used solely to buy racehorses for the program.
The Sudden Shift Fund is named after Changing Leads horse Sudden Shift, who was retired by Changing Leads on the day he was entered to make his 81st start. After racing in the United States for the first 3 ½ years of his career, he spent 2 ½ years running in Puerto Rico where the women finally tracked him down and made a deal to purchase him.
“Within a week, he was being let down at Fenella O’Flynn’s Grattan Farm in Pennsylvania. Getting the early morning phone call from Fenella to let all of us know Shifty had made it safely was one of our most gratifying moments; no less than 20 people had rallied to make that happen,” Goodrich said.
In addition to being grateful to Team Valor for the support of all the people involved with that partnership, Changing Leads was also sure to thank Brad Weisbord for his support even after he left Team Valor.
“It would be remiss not to mention the involvement of Brad Weisbord, a stalwart supporter since the beginning,” said Goodrich. “He has been instrumental in helping to acquire a number of our horses. Brad has never said ‘no.’”
For those who want to learn more about Changing Leads, they can click here.