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My name is Rino U, I want to tell you my story. When I was young I knew that I wanted to be
a race horse, I knew that I could be a winner, this is my story…
This is my Mom, Shescominundone. She is a beautiful horse and I think she is the most
beautiful horse in the whole world.
My Dad was a graded stakes winner, High Brite, who won $1,150,519 racing. My Mom was very
proud of him. She said that he was an amazing race horse. She said some day I would be like
him.
On March 28, 2009 I was born at the beautiful Dahlberg Farms Thoroughbreds farm. I looked
around and saw my Mom for the first time. She nickered at me as she said “I love you,
my sweet baby.”
I grew quickly and before I knew it I had to be weaned from my Mom. I remembered the
last talk we had together. She told me that she would always love me and I was going to
turn gray as I got older and would look like her. She told me to always be good and obey
the humans. She also told me to to run every race as if your life depended on it. She said
that many horses who didn’t race good disappeared and were never seen again.
After saying goodbye to my Mom, I started my own training to be a great race horse like
my Dad. I worked *** learn to start my races off hard and fast.
In the summer of 2010 I heard a stable hand talking to another guy. My ears perked up
when I heard my Dad’s name, High Brite. I listened carefully to him: “Yup, he was
a great horse. He made $1,150,519 in four seasons! High Brite was euthanized due to
old age and was buried adjacent to his paddock at Harris Farms. You can read all about it
in the Thoroughbred Time.” My heart fell, my Dad was gone. I decided to run my first
real race in honer of him.
One day I was sold and left Dahlberg Farms Thoroughbreds. I had been preparing for this
all of my life. I was going to be a real race horse now, well cared for, a true athlete
that would always be respected and honored.
My first race I was so nervous. I thought of my dad a lot as I walked into the starting
gate. ”This one is for you dad” I said. I didn’t win that race but I did my best.
I got 6th place out of 8 horses that race.
I finally won my first race a couple months later. It was so exciting to be the first
horse across the finish line and be the fastest horse on the whole field. I knew from here
on out I would always be a winner.
In January of 2012 I was so excited as a celebrity got on my back. My spirits were high and I
knew I would win the race with the star power on me.
Kayla Stra, who was in the Animal Planet shows Jockeys, was riding me!
Sure enough, I won the race. It was amazingly thrilling, and after winning the race Kayla
reached down and patted my neck as I was slowing down, giving me love and a reward for a job
well done. I felt so proud!
By this time I had won over $40,000 and knew that I was doing amazing for a 3 year old.
The Wall Street Racehorse figured my value at over $16,000 with a claiming price of $40,000.
I felt like I had nothing to fear, I was on my way to stardom.
On June 30th, 2012 my hopes were dashed. I was in a race and somehow couldn’t perform
like I wanted to. I ran my heart out, but out of 9 horses on the racetrack, I came in
last. I hung my head in shame and fear. Would I be sent to where horses never come back
from or would I be given another chance?
When I was put away in my stall I could feel that the trainer had a different attitude
towards me. I wasn’t sure why, I had tried my hardest, but there was a cold barrier between
us.
Suddenly the yummy special athlete feed was gone. All the special care and treatment I
was used to receiving was gone. My weight dropped quickly, in just 3 months I went from
being an amazing athlete to being a poor skinny stallion at a livestock auction. I was crammed
around with other horses and felt bewildered and scared. I had never gone through anything
like this before and I remembered my mothers words: “Run every race as if your life depended
on it, many horses who don’t race good disappear and are never seen again.” I had never been
treated or seen other horses treated this way. Some horses at the auction were sick
and coughing, others hung their head low out of shame and rejection. I knew this could
be the end for me.
But then I got my second chance! Horse Plus Humane Society saved me from going where horses
never come back from. The humans were so kind to me and I knew I was safe again. I started
getting good yummy food again and perhaps most importantly of all, love.
They took me for a trailer ride and soon I was at their vet office.
The kind people told me before they left me there that I needed to have a gelding operation
and some other medical treatment done so I could find a wonderful loving home that would
be my home forever. This new home wouldn’t care how fast I could run, they would love
me for who I am.
Thanks to Horse Plus Humane Society I have a bright future now. I could have easily slipped
away and never be seen or heard from again. My story would have never been told. I would
have been yet another race horse tossed away like trash into the slaughter pipeline.
Please help Horse Plus Humane Society pay for my medical bills and rescue horses just
like me. They can’t do it without you, and our lives depend on your support. I thank
you! – Rino U