Wood End Farms
Everybody loves a winner, but not everyone can win. This was especially true for a thoroughbred horse with the racing name of Sweet Blessing. Born from a bloodline of champion stock, the promising yearling was purchased for $680,000. He had all the physical characteristics necessary to compete among the best. A lot of time and money went into training him in the hope of creating a return on such a major investment. But at the end of his third year, his racing career was over. The beautiful horse was a “failure,” unable to live up to his promise. At this point many horses are sent to a dealer who sells horseflesh by the pound.
Fortunately for Blessing, there exists a place for retired thoroughbreds. Founded by Nicola and John Birch in 2004, nonprofit Wood End Farms on Roberts Road in Barrington has as its mission the rehabilitation of racehorses, transitioning them for use as riding horses and in sport horse disciplines. “The key to success for us is finding ways to unlock hidden value in these animals,” says Birch. When Blessing arrived at Wood End, he had serious disabilities. Running on bone chips in an ankle had made him truly lame. His hooves were in bad shape, his coat was dull, and he had pitiful little hair in his mane and tail.
His recovery was to take more than a year and was at times questionable. His gentle, easygoing nature tolerated a long period of stall rest. A healing joint medication plus time in the swimming pool improved his condition. Wood End has a therapeutic swimming pool where horses can exercise without stress to recovering legs. Blessing became a champion swimmer!
As his condition improved, weight-bearing exercise was added: first walking, then trotting and recently he received the okay to canter. Wood End is hoping to transition him into their lesson program. It appears there will be people who, after dismounting from this handsome and gentle thoroughbred, can say they’ve ridden a horse worth more than half a million dollars. This is truly a happy ending. For further information, contact www.woodendfarms.org.
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