Fearless Mare Leaves Horse Racing World Awestruck With Fearless Journey From Start to Finish

Horseracing mare That’s Why I’m Me has just begun his career with a maiden race earning $300 after getting injured. The mare was inducted into the New York Horsemen’s Association’s Take 2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program for rehab. For this, in the fall of 2022, they transferred him to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

It took three months for That’s Why I’m Me to recover from the tendon injury. But the chestnut’s check-in to the vocation program was the turning point of his life. From this rehab and adoption program, the racehorse started a new career in the Western discipline work and successfully adapted to the change. This transformation has left the horse racing world astonished.

Horseracing mare’s new journey

When the mare That’s Why I’m Me arrived at Gansevoort, New York for rehab and a new vocation program, many weren’t optimistic about his future. After a successful recovery from injury, the mare gradually transitioned to pleasure riding under the guidance of a trainer, Amanda Vance.

According to Vance, the mare was attractive, brave, and had a good work ethic, but lacked the quality of being a pretty mover. This hampered her adoption because she didn’t fit their requirements. One day, Vance was on a video call with another trainer, Bridget Hollern. During the call, Hollern mentioned that she was in need of a small mare to train in Western discipline and to take part in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover.

Vance informed her that she had one and shared some pictures and videos with her. The latter liked the horseracing mare and got transferred to Ohio to learn about the ranch work. According to Hollern, That’s Why I’m Me had all the qualities expected in a chestnut. She further explained, “She hates to be groomed, but loves to be muddy. She loves to work but wants everything to be her idea. And when it’s time to work, she is ready to go!“. The mare was trained to work on scary trails and ground tying before being introduced to cattle work.

The former racing mare takes part in a unique show

That’s Why I’m Me, after her arrival in Ohio, trained in many western disciplines, of which cattle work was one. Bridget Hollern had a buffalo available at the ranch and got the mare trained with it. After a while, the mare participated in a ranch riding show and a hunter show. The mare seems to have enjoyed the cattle work.

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According to Hollern, “She loves a challenge and gives her all every time”. She further mentioned that the mare was busy and stressed at the hunter show. She ran with horses, witnessed balloons and barrels, and worked around the gunshots without any hesitation.

The change in the lifestyle for the horseracing mare is a surprising development and proves that mares can fearlessly adapt to drastic changes.

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