OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A change in vocation and environment can make all the difference in the world.
That applies not only to humans but also to horses. The 8th annual Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Exposition at the Florida Horse Park, provides rider and horse combinations the opportunity to showcase their talents in new careers, emphasizing the transition to another way of life.
Summer Thurber and her students have been a presence at the expo for all eight years. Thurber met Laurine Fuller-Vargas when Fuller-Vargas was dispersing the stock from her grandfather’s farm and purchased several horses from the dispersal, forging a lasting friendship.
Thurber had been the president of the Tampa Thoroughbred Aftercare organization, the Tampa Bay Downs retirement program, for many years. This program, known as the Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, has since been dissolved.
“Once Laurine (Cedar Lock Farm, Morriston) had her Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accreditation completed. we transferred our remaining three sanctuary horses and all of our assets to Run for the Ribbons,” said Thurber. “Before that, I had been coming to all these shows (the expo) with my students and horses. It’s a great program.”
However, Thurber, whose Silver Race Farm is in Bradenton, Fla., wasn’t just there as her students’ trainer. She also competed in the expo’s Bell Division, part of the Ring the Bell program, which raises funds for the aftercare of retired racehorses. This initiative operates at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. Horses competing in this division must have raced at the last meet at one of these tracks.
One of her students’ horses, Trump This, is a son of 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice. Thurber adopted Trump This from Fuller-Vargas’ organization last year, and he now belongs to Hailey Erieau, an adult amateur rider.
Another horse, Native Hawk, who competed under the Silver Race Farm banner this weekend, retired from the barn of thoroughbred trainer Juan Arriagada and is now thriving in his post-racing life.
Native Hawk
- Chestnut gelding
- 12 years old
- 73 lifetime starts: 20 wins, 16 seconds, 11 thirds
- Earnings: $404,345
“That’s what we do—ride and train off-the-track thoroughbreds and teach people about them and how great they are and what they can do,” said Thurber, who is impressed with the breed’s versatility. “They can do everything, if not more, than every other breed.”