Keeneland will donate copies of Anna Morgan Ford’s book, Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse, to nonprofit organizations around the country that have the mission to find adoptive homes for retired Thoroughbreds. These organizations will in turn provide free copies of the manual to individuals who adopt a Thoroughbred from their group.
Beyond the Track is a comprehensive guide that covers a range of practical topics, supported by instructive photographs, unique to Thoroughbreds. Among the subjects Ford addresses are finding the right horse to adopt, dealing with soundness or health issues, feeding and care after the racetrack, proper equipment, and step-by-step techniques for retraining a former racehorse.
“Anna Ford has written a very substantive and informative guidebook; one that will be a great resource for those transitioning a Thoroughbred from the racetrack to a second career,” said Nick Nicholson, president and CEO of Keeneland. “The horse industry is fortunate to have so many talented people working to provide happy lives for these retirees. Keeneland is proud to support their efforts.”
As program director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in Ohio, Ford has overseen the training and adoption of more than 1,500 retired racehorses. A lifelong equestrian, she has been involved with both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, is a world champion saddle seat rider, and has trained and instructed internationally as a masters-certified instructor through the Certified Horsemen’s Association.
Ford wrote the book with Amber Heintzberger, who is a member of the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Beyond the Track will go to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. The book is available for purchase at Keeneland’s Gift Shop and on-line bookstore, various on-line booksellers nationwide, and the New Vocations website at www.horseadoption.com.