Rexdale, ON – LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society is very pleased to announce that it has entered into what is hoped to be the first of many partnerships with a First Nation. Members of Saugeen First Nation have adopted two thoroughbreds, Refuse to Bend and Explosive Lad, and moved them to Ron and Janet Root’s Creek Side Farm in Southampton, Ontario, where they will be used in educational programs for the Saugeen children. These programs will be designed not only to teach basic horse husbandry skills, but also to improve the children’s confidence and self-esteem.
Ron and Janet are experienced horse people and they have worked tirelessly to ready their facility for “Bender†and “Dudeâ€. The horses and teaching will be overseen by professional educator and horsewoman Amanda Steinhoff, who has generously donated her time and ideas to this initiative. Raymond Auger, who works for the Bluewater District School Board and Saugeen First Nation, has also played a key part in getting this project off the ground.
Refuse to Bend, a 2001 bay gelding by Bianconi ex Magical Crown, won the Izvestia Stakes and $112,845 for Mike Doyle and Bill Duffy, while Explosive Lad, a dark bay gelding foaled in 2002 by Time to Explode out of East End Lady, was a two time winner in 14 starts before being donated to LongRun by owner Lisa McCallum Smith. Both these horses and the people who are providing them with a loving and meaningful retirement have proud heritages and LongRun is happy to have put them together.
The interest from community members in this project is evidenced by the fact that more than eighty people visited the farm in the first four days following the arrival of the horses. Once it is known that they are in the community, many more are expected.
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