OTTB: Angel On the Wing

Retired thoroughbreds can have a second career in virtually anything from show jumping to dressage and three-day eventing, even polo. There is also a group of horses off the track that are part of a unique organization that takes it riders on horse trails in forests and camping trips in the woods.

Karen McCormack and her adopted thoroughbred Argyle (who raced under the name Angel On the Wing) are members of Renaissance Riders, in Durham Region in southern Ontario, a group of mature women who “encourage and support each other in the achievement of our equestrian goals.”

There are 28 members in the group between the ages of 40 to 70 and the group is recognized by the Ontario Equestrian Federation.

Scroll to continue with content

Argyle and his other thoroughbred buddies in the group are remarkably at home when they go for slow, quiet rides through deep wooded areas, through trails and competing in various fun equestrian games.

“None of [the members] are experts at anything but we all have a lot of fun,” said McCormack, who owns Mapleshade Farm in Janetville, ON, with husband Bernard McCormack. “We have about half a dozen former racehorses in the group and we host a variety of educational, training and fun activities in English, Western and Pleasure horsemanship.”

This lifestyle for Argyle is vastly different from what he was born into 15 years ago. Foaled at legendary Sam-Son Farm in Milton, ON, the blue-blooded son of champion Sky Classic from All An Angel, a daughter of Horse of the Year Ruling Angel, was expected to excel on the track. A sleek and leggy chestnut, Angel On the Wing competed against the best older grass horses near his age group, including stablemate Strut the Stage. He battled well, winning three of 10 races and finishing third to Strut the Stage in the Grade 2 Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes as a four-year-old. He earned $150,000 before he was retired.

The gelding was a birthday present that Karen gave herself in 2008, selecting the gelding from a list of available LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society adoptees.

“For many years, I did not have a horse of my own to ride,” Karen said. “Being a rider had been my identity for a long time. My dad gave me my first horse when I was 12, so he was thrilled to see me riding again after more than a decade out of the saddle.”

Karen admits that getting on a horse was not quite as easy as hopping back on a bicycle, but her new friend, Argyle, was a perfect teacher.

Karen, whose father died in 2012, gets emotional when she talks about Argyle coming in her life. “He has been very kind to me,” Karen said. “It was a little scary getting back into the saddle, but now it’s as if the whole world disappears every time I get on him.”

In late June, Argyle and Karen went on a four-day camping sleepover with other members of the Renaissance Riders, a trip similar to trail rides and cabin-stays in the mountains of Alberta or B.C.

“I think the thoroughbred is the ultimate equine athlete,” Karen said. “They can put their hearts and minds into any kind of second career. With Argyle, he tries and never stops and that’s what I love about him.”