Horse Sense Senior Horses
Kerri Beckett with two American Cream rescued horses at MerEquus Equine
of the slaughterhouse. I made contact with Old Friends’ President Michael Blowen and arranged for a tour of their main facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. Old Friends also has a farm in Greenfield Center, New York and another smaller facility, also in Georgetown, Kentucky. The main facility, Dream Chase Farm, is home to more than 150 horses. I was extremely fortunate to have Michael guide me through the property. Jumping into a golf cart, Michael started giving me the lowdown on what happens to race horses that can no longer perform the way that their owners expect them to.
Some of these“ used up” race horses are shipped overseas to foreign buyers to continue their racing careers; some are sent off to be slaughtered and others are simply“ put down”. As Michael spoke, I experienced a range of emotions; everything from sadness to blind rage, and then finally joy, knowing that at least some of these horses have found a home where they can just live their lives as horses are supposed to be.
Michael explained to me that, to some horse owners, just like some others in the commercially driven horse business, such as ranch and rodeo horses, the animals are just a means to an end. It is all about making money, and when a horse can’ t race, barrel race or work cattle anymore, then the horse is not making a profit.
Michael sees these horses for the intelligent and loving beings that they are. When I watched him interact with the horses, I could see that there was a mutual respect.
46 AcreageLife June 2026 AcreageLife. com