Home

When I first arrived in Australia from the United States many years ago, I began working with some of the best racehorses in the land.  I got a job in Victoria, pre-training and working in the Thoroughbred racing industry and I was over the moon to realise my dreams of establishing a career in horse racing.  It never mattered that the hours were long and that a day off was basically unheard of...so up out of bed at 4:00 a.m. every morning never bothered me.  As I rode and brushed and slept in the staff quarters, every day just seemed to get better and better.  Just the smell of those beautiful horses was enough to keep me going long into the evening! Until one day... I awoke to realise that my dreams about these beautiful racehorses, was slowing beginning to crumble. 

My usual duties in the morning included early rides with some of the youngsters, but on one particular morning, one of my favourite horses was no longer in his box.  I searched the stables for him, hoping that he had just been moved to another area, but he was no where to be found.  After enquiring about him with one of the stable hands, I discovered that he had not proven fast enough for the track and had been carted off to the 'knackery' to be slaughtered for pet food. The comments made to me were very blasé, just as if it had happened every day.  And unfortunately, I later discovered that it did!

I was devastated. How could such a beautiful horse meet such a tragic ending for simply not being a winner? He had been such a loyal friend.  This was my wake up call.  A harsh reality that I had never before thought about.

But after many tears shed, I began to think about what I could do to help just one ex racehorse have a second chance at life.  I saved up all of the money that I could and set off find that horse.  My plan seemed to take forever, but I was finally able to purchase a young chestnut Thoroughbred gelding that had finished his short lived career on the track.  I named him 'Max.' 

Max wasn't the prettiest horse that I had ever seen, and he wasn't the best mannered either....but this boy did something to me that I will never forget... He had stolen my heart.

Max had never experienced real life outside of his stable; so many things were quite foreign to him.  General riding was a completely new experience (and one that I would not soon forget!)  I found it strange that he didn't know what a treat was, and had never tasted a sweet juicy apple or a crunchy carrot.  He didn't understand why I kept throwing my arms around his soft neck and I felt as if he often looked at me as if to say  "What in the heck are you doing?"

But Max adjusted slowly to his new life and soon became less frightened of things such as scary wheelie bins and passing cars.  And as time went by, he became one of the quietest, most gentle and loyal souls that I had ever known.  I looked back over those first few years and shrugged my shoulders at the fate of the many ex-racehorses that did not get the second chance that Max did;  just to experience 'life' after racing.  So Max's new career began, as did mine.  Our goal became so clear.  It seemed as though we both knew that we had a long road ahead of us but we understood what we needed to do.  We were a team.  Max was going to help me, help the other ex-racehorses.

Max and I went on to spend many years of riding together;  leading other ex-racehorses down busy roads and through unknown bush land.  We passed many more scary wheelie bins, and Max helped to teach those horses the basics skills that they needed to find new homes of their own.  Max never minded sharing the odd carrot or two and he was the perfect teacher when each new recruit arrived.  He saw hundreds of his horsey friends find families of their own, and always welcomed in the new faces with a loud whinny each time a float would pull up with another saved soul.  Max was my beloved school master.......   

So as I sit to write this tribute to my best friend and companion, and with many, many heartbreaking tears, I say 'goodbye.'  Today is the day that Max has passed.  I thought that we would have had many more years left together, but it was not to be.  Max has now been laid to rest in the back paddock under his favourite tree.  He will probably continue to watch over all of those new recruits, just like he had for so many years before.  I will never forget his shaggy mane, his deep scratchy whinny or the way that he used to nuzzle me on the cheek. Goodbye my dear friend, until we ride again.....Laura