SCOTLAND, S.D. (Dakota News Now) — While many of the finest horses globally get ready for the renowned Kentucky Derby this Saturday, a previous racehorse in Scotland, South Dakota, aims to draw some spotlight as well.
Assignee This horse is a 23-year-old thoroughbred known for its remarkable stature and, needless to say, swiftness.
Following several difficult years, he ultimately arrived in Scotland, South Dakota, at Gentle Spirit, which is the state’s biggest horse rescue and sanctuary.
The ex-Derby horse is searching for a fresh place to reside following his career in racing.
From the racetrack to the South Dakota grasslands,Delegate has had an action-packed journey through life.
“He believes he’s a superstar. Despite winning just one race throughout his whole career, it isn’t significant. On twenty-seven occasions, he put forth his best effort,” stated Tiffany Ring, who serves as the Executive Director of Gentle Spirit.
He may only have a few top-three finishes in his career races in Arizona and California, but born in Kentucky, he has bloodline connections that you might recognize.
He is a far-off relative descended from
Bold Ruler
and a far relative to
Secretariat
.
But how did a horse with his pedigree wind up here?
Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue and Sanctuary
It’s not particularly usual to come across a former racehorse.
One of his former owners in Utah died, and the other was unable to look after him because of health issues.
He was becoming quite slender and required a transformation.
“He’s gained a ton of weight back, but he’s still gaining. Now that he’s gained the weight, we see more of this playful, very active personality and he’s just a lot of fun to be around,” Ring said.
Now, Delegate It is back to his spunky self. A new home will give him a place to be loved.
“May is designated as National Adopt a Horse Month. Despite being 23 years old, he still has plenty of life ahead of him based on his performance,” Ring stated.
Looking after Delegate until he can find a new home has been challenging. Over time, non-profit organizations have experienced a reduction in contributions, which makes it harder for equine shelters such as Gentle Spirit to run their initiatives or acquire essential materials.
He receives nearly 18 pounds of senior horse feed, and a 50-pound sack of this specialized feed costs about $30. The expenses add up significantly as we also look after roughly 60 other horses under our care at any given moment, which makes things very challenging for us,” Ring stated. “We desperately require assistance to keep providing aid. Every bit of support helps immensely.” He added, “The current economic strain along with increasing hay prices because of persistent droughts has really impacted our budget.
Though there’s no end point in view, Gentle Spirit continues onward, driven by the belief that horses such as Delegate It merit a joyful existence.
“Obviously in rescue, we see a lot of heartbreaking things and Delegate’s story is heartbreaking. It’s really difficult to face that kind of thing day after day, so when we see a horse who is thriving and recovering, that just makes it so much easier and so much more rewarding,” Ring expressed.
If they discover a new place for one of their horses, they mentioned that there will be tears, yet it remains an occasion filled with both joy and sadness.
Should you wish to explore options for donating, volunteering, or gaining further insight into their activities, you can visit their website.
GentleSpiritHorses.org
.
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