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ADOPTION SUCCESS STORIES
Where Are They Now
At New Start Standardbreds, every adoption marks the beginning of a new chapter. Our "Where Are They Now" stories celebrate the incredible journeys our horses and their adopters have taken together. From first rides to lifelong friendships, these updates showcase the heartwarming transformations that happen when a Standardbred finds their perfect match. We invite you to explore these success stories and see the lasting impact of a new start.​
MC AULEYS SILVER -
Sampson’s Second Chance
Adopted in April 2023
Not every path to home is a straight line—and for Sampson, the road had a few extra turns.
When we first heard about Sampson, he was at another adoption farm. The people there were kind, the care was top-notch, and the love was abundant. But it was a busy place, and sometimes, the environment just isn’t the right fit—no matter how much everyone wishes it were. Sampson, shy and uncertain, struggled to settle. It took an entire month just to catch him in the paddock.
We first laid eyes on him standing quietly in a stall. There was something in his eyes—gentleness, yes, but also hesitation. He didn’t even know what a treat was. His trust in people was cautious, like a door cracked open but not yet wide enough to step through.
Then came a cold, rainy Saturday morning. Sampson was delivered to us, quietly stepping off the trailer and into a stall that opened into our pasture. The other horses came to meet him, curious and welcoming. We gave him space, warmth, and patience. By Sunday night, he made his way into the pasture as if he’d always belonged there. And by then? He’d figured out what treats were—and decided they were definitely a good thing.
Three weeks later, we were riding him.
He’s still a little shy at times, still a bit tricky to catch here and there, and he needs regular groundwork to stay connected. But he’s a joy. A quiet, willing soul who just needed the right pace, the right space, and a little more time to bloom.The biggest lesson Sampson has taught us? Sometimes, no matter how much we want something to work, it doesn’t—at least not where we expected it to. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work somewhere else, with a different rhythm and a bit more room to breathe.
We’re so grateful to New Start Standardbreds for their dedication to matching horses with the right homes. Because Sampson didn’t just find a new place—he found his place.
BASIC STATS
Birth: July 25, 2009
Race History: Unraced
Freezebrand: 7GP82
BASIC STATS
Birth: April 16, 2010
Race History: 227 Starts, 29 Wins, $430,174 in earnings
Freezebrand: 9H867
UF ROCKIN DRAGON -
Henry vs the Rain
Adopted in April 2023
Let me tell you a little something about Henry: he. does. not. do. rain.
Wind and rain? That’s just unacceptable.
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It wasn’t even cold, really. Just one of those damp, blustery, gloomy days that Henry considers a personal attack. So, naturally, I thought I’d do him a favor and walk him from his grass paddock to join his girlfriend in the adjacent one—so they could be miserable together, of course. Romantic, right?
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Apparently not.
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As soon as we stepped out, the theatrics began. Head bowed low like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, hooves stomping like he was walking through fire and not just mildly wet grass. He looked at me with pure disbelief. “How could you do this to me?!” his eyes said. And honestly? I kind of felt bad. But also not, because the drama was just too good.
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But the best part? Oh, it came at the gate.
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As soon as I unhooked the lead rope, Henry spun around and—no joke—walked backward all the way across the paddock to the shelter. Backwards. The entire way. Like some kind of reverse runway model avoiding every drop of rain that dared touch his noble face. I could hardly breathe from laughing. I’ve never seen such commitment to staying dry.
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I think he might’ve been mad at me for a while after that. But hey, love means occasionally dragging your dramatic gelding through a light drizzle to see his lady.
He’ll survive; Just don’t ask him to do it again.