TB, GR/RO, G, FOALED MARCH 14, 1999

( ACAROID - SCENE TWO, BY LE COU COU )

Iowa-bred

8 Starts - LFE $411

Mistic was our first lesson horse in the program. He raced at Prairie Meadows as a 2 and 3 yr old. He then went on to have a jumping career and was the personal horse of our founder, Valerie Mellema. He is now semi-retired from lessons due to old age causing blindness in his right eye. However, he still enjoys a ride now and then and doing excursions for our visitors.

TB, DK B/, G, FOALED APRIL 30, 2008

( DISCOS MY NAME - HAWAIIAN CRANE, BY WAYNE'S CRANE )

Texas-bred

13 Starts - LFE $2,302

Hawaiian Disco is a foster horse from Remember Me Rescue in Burleson, Texas. Disco has kissing spine, which limits his riding abilities, but he has taken a liking to our new Horse Powered Reading program!

TB, B, H, FOALED FEBRUARY 11, 2017

(BLAME - SKY GARDEN (GB) BY ACCLAMATION (GB))

Kentucky-bred by Claiborne Farm

13 Starts - LFE $72,552

Reprobate is the son of the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame. He sold as a yearling for $230,000 at Keeneland. He raced and broke his maiden at Santa Anita and went on to run at Del Mar, Kentucky Downs, Fair Grounds, Ellis Park, Delta Downs, and Oaklawn Park. The last year is a mystery to us, but his future will be hunters and dressage!

TB, Bay, C, Foaled April 17, 2019

(CUSTOM FOR CARLOS - SHOWGIRL BRIDGE X RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE)

Louisiana-bred

Unraced

Harry came to us as a mystery horse with no tattoo and an unregistered microchip. After doing a DNA test with the Jockey Club, they were able to confirm that he is Jessfrank. We were pleasantly surprised at his pedigree as well. His sire is Custom by Carlos who was sired by More Than Ready. And his dam’s side is impressive as well as she is second-generation Tapit offspring.

TB, GR/RO, G, FOALED APRIL 29, 2015

(TAPIT - ALITTLEBITEARLY, BY THUNDER GULCH)

KY-bred

85 Starts - LFE $251,568

Arrival is our first warhorse with 85-lifetime starts. He was an $800,000 Keenland yearling purchase by John Oxley. He was campaigned on the Derby trail but finished 11th in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). He went on to have a solid claiming horse career, racing across the country from Churchill Downs and Keenland to Arlington and Oaklawn. His final race Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel rode him. Calvin’s brother, Cecil, lives here at Lake Fork.

TB, B, G, FOALED MARCH 12, 2016

(WILBURN - ABRA JOY, BY MISWAKI GOLD)

Louisiana-bred

Unraced

Follow My Path was the first colt bred by our founder, Valerie Mellema. He was originally destined to be a racehorse but due to economic changes in the horse industry, he was rehomed as a sport horse. He now lives in Virginia.

TB, DK B/, M, FOALED MAY 24, 2016

( SUNDAY SUNRISE - MYAKKAHATCHEE, BY BOB AND JOHN )

Texas-bred

1 Start - LFE $0

Zibeth was originally saved from the kill pen by Thoroughbred Athletes, who later donated her to our program. Unfortunately, she was too spicy as a lesson horse prospect. She was rehomed to a barrel racer in the Dallas area.

TB, B, M, FOALED MAY 9, 2006

(FESTIVE - CADS THRESHOLD, BY AT THE THRESHOLD)

Texas-bred

Unraced

Cinnamon was intended to be a lesson horse but was injured, causing a broken tail. She never recovered to the point that she could be safely be ridden. She was rehomed as a companion horse.

TB, B, G, FOALED MAY 24, 2010

( GOLD TRIBUTE - FERLITA, BY TIME BANDIT )

Louisiana-bred

6 Starts - LFE $465

King was purchased in 2021 as a lesson horse for the program. He has also competed in eventing. Eventing gave him a taste for speed and he was rehomed to someone who could foster his new-found competitive spirit.

TB, GR/RO, M, FOALED FEBRUARY 23, 2014

( TOTAL COMMAND - O' TILL DAWN, BY FLY TILL DAWN )

Texas-bred

7 Starts - $1,531

Kissey was evaluated and deemed not appropriate as a lesson horse for our kids and was rehomed to a more suitable situation.

TB, DK B, H, M, FOALED MARCH 20, 2012

(RUN PRODUCTION - HEATHER’S PROMISE X SILVER BUCK)

Louisiana-bred

Unraced

Promise was saved from a kill pen and has been rehabbing an abscessed hoof for a few weeks. Our goal is for her to do dressage and lessons.

Unfortunately, Promise was a bit too much horse for our program kids, but found a home with a more advanced rider.

TB, DK B/, G, FOALED FEBRUARY 9, 2017

( KATZ MY SONG - PURPLE MOON, BY KIRIDASHI )

Florida-bred

2 Starts - LFE $11,359

Katz was adopted from the Arkansas Thoroughbred Retirement Program in June 2021. He was a winner of two races at Woodbine Park in Ontario, Canada. He was retired at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas after suffering a sesamoid fracture. He has competed in in-hand dressage, winning Reserve Champion and Champion in his first two shows respectively.

Katz passed away unexpectedly due to a catastrophic colic. He will be greatly missed as his personality was the best and he had a sixth sense of knowing when his healing and calming presence was needed.

TB, CH, M, FOALED MARCH 25, 2006

( E DUBAI - WATERCOLOURTWO, BY SECRETO )

Kentucky-bred

10 Starts - LFE $67,944

Tilodi was our first true kill pen rescue. We didn’t actually rescue her but we provided her with a soft landing from a Kansas kill pen. She and her herdmates ended up there after their owner passed away and the family didn’t know any better than to not take them to an auction.

We, unfortunately, had to put her to sleep due to a variety of health issues that she likely acquired from the kill pen. She had excessive swelling in her mouth and numerous abscesses all over her body. She passed from this world knowing that she was loved and cared for.