Past News and Updates
September 14, 2011Hot Club of Cowtown Holiday Benefit Concert
Join us December 17 for a very special fundraising benefit concert featuring Austin's own Hot Club of Cowtown. In typical Austin fashion, this super-fun event will feature a local band, local craft beer, local wine and local food trailers — all in support of Austin's favorite local racehorse charity, LOPE! Full details »
July 11, 2011LOPE Benefit Clinic with Jack Brainard
LOPE will be hosting a benefit clinic with master horseman, Jack Brainard on October 7-9, 2011 at Hy Court Farm (near Austin, TX). The clinic will focus on riding with softness and lightness in western tack. It will be helpful for all types of western riding horses (trail, reining, cutting, etc). Full details »
September 8, 2011Fire Update, Online Auction + Horse Show
As you may have heard, the fires in Bastrop came close to the LOPE Ranch on Monday, and we decided to evacuate all the horses. Thanks to a huge outpouring of trailer help and foster homes from the Texas horse community, all of the LOPE horses were relocated to safety within hours. Read more »
July 8, 2011MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® Joins LOPE Texas for Annual Benefit Horse Show
MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® is teaming up with LOPE on September 17 for a very special silent auction fundraiser. Milliner Sally Faith Steinmann has created a one-of-a-kind couture Derby hat for the silent auction with 100% of the proceeds to benefit LOPE. Full details »
June 10, 2011LOPE in Cowboys and Indians Magazine
The July issue of Cowboys and Indians magazine includes an article about LOPE. We are especially excited because the story includes several photos of the horses and the ranch taken by Lynn's husband, Tom. Full details »
June 29, 2011Donkey Bingo Fundraiser a Big Success
Huge thanks to Austin Equine Associates and their intrepid donkeys (Lucy and DJ). Their Donkey Bingo fundraiser was great fun and raised over $1800 for LOPE. We really appreciate all of the generous horse people who played livestock bingo to support LOPE – it meant so much to see such a large crowd turn out for the event.
June 8, 2011LOPE Fundraiser Screening of Buck Documentary
LOPE will host a sneak preview screening of Buck on Thursday, June 23rd, in downtown Austin at the Violet Crown Cinema. Tickets must be purchased through LOPE and seating is limited. This will be a fun way to support LOPE and enjoy a terrific film the night before it's official Austin release. Full details »
May 12, 2011LOPE in Oprah Magazine
The May issue of O Magazine includes an article about LOPE. The writer had read the book about the LOPE horses (Beyond the Homestretch), and enjoyed it so much that she asked the magazine if she could write a story about our work here with the horses. Full details »
April 4, 2011Schleese Becomes LOPE Sponsor!
LOPE is thrilled and honored to announce that Schleese Saddlery Service is now a LOPE sponsor! Schleese provides custom fitted saddles designed for the female rider and the biomechanics of the horse. Their saddles are of the highest quality for both performance and pleasure riding -- and provide the horse with the most comfort and support to ensure full movement in all gaits. Full details »
February 15, 2011LOPE Hosts SHOT Clinic on April 9
SHOT Awareness Clinics are great activities for all types of horses (from green prospects to seasoned show horses) and all levels of riders from different disciplines (from novice cowboys to pro dressage riders). LOPE will receive a portion of the clinic proceeds, so it’s also a fun way to support a great cause and help ex-racehorses. Full details »
January 28, 2011LOPE Charity Day At Sam Houston Race Park
LOPE is excited to announce that Sam Houston Race Park is hosting a charity race day on Monday, January 31, for LOPE! A percentage of the revenue for the day's racing activities will be donated to LOPE. Please come to the track to see some great horse racing and support LOPE! The LOPE horses appreciate Sam Houston Race Park's generous support -- thank you!
January 21, 2011Horse Show Event
We will be hosting a LOPE booth and book signing at Capitol Area Quarter Horse Association's horse show Jan 22 (this Sat) in Austin. The horse show will be at the Travis County Expo Center and will be a terrific event to watch or participate in. Please come by and say hi if you're in the area!
January 11, 2011NPR Interview
Lynn was recently interviewed on NPR's Faith Middleton Show (based in Connecticut) about Beyond the Homestretch. You can listen here »
December 13, 2010LOPE's Stallion Season Auction Opens
The LOPE 2010 Stallion Season auction opens December 13th and closes on December 21st at 6pm. We are excited to offer such outstanding stallions as Special Rate, Lil's Lad and Drums of Thunder. LOPE would also like to thank Phil Leckinger, Star Bright Thoroughbreds and Key Ranch for donating stallion seasons to LOPE since 2005! View auction »
November 30, 2010Unique LOPE Christmas Gifts!
LOPE is down to a limited supply of hardcover editions of Beyond the Homestretch. The hardcover especially makes a great Christmas gift, so order now on our new gifts page and we'll personalize it for you! Once the hardcovers are gone, the next edition of the book (in paperback) won't be available until sometime in 2011. We also have a few other special items that would be terrific Christmas gifts for horse lovers!
November 4, 2010Dallas Harvest Hunter/Jumper Show
LOPE is thrilled to announce that the Dallas Harvest Hunter/Jumper Show has chosen LOPE as a beneficiary for its 2010 show (November 3-7 at Texas Rose Horse Park). Huge thanks to SuperGuarantee.com and Southbound Show Management for sponsoring the event and LOPE! If you are in the DFW area this weekend, please stop by the show and see some of the best compete.
October 25, 2010LOPE on "Great Day San Antonio"
LOPE was recently featured on the San Antonio morning program, "Great Day San Antonio." The piece featured an interview with Lynn, Julie and her recently adopted horse, Lilly. Watch »
September 27, 2010LOPE Fall 2010 Texas Book Tour
We're excited to announce that the Fall 2010 Texas Book Tour for Beyond the Homestretch (the book about the LOPE horses) will kick into high gear next week! If you live in or near Houston, Dallas or San Antonio, please show your support for LOPE and attend one of the events. The next two events will be on Oct 3 at the Pine Hill Equestrian Center (Bellville, TX) and on Oct 6 at the Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston). See full event calendar »
September 9, 2010Houston Book Signing Event
Lynn will be at the annual Charlotte's Saddlery Tent Sale this Friday and Saturday, September 10-11, from 10AM - 2PM. Please come out for some great shopping opportunities and stop by and say hello. Download the sale flyer.
August 5, 2010New LOPE Sponsor: Skillful Paws
LOPE is excited to announce that Skillful Paws, an Austin-based equine and canine bodywork provider owned and operated by Christina Hardinger, is now a LOPE sponsor! Skillful Paws will be helping the LOPE horses with regular acupressure treatments. Read more »
July 8, 2010LOPE Texas Receives Grant from TCA
LOPE is honored to announce that we have receivied a grant from the Thoroughbred Charities of America ("TCA"). In the past 19 years TCA has granted more than $16 million to over 200 organizations in 38 states. TCA is the largest nonprofit organization in the thoroughbred industry. TCA works year round to raise funds and awareness to assist groups in five different Thoroughbred related areas, including rescue and retraining, equine research, therapeutic riding, jockey and backstretch programs, and education/scholarship outreach. The support of TCA over the years has been key in our efforts to rehab and rehome ex-racehorses into second careers, and we are proud to be a grant recipient.
June 8, 2010LOPE Benefit Show Raises Over $9,000!
LOPE's Annual Benefit Horse Show and Silent Auction was a HUGE success! Over $9000 was raised and lots of family fun was had by all. LOPE would like to especially thank our generous arena sponsors (Austin Immediate Care, Don and Leah Ford), our show management sponsors (Lazy F Ponies, Trinity Hill Farm), the Texas Horse Enthusiasts Board, our volunteer judges, our concession group (the Texas State Equestrian Team), our many class sponsors and the overwhelming number of silent auction donors.
June 5, 2010LOPE Makes Front Page of Statesman!
Austin's local newspaper, the Austin-American Statesman, ran a big story on LOPE that made the front page. And the online version features a slideshow of images and a wonderful video of the ranch. Read the full article »
June 4, 2010New LOPE Horsemanship DVD Now Available!
As part of our educational mission, LOPE has just released a new 3+ hour horsemanship DVD with Tom Curtin. Retraining Racehorses: Back to the Basics demonstrates key horsemanship principles to help racehorses adapt to new careers. Horsemanship DVD page »
May 7, 2010Lynn Contributes Guest Post to NYT Racing Blog
Lynn was invited to contribute a guest post about Beyond the Homestretch to the New York Times' racing blog, The Rail. This was great exposure for LOPE and the book. Please check it out and post a comment. Read post »
April 12, 2010LOPE Book a Finalist for Prestigious Award!
LOPE is very excited to announce that Beyond the Homestretch was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The award is presented annually for the best book published about an aspect of the Thoroughbred industry. The winner will be announced on April 23 in Lexington, KY. Learn more »
March 22, 2010Support the Spring Book Tour
Lynn Reardon, LOPE founder and author of Beyond the Homestretch, is heading on a spring book tour to promote the book and LOPE. The tour begins March 30 with stops in Kentucky, Arizona and New Mexico. If you're local to any of the events, please come on out to show your support for LOPE and ex-racehorses! Tour dates and details »
March 22, 2010Annual LOPE Benefit Horse Show Set for June 5
Texas Horse Enthusiasts Forum Board members are sponsoring a benefit horse show for LOPE for the fourth straight year – this time in San Marcos. It's a fun show for all levels of riders, and a great event for families. There are many types of classes for English and Western riders of all levels. Learn more »
January 13, 2010Bloodhorse Review of Beyond the Homestretch
Beyond the Homestretch, by LOPE executive director Lynn Reardon, was recently reviewed on the Bloodhorse.com. Read review »
December 10, 2009Dallas NPR "Think" Radio Interview
LOPE executive director Lynn Reardon was interviewed for a full hour in the studio by Krys Boyd for Dallas NPR's (KERA) Think radio program. Download the MP3 file or get it on iTunes »
November 21, 2009First Book Signing a Huge Success
The first book signing event for Beyond the Homestretch was a HUGE success. It was held at BookPeople in Austin on Thursday, November 19. By the end of evening, BookPeople's original inventory of 40 copies had sold out completely – plus an additional 25 copies provided by the author. Over 60 people attended the event – and it was covered by local media (Jim Swift of KXAN News in Austin). See photos »
November 1, 2009Beyond the Homestretch Now Available!
Beyond the Homestretch tells the stories of many memorable LOPE horses and what they taught author and LOPE executive director, Lynn Reardon. A portion of proceeds will directly support LOPE. Get your copy »
October 16, 2009New Trailer for LOPE Book
Watch the new book trailer for Beyond the Homestretch: What I've Learned from Saving Racehorses. Like a movie trailer, the book trailer provides a quick sense of the book's content and tone. The book will be in stores in early November, so if you enjoy the trailer please share the link with your friends to help LOPE spread the word. A portion of book proceeds will directly support LOPE. Watch now »
October 10, 2009Congratulations to Bonjurnose!
Congratulations to Bonjurnose, the injured gelding in Oklahoma for whom we sent the Urgent Placement Alert email. He found a terrific new home with Jan in North Texas. Best of luck to Jan and Bonjurnose!
July 9, 2009LOPE "Retraining Racehorses" DVD Project
LOPE will be filming a DVD this October on Retraining Racehorses featuring western horsemanship guru, Tom Curtin. Several ex-racehorses will be featured in the DVD. We plan to show how different types of ex-racers adapt to being restarted under saddle. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Learn more »
June 21, 2009New LOPE Book Coming Soon!
Beyond the Homestretch tells the stories of many memorable LOPE horses and what they taught author and LOPE executive director, Lynn Reardon. The book will be available in November at bookstores everywhere (and for pre-order now on Amazon). A portion of proceeds will directly support LOPE. Learn more »
May 13, 20092009 Benefit Horse Show a Big Success
The third-annual LOPE Benefit Horse Show was a big success, with over $8600 raised! We'd like to thank everyone who came out to support LOPE at the show, with an extra big appreciation to Chrissy and JD Fink of Lazy F Ponies, Kristi Boyd of Trinity Hill Farm, Judy Marchman, Equine Express (our arena sponsors) and Diamond F Arena for providing such a wonderful venue. View photos »
May 4, 2009Cowgirl Life Radio Interview
Listen to an interview with LOPE executive director, Lynn Reardon, on Cowgirl Life Radio. Listen now »
April 14, 20092009 Benefit Horse Show on May 9!
The 2009 Third-Annual LOPE Benefit Horse Show will be held Saturday, May 9 at Diamond F Arena in Seguin, Texas. It's a fun show for all levels of riders, and a great event for families. There are many types of classes for English and Western riders of all levels. Full details »
March 13, 2009Ray Hunt, 1929 - 2009
Ray was a holdover from another era, when horses were valued partners in the rugged work of large scale cattle ranching. His imposing height and sardonic humor belied his gray hair – Ray was an impressive physical presence on camera. In his clinic tapes, he barked at the riders, recited poetry, squinted off into the horizon and gentled every equine rogue, no matter how wild or crazy. Read more on the LOPE blog »
January 8, 2009Silent Auction for Wooden Phone Painting
LOPE will have a booth at the Texas Thoroughbred Association's annual conference this weekend in Dallas! As part of our exhibit, we will be holding a silent auction for one special item: a custom pastel painting of Wooden Phone, donated by the artist, Gail Finger. The painting is beautifully framed and shows Wooden Phone winning a $500,000 stakes race. With frame, the painting measures 30.5" by 41" – a very large and lovely piece of equine artwork!
Click here for a detailed view of painting and frame.
If you won't be attending the conference and would like to place a silent auction bid on the painting, please call Lynn at 512-565-1824. The auction will end Saturday, January 10, at 5pm.
January 4, 2009Holiday Online Auction a Big Success
The annual Holiday Online Auction was a big success, raising $4500 in support of LOPE! We'd like to thank all of the bidders and especially the item donors: Phil Leckinger, Jerry Hardin, Key Ranch and Judy Siracusa for the stallion seasons; Judy Marchman for the prints and posters; Joanna Zeller Quentin for the exclusive LOPE print; Debbie Lavalee for the dressage lessons; Angela Guy for the photography session; and Eponaire for the racing bridle. Our next auction will take place in the spring as part of the annual LOPE Benefit Horse Show.
December 17, 2008Holiday Online Auction Now Open
The annual LOPE Holiday Auction is now open online. Items include very select stallion seasons (including Special Rate and Tinners Way) from Key Ranch, custom art by Joanna Zeller Quentin (pictured here), quality tack and special racing memorabilia. This year we are experimenting with the LOPE blog as our auction platform, with bids made as comments.
December 17, 2008LOPE Launches Redesigned Website
We hope you like the new look of our site – it's the first redesign since LOPE was founded in 2003. In the last five years LOPE has grown so much, and we wanted the new site to reflect this. In addition to better recognizing our generous sponsors and Founders, we wanted the site to be easier to navigate and fun to explore. We have much more planned for the site in 2009.
December 1, 2008LOPE Founders Circle Nearly Complete
LOPE would like to welcome our 9th Founder – Sue Littlefield & Joseph DiQuinzio. When complete, the Founders Circle will consist of ten special donors, each contributing $8000 annually to provide the foundation for LOPE's ongoing programs.
