This Thanksgiving, I keep thinking about Jack.
When we first heard about him, no one in Kentucky wanted to adopt this compact little bay gelding. His old racing injuries — enlarged ankles from 55 starts — made him seem like too much work. He was plain brown, without any flashy blaze or stockings. Too small, too ordinary, too late in his career.
But before Jack even arrived in Texas, something remarkable happened.
An entire second-grade class heard his story and decided to help. These seven-year-olds made handcrafted items to sell, raising $520 for Jack's care. Their project caught the community's attention, and people began matching donations. Their total is now over $2,200 and still counting.
At the same time, a local high school Equine Science program asked if Jack could become a live teaching case. They wanted to learn about conformation, retraining, and veterinary care from this small, banged-up horse who embodied so many lessons.
The horse nobody wanted became the horse everyone wanted to meet.
It turns out, being "too small" and a little rough around the edges makes Jack perfect for teaching. Kids see themselves in him. He's not the flashiest horse in the pasture, but he tries hard and shows up with heart every single day. His story reminds students that you don't have to be perfect to matter — you just have to be willing, brave, and kind.
What We're Grateful For This Year
Jack's story is just one piece of what's made 2025 extraordinary at LOPE. Here are a few more:
Over 1,200 students and teachers reached — four times more than last year. From kindergartners learning to lead a warhorse to high schoolers calculating stride length, these connections keep reminding us why this work matters.
Youth events at Sam Houston and Retama Park racetracks — bringing aftercare education directly to racing communities and the families who love the sport.
Featured in BloodHorse Magazine — for surpassing 1,000 students and showing how senior ex-racers can teach STEM, veterinary care, and horsemanship.
Research collaboration with Baylor University — studying LOPE's teaching model so we can share what we're learning with a wider audience.
A pasture expansion coming in 2026 — thanks to a generous neighbor donating use of their land to LOPE.
None of this would be possible without the people who believe in this work — donors, volunteers, partner organizations, teachers, veterinary students, and the community members who show up for horses like Jack.
The Gift They Give Us
This time of year, it's easy to focus on what we give. But the truth is, these warhorses give us just as much — maybe more.
They teach patience to students who are rushing through everything. They offer steadiness to kids who feel overlooked. They show up, day after day, with generous hearts and a willingness to try — even when their bodies carry the story of hard miles and long careers.
Jack reminds us that being small doesn't mean you can't make a big impact. That imperfections don't disqualify you from mattering. That showing up with heart is enough.
And this Thanksgiving, that's exactly what we're grateful for: the horses who keep teaching us, the students who keep learning, and the community that makes it all possible.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at LOPE — humans and horses alike. 🦃🐴
