Manes and Tails Organization Horse Rescue

Manes and Tails Organization

Lana Lobell's Hambletonian Champion 'Joie de Vie'

Our Racehorses

When we think of racehorses, typically Thoroughbred racing comes to mind. However there is Harness racing with Standardbred trotters and pacers, and Quarterhorse racing as well. All of these horses are tremendous athletes; the Standardbreds trot or pace at 45mph, and the American Quarterhorses are the fastest horse over a 1/4 of a mile and that is how they got their name, rather than the size of their hind quarters. As the world watched 'Big Brown' lose the 2008 Belmont, the truth about the drugs in American horseracing came to light.

Harness horse Speedy Somolli was another Lana Lobell horse. In this video he wins the Hambletonian. Standardbreds have served on Mounted Police horses in Hoboken, NJ and Newark, NJ. These gentle horses are also trained to carry a rider after they learn to 'break' the 45mph trot or pace and transition to the canter.

The late 'Dash for Cash' is the most sucessful Quarterhorse to date. He won almost everything there was to win. The Quarterhorses are capable of many things as the late 'Rugged Lark' proved. Lynn Palm was his trainer and rider and she often rode him with only a garland of flowers around his neck.

All of these breeds can transition to many other forms of sport; Dressage, Cross Country, Steeplechasing, Fox Hunting, and additionally they can serve as therapy animals, service animals on Mounted Police Units, or just a wonderful riding horse. There are tradgedies in any form of racing, however, there is a tremendous difference between American racing and UK racing. In the UK the horses race on turf and American horses race on dirt. The track surfaces in the US are a contributing factor in the breakdowns of all racing breeds; especially when combined with 'performance enhancing' drugs.

'Arkle' (1957-1970) was an Irish horse. Arkle is regarded as the greatest steeplechaser of all time. Between 1964 and 1966 he took almost every major honour in steeplechasing including three Cheltenham Gold Cups, two Hennessy Gold Cups, a King George VI Chase win, an Irish Grand National and three Leopardstown Chase victories. The story goes that Arkle was so famous that fanmail addressed to him said simply on the envelope: "Himself, Ireland."

'Red Rum' was born in 1965, Red Rum was bred by Martyn Molony at Rossenarra Stud in County Kilkenny, Ireland. 'Rummie' won his third Grand National by 25 lengths, and the only horse ever to win three Grand Nationals!

'Desert Orchid' (April 11, 1979 – November 13, 2006), affectionately known as Dessie, was an English racehorse. The gallant grey achieved iconic status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running attacking style, iron will and extreme versatility. He was rated the fourth best National Hunt horse of all time by Timeform. 'Desert Orchid' won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989.