Old Friends at Ashton Grove Senior Living
As many of you know, last fall Old Friends formed a partnership with the Ashton Grove senior living community here in Georgetown. Behind Ashton Grove’s facilities and cottages is a spread of pastureland and a really nice barn, once part of Hill ‘n’ Dale, and perfect for retired Thoroughbreds. What could be more beautiful? A community where senior people and senior horses could enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company!
And so it’s proving. Old Friends at Ashton Grove is home to 16 happy retired Thoroughbred geldings and one very popular and pampered miniature horse. Here are some photos and an Old Friends Blog Visit video to update you on which Old Friends horses live at Ashton Grove and what a typical day there is like.
The equine residents of Old Friends at Ashton Grove currently occupy two paddocks and two larger pastures, and Winston the mini divides his time between a small paddock and the barn. These horses are:
The “Founding Five” (a.k.a. the red guys)
Secret Getaway
multiple graded stakes winner Daytona was a distinguished athlete
Ireland’s Eye (L) and Massone
Chilean champion, and Bobby Frankel trainee in the US, Porfido
(ok, he’s bay, but his strong bond with the chestnuts makes him an honorary red guy)
Padua’s Pride (L) and Riversrunrylee, fast friends, have their own paddock
Magic Weisner is the star of the other middle paddock. Bred, owned and trained by Pimlico-based Nancy Alberts, he finished second to War Emblem in the 2002 Preakness Stakes
Bo’s a Ten, named for Bo Derek, has been Magic Weisner’s companion for years. She’s a daughter of the late, much-missed Patton. She’s as nice as her dad was.
Millie’s Thunder, a daughter of Thunder Gulch, is as sweet as they come
In the biggest pasture are Brilliant Decision, tall, dark and handsome…
…Talk Logistics (foreground), and another distinguished athlete, Wake Forest (L)…
Palmer’s Approach. With the care of Nick and Kim Zito and vet Dr. Scott Palmer, he survived setbacks at birth to become a winning racehorse, and, under the care of Lorita Lindemann, a pony horse, and hunter jumper.
Litigate and Falcon Scott (R). Falcon Scott is half-brother to 2005 Derby winner, Giacomo
Miniature horse, Winston. Guess it’s not too surprising that he’s the only horse allowed in those Ashton Grove buildings you see in the background.
This video, Old Friends Blog Visit 35, Old Friends at Ashton Grove, was shot in one day, starting at 6:30 am and catching clips between horse care work during the day until 4:30 that evening. I hope it gives an idea of the beauty and peace of the setting, the horses’ contentment there, and how much fun Ashton Grove’s human and equine residents have together.
Beth
photos by Laura
Old Friends Blog 