From Heatwaves to Happy Homes: Our Summer at ATR

The peace that often comes after a summer storm.

I live for summer. I’m that girl happily working in 100-degree heat, soaking it up before cooling off in the local swimming hole every day. I’ll take 95 degrees over 35 degrees any day of the year. While I know I’m not alone, I often feel like the odd one out — but you’ll get no apologies from me!

Summer on any farm is bound to bring its challenges. Horses need feeding and fences need mending even when the heat index climbs over 120 and the air is so thick with humidity it clings to your clothes. But it’s also a great time for riding and retraining horses, for trail rides, and for enjoying the outdoors with the community of volunteers that has grown around After the Races. ATR has many loyal volunteers who have been coming out for years, but we’re always welcoming newcomers and making new friends as they discover life on the ATR farm.

When you have a great community of authentic people with a shared passion, coming together in a place where folks from all backgrounds feel safe, it often creates room for growth — even in unexpected ways. We’ve seen sincere fear of horses transform into lifelong passion, beginners grow into excellent handlers, and timid kids find their confidence. While ATR’s staff works hard to foster this environment, it’s the retired racehorses who are the real facilitators of these transformations.

So far in 2025, we’ve had 49 such equine teachers grace our barn aisle — including 10 who have recovered from racing-related injuries — and 32 who have moved on to new careers in new homes across 13 states. Summer is truly a great time for adoptions!

Just a few of our summer adoptions!

It’s also a season for growth in other ways. ATR has been settling into our new farm, tackling repairs and organizational needs, cleaning up old clutter and debris, and preparing to break ground on a new pole barn to store the hay and straw it takes to keep our horses happily fed and bedded year-round. There’s still so much to do, but each new project brings us closer to our long-term vision for the property.

Site prepping in action!

While I know many readers are counting down the days to sweater weather and pumpkin-spiced everything, this ATR Director is here for summer — enjoying and being grateful for each and every day spent on the farm with the horses and people who make up After the Races.