ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Breath of Royalty AKA Rook

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Breath of Royalty (AKA Rook)! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse.

Adoptable Horse: Breath of Royalty AKA Rook, a 10-year-old, 15.3hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Second Chance Thoroughbreds, Spencer, N.Y.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Breath of Royalty AKA Rook

“Rook” is a sporty dude who is currently in training to get restarted and going. He is a project horse at this point, but coming along quickly under saddle.

In the time he has been in training, he has settled in, gained a ton of confidence and decided that trusting the process is worth it. He now walks, trot, and canters quietly, is happy to be caught in the field and settles right into his stall when he comes in. With shoes on and slowly building up his sport horse muscle, he stronger and ever more willing.

Rook is lovely, kind, and wants to be your best friend. However, he is a slow burn horse. He’s in your pocket once he trusts you. And he will let you ride and ride well, once he knows you won’t scare him. Basically, he needs to find a kind, talented rider who wants to go slow, build the relationship and show this kid the ropes of riding-based, off-track life on a timetable that makes sense for Rook. If you rush, it just won’t work. Rook’s carrots are very flexible to the very right home.

So, who does Rook need? Someone who wants to put in the time and isn’t hurried by show goals. Second Chance would prefer someone with a trainer and ample OTTB experience as well as someone with an arena. They think he’ll do great on trails eventually, but that’s a big ask right now. In an effort to set him up to succeed, Second Chance is hoping to find him a sport horse home with no deadlines and very flexible, accommodating training schedules. The program is certain that Rook will make all the “go slow” worthwhile.

At this point, Rook is available to a good rider with a trainer who understands Thoroughbreds. He could go in any direction; he’s certainly catty enough for eventing and jumpers, but he may also enjoy trails and a more easy going way of being. That said, despite looking like a kids pony, he is firmly not a beginner’s horse.

Contact Second Chance Thoroughbreds today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Rook!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.