Zac volunteered with us several years ago. He came with his sister and his mother.  It wasn’t his thing at first but he jumped into it like he did everything else in life, with everything he had.

He was so small his first day here, he struggled to lift the heavy water buckets. But he put his all into it; making quite sure each bucket was properly scrubbed and filled. We joked about the day he would become “farm strong.”

And he did. It wasn’t long before he could hoist a bucket like a pro. He would complete the assigned chores and ask for more.

Eventually, he brought a friend to the farm. I watched as he showed his buddy the merits of barn work. I watched as he explained, in a soft voice, that horses are sensitive and have the ability to understand when a human heart needs to be touched with love. I did not know his friend’s circumstance but could easily see that Zac wanted his friend to feel the power of love. And I watched as he touched one of the ladies, with awe in his eyes, with so much compassion that my heart burst. Each horse he spoke to or touched responded with love.

I remembered being amazed at his tender soul.

Years passed and we didn’t see Zac very often. But, as life in a small community goes, we are all connected. My son in law, Jake, is and has been very close with Zac’s family most of his life. His sister, Jo, is Zac’s best friend.  We saw Zac’s parents often in and about our social lives. They are friends we may not see daily but it’s always good when we get together.

So, it wasn’t difficult to keep up with Zac. He loved his time in the Jr ROTC. He kept friends and family laughing. His beaming smile at Prom and his positive energy were plastered all over Facebook. He graduated from high school with pride and had plans for an adventurous life.

Then, in a moment of utter despair,  a single moment, he took his own life.

We wish we had one more moment. We wish so much we had known Zac needed us… because he was there when we needed him. But we didn’t know. No one knew.

So many wishes. None of which matter now.

I will always remember Zac’s voice, talking quietly to the mares. I can still see Arc Bar Miss lean into his soft hands as he reassured her that all was well in her world. I will remember his brilliant smile as he lifted a water bucket with ease and the way he explained to his friend that each horse has her own personality.

I know our heavenly herd greeted Zac. And I know he was carried into Heaven with true horse power.

I bet he has already scrubbed the water buckets and whispered our love to them.

Some souls are too kind for this world; some hearts are just too tender and simply can not survive.

Zac was like that. Kind, compassionate and  unbelievably sensitive.

I am again reminded of the words from Mims in the dream that changed my life: “The veil between this world and the next is very thin…”

Godspeed, Zac. Fly on the wind. Your time on the Earth was only short because you already earned your wings.

Prayers for the broken hearts left behind, including my own.

We are grateful for our many friends.

Blue Viking is especially thankful for the kindness each of you bestow.

Missy White Oak is grateful for that, too, because as long as Blue is happy, the barn is happy.

Elmhurst says the cool weather makes him extra joyful! He is so happy he is unable to contain himself. (And apologizes in advance for any trouble this might cause)

Jo Jo is grateful for life. She reminds us all to never give up. No matter how bad things may seem, love is just around the corner.

Dogwood Patty and Exciting Bucket are thankful for their families. Nothing matters more than knowing you are loved.

Ms. Royal Flagship is thankful for her new pretty blanket. It fits just right and just the style she was hoping for.

Trail Guide is thankful for friends. She understands the power of love can bring someone out of darkness and make them want to celebrate.

Play Book can’t believe she is so lucky! Happiness abounds!

Braggin Rights looks back at the last year in awe. She wants you to know you are cherished.

We are all still on cloud nine over our film, ONE DAY and all the incredible people who worked so hard to make it happen.

We hope each of you have a wonderful day.

If you're reading this blog (and, obviously, you are), we'd like to know about it.

Is it important for Jeanne to let you know some of the day-to-day stories of the horses and people involved with the Haven? Would you like to hear more? Hear less? Find out something different about us?

We just want to make sure there is someone out there listening to us and reading this blog.

See that "Add Comment" section below? Please use it and let us know: How are we doing?

A lady with attitude

Taba died yesterday. She was 32 years old, and had lived at my friend Jeanne Mirabito's farm since late last fall. Taba was champion 2 year old filly in her native Argentina. She was the dam of 1986 Champion Older Male Turkoman, and the grand-dam of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given.

I met Taba on a gray day in late November at the Our Mims Retirement Haven, Jeanne's farm for retired broodmares. She was very much a grande dame. Imperious. Elegant. And she knew very much her own mind, and didn't mind giving you a piece of it. The most striking instance came when the name Point Given came up in conversation.

Taba's ears went back. Her head jutted forward. And if you weren't careful, she came damn closing to taking a chunk out of you for even mentioning that name in her presence.

Why? Who knows? It could be because she felt that Point Given was undeservedly more famous than she. It could be that she had not forgiven him for not winning the Kentucky Derby in 2001. Sorry, Taba, but nobody was going to beat Monarchos that day. All we know for sure is that you did not mention Point Given in her presence… or, more precisely, within striking distance. Because she would do her level best to nail you.

Taba even knew when you were _thinking_ the name Point Given.

Taba was donated to the Our Mims Retirement Haven by Olin Gentry. But she was owned by Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds. And Taba died on the same day as John Gaines.

Jeanne is one of those people whom it is a privilege to know. Her farm is basically a hospice for elderly broodmares. She takes them in, cares for them, loves them, knowing her heart will be broken. That is a kind of courage, of gallantry, we don't see all that often.

Taba was a fortunate lady, as are the other mares residing at Our Mims Retirement Haven. To learn more about OMRH, about Our Mims, the mare who started it all, about Jeanne Mirabito, and to learn how you can help, visit www.ourmims.org.

Hope of Glory won the 1974 Alcibiades, the Falls City handicap and the Kentucky Cardinal. She was bred in Kentucky and raced for Don McKellar. Of her ten foals, nine raced, and all were winners. Among her offspring are Another Notch, Extra Grouse, Good Sort, Grab the Glory, Pocketfull of Hope, Race into History and Rinaldi.

After McKellar’s death, Hope of Glory was under the care of Wendy DeVere for a number of years. Ms. DeVere contacted ReRun, a Kentucky based Thoroughbred adoption charity.

Hope of Glory entered the ReRun program on September 23, 2002 and was immediately adopted by Jeanne Mirabito. ReRun continued to sponsor Hope of Glory at the Our Mims Retirement Haven owned by Mirabito.

Hope of Glory was laid to rest at OMRH. She will be deeply missed.

Sugar and Spice was a half-sister of both Our Mims and Alydar through the dam, Sweet Tooth. Sugar and Spice proudly carried on the family fame with several prestigious wins including the Mother Goose-G1 and Ashland Stakes-G2, and ended her racing career with 18 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds. Sugar then produced several winning foals.

OMRH purchased Sugar and Spice on May 7, 2004. Sugar and Spice moved into Our Mims’ vacated stall and was pampered like royalty. “Imagine how lucky I feel,” said Mirabito, “I have had the privilege of caring for two great Calumet mares, both out of the incredible Sweet Tooth.”

In keeping with its reverence for tradition and history, Calumet Farm welcomes the return of one of its own. Sugar and Spice will be laid to rest in the famed Calumet equine cemetery near her siblings, her dam, her second, third and fourth dams and generations of champions.

“Calumet was her home at birth, through her racing days and much of her career as a broodmare,” said Mirabito. “Calumet is where she belongs.”

OMRH is named after the 1977 champion three-year-old filly, Our Mims, who resided on the farm from February 9, 2000 until the time of her death on December 9, 2003. Jeanne Mirabito adopted Our Mims through ReRun, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred adoption group. Our Mims was Calumet Farm’s first Eclipse winner.

Our Mims produced several foals for Calumet, including Mimbet and Slewvescent, before being sold in Calumet’s dispersal sale in 1991.

During the fall of 1999, this great mare made her way to the ReRun program, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred adoption group. Our Mims was adopted by Jeanne Mirabito of Paris, Kentucky, in February of 2000. “Never was a horse more loved than Our Mims. She stole my heart,” said Mirabito. “Our Mims was QUEEN here. She knew it and as long as the rest of us didn’t forget who was in charge, all was well.”

Our Mims settled into a life of leisure at the Mirabito’s farm, Ahwenasa. She enjoyed routine, peppermints, carrots and visits from fans. During the last year of her life, Our Mims had over 70 visitors. “She loved being adored by her fans, ” said Mirabito.

Our Mims remained at Ahwenasa until she passed away on December 9, 2003. Cheryl Bellucci of Xenia, Ohio, organized a fund raising campaign to purchase a proper stone marker to honor Our Mims. Photographers Barbara Livingston, Sue Rosenbach and John Bellucci donated prints and fans from all over the United States contributed to purchasing the grave marker for Our Mims. As many letters and donations poured in during the campaign, Cheryl Bellucci commented, “It’s like magic. Just like Our Mims was.”
Prior to his death, the late Count deKwiatkowski, owner of Calumet, had given permission for Our Mims to be buried at Calumet near her dam, Sweet Tooth, her second and third dams, Blue Delight and Real Delight. The Count’s family graciously honored the promise, and Our Mims was laid to rest within sight of her half brother Alydar.

Mirabito praises Calumet Farm for all they have done. Our Mims was the first horse in the history of the farm who did not reside at Calumet to be buried in Calumet cemetery. “The deKwiatkowskis did not know Our Mims. They did not benefit from her earnings. They may never have even heard her ‘royal’ nicker, and yet, they allowed her to ‘come home,’” explained Mirabito, “What a wonderful gesture. All this proves to me that the great Calumet Farm is clearly in the right hands. The level of class at Calumet doesn’t stop with the owners. It is apparent in the employees as well.” Mirabito can’t say enough about Calumet’s grounds crew for the incredible concern and loving way they took care of Our Mims remains.

The dedication ceremony is expected to be over by 12 noon.

Sugar and Spice is a half-sister of Our Mims through the dam, Sweet Tooth. Sugar and Spice proudly carried on the family fame with several prestigious wins including the Mother Goose-G1 and Ashland Stakes-G2 and ended her racing career with 18 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds. Sugar then produced several winning foals. “How appropriate, ” said Jeanne Mirabito, “that the first horse to move into Our Mims’ empty stall is her half-sister.”

The Mirabitos purchased the 42-acre tobacco farm with one goal in mind: to create a facility for pensioned broodmares at which they would be pampered through their final years.

In addition to Our Mims and Sugar and Spice, another noteworthy elder equine has found her way to Ahwenasa: Hope of Glory (by Mr. Leader out of Daizel by Manteau). She won the Alcibiades, Falls City Handicap, Kentucky Cardinal and placed third in Matron Stakes and Santa Marguerita Handicap. Hope of Glory earned $168,421 with 35 starts, 9 wins, three places and 5 shows. Hope of Glory is the dam of ten foals. Nine of them raced and all were winners. ReRun sponsors this lovely old mare at OMRH.

The couple considers the retirement facility idea to be a natural progression in the already well-established routine of the Kentucky horse industry. “When a filly leaves the racetrack she moves from her trainer’s barn to a breeding farm because the breeding facilities specialize in breeding,” explained Jeanne Mirabito. “When a mare is no longer producing foals it only makes sense that she move to a different facility where the specialty revolves around aging mares.”

Mirabito has had great success at restoring the health of aged pensioners and/or keeping an already healthy elder equine healthy. It’s a matter of routine and observation. “The trick is noticing a potential health problem before it becomes a threat,” said Mirabito. Older horses tend to deteriorate quickly, and small problems can become big overnight. Once things get out of hand, treatment is expensive and doesn’t always help. But if a health issue is caught early it is often treated easily and without much expense.

The ultimate goal for OMRH is to create a tourist attraction modeled after the idea of the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. Through admission charges and various other fundraising methods the mares can support themselves while promoting the horse industry and tourism. The result will be more room at breeding farms, owners who are content knowing their mares are being pampered and a place for fans to reunite with their old heroes. Most importantly, the mares will be returned to the limelight. They will spend their last years being adored by racing enthusiasts. “Our Mims loved visitors. She seemed to know they wanted to see her and pranced around with the pride of a champion,” remarked Mirabito.

For more information about OMRH check out www.OurMims.org or Our Mims tribute website at www.OurMims.com.