Stall 13 Thoroughbreds

05/21/2026

A couple of “new” faces in the barn (Tetsu (Chesnut Warhorse Gelding) has been here a while but I’m behind on updates and Rikki (Tiz So Fine, bay mare) is a frequent flyer in my barn but this time she has the power of Stall 13 behind her to make sure she gets to the perfect spot!) More to come on these kids 💚

05/02/2026

🐎 🐎 Happy Derby Day! 🐎 🐎
We at Stall 13 Thoroughbreds wanted to wish all the runners the best of luck (come home safe and sound)!

And we want to take this moment to remind folks that while most of the colts in the Derby and the fillies in yesterday’s Oaks will go on to create a new generation of racehorses, the majority of the Thoroughbreds - the 17,000 to 20,000 bred annually in the US (with more than 1500 foaled in NY alone) - will have both first (racing) AND second careers (as sport horses). And while many make uncomplicated, sporty riding horses, not all of those TBs transition from the track to the sport horse world smoothly. And once established in those second careers, there are sometimes hiccups- unsoundnesses, training bobbles, and hard to manage moments.

Stall 13 is here to help at all of those points. Www.stall13.org for more info! We might be small and only in our second year of operation (technically, anyway, Aubrey has been doing this without a non-profit to help for a decade), but we take pride in getting to be a safety net for those who need it, getting each horse right, and then getting them on the right path to the right home.

In house currently we have a war horse with a suspensory he irritated after his 67th race, a mare who needs a soft landing after her hoof angles and a jumping career didn’t mesh, a warhorse retired from the track and landed in the auction pipeline within weeks, and a Steeplchaser with an “unusual” ankle from a stall rest accident.

We’re a small program and aftercare is full of catch 22s. Namely, the organizations have to exist and show an impact for years before they are eligible for grants. But it’s the grants that allow them to do the needed work. 🤔. All that to say that we’re funded exclusively by the kindness of our donors and the adoptions fees of these horses. Every single penny counts.

If you’re open to helping Dates, Tetsu, Tuna, Rikki or any others who come into our program, we’d be eternally grateful. Any, even small amounts help. And if you work in a company that offers matching donations, we’d be happy to fill out paperwork or jump through any needed hoops to help you set up a regular donation (a few friends at Microsoft have been so helpful with theirs!)

Donations can be made directly through the link at our website: www.stall13.org or by Venmo ( @ stall13 phone 2727)

And if donating in kind is more your speed, these kids are heading into summer rains and fly season. We’d be open to any new or used fly gear (78-81), still waterproof sheets, spray etc. ☔️🪰

But back to the race… good luck, boys! May the horse with the most heart win.

04/01/2026

Featuring Datesfreedom 💚

03/30/2026

Stall 13 supported, available Thoroughbred: “Tuna" I Am Fortunata 16.3h 2017 Irish-bred OTTB steeplechase gelding located at Kivu Sporthorses in Lansing, NY

If ever one was looking for a horse with a heck of a lot of presence and a history of running some of the best steeplechase tracks in the UK, here's Tuna.

His 🥕s and more ℹ️ are at www.stall13.org and listed with the Stall 13 horses at www.kivusporthorses.com

For nearly all of Tuna's career, he ran over fences. Like a hard knocking, sturdy steeplechaser, he took some falls and recovered to keep running. He raced in the UK and was imported as a 6 year old to run in the USA. And when he retired, he found a fox hunting job. Tuna's future was bright, and thankfully remains so. But like his track history, it hasn't been without its bobbles.

Right now Tuna is walking and trotting under saddle with plans to go forward to do more in the near future. His gaits are lovely already and clearly will be even more impressive once we get shoes on him and get him stronger and more relaxed.

First ride back to work at Kivu: https://youtu.be/4BztF8eNq5k?si=bcSbAILj1umHIfHc

That said, Tuna has had a bit of a rough year. Back in the summer of 2025, he had a pasture accident that hairline fractured his right hock and created a chip in his left hind ankle. He went to Cornell for surgery, which was deemed very successful with no limitations. That said, bad luck wan't quite done yet - Upon jumping around later on stall rest, he injured the collateral ligament in his left hind fetlock and required quite a bit more time off.

Tuna has since had stall rest from September 2025 to December 2025, small paddock turnout from December 2025 to early March 2026 and regular turnout from then til now. Tuna appears quite sound and we have started him back lightly under saddle. He will get a rescan of the fetlock in the near future and we will continue to progress him into a riding career.

The expectation is that Tuna will do what he is able, which I think will be plenty. I can see this horse still having a quality fox hunting career or lower level jumping life. I probably wouldn't point him at the red numbers but frankly, there are so few people who can ride at that level anyway, I don't worry about that limitation.

Tuna is kind and a lovely, doofy, sweet gelding, but he is not for the TB-inexperienced. He needs a knowledgable handler and rider currently and would do best with someone who is familiar both with big Thoroughbreds and rehabs.

STALL 13 SUPPORTED HORSE

Tuna is available through Stall 13, a New York based non-profit organization (www.stall13.org) that specializes in challenging case horses like himself. Our goal is to show that horses like Tuna can recover and make it to a new career despite their known challenges and have a good life. As such, he comes with lifetime protection and a contract - he’s always welcome back here and we’re always here to help. His carrots go directly back to the program to support avenues for other “challenging case” horses and prove the notion that one should always “ride the horse, not the xrays (or ultrasound)”

Please reach out directly with questions. Comments do not usually get seen. His carrots and more info are at www.stall13.org and listed with the Stall 13 horses at www.kivusporthorses.com

03/28/2026

03/17/2026

We are super excited to announce that Fig (Ekati’s Verve) will be heading out on a lease to gain experience and to provide a good test of the serviceability of his soundness. I can’t wait to see all the things he gets to go do. From there (and with that data) we’ll be able to best place him in the future 💚💚💚

Safe travels tomorrow, Figgy. Enjoy your grand adventure.

02/28/2026

Just popping in to give a quick update on Dates (Datesfreedom) who we pulled from the auction pipeline in late December. This kid is coming along great. He’s been super in the barn and under saddle and the cold snap apparently only helped him pack on pounds and muscle.

Most recent schooling ride: https://youtu.be/uslE6ipgB10?si=NLgGKlZOM6LO8jFm

Dates is getting stronger and sounder by the ride. And I’m super excited to see him shed out as there are definitely a host of dapples hiding under that coat. He has hacked out a few times, popped over little logs and made it clear that he’s tired of going in circles in the indoor.

Perhaps a fox hunting or eventing career is in order… I’m excited to start him over fences soon and see what he thinks!

Follow us on his journey to the 2026 RRP TB Makeover here: https://stall13.org/dates-%3E-rrp-makeover-1

To help support Dates and our other Stall 13 horses, please reach out or use our Venmo (@ stall13) phone: 2727

02/16/2026

🌟🌟Stall 13 available horse🌟🌟
Fig (Ekati’s Verve), 2016 16.3h OTTB warhorse (55 starts) gelding in Lansing NY

Good god this horse has talent. He has huge swinging gaits, tons of drive, and all the flash you’d ever need. But even with all that talent, his personality might be the more remarkable thing, and thats saying something.

Fig is a total ham through and through. You never have to guess what he’s thinking and he really, really wants all of your attention. No, like all of it. All the time. Good thing he’s insanely cute about the whole thing. He’ll drink your beer (he shares my preference for not fruity IPAs) and harass you until you relent and give him scratches and lots of love.

Under saddle hes is always good but he’s uncomplicated and quiet if in regular work or… as he feels better and better and isn’t getting ridden regularly- big, talented and slightly feral. He has at times been my “toss anyone up there” horse. Yesterday, he showed off how much better he was feeling by honing his medium trot but also making sure we tossed a neck strap on to stay with him. His gaits are huge and he will invert and skitter sideways if he’s feeling fresh. He’s never truly naughty but he does like to show off.

Recent flat school on an “up” day: https://youtu.be/vPA_8JqrmuU?si=EoxzaiVuv6K5lKnH

Fig is still a bit of a rehab. When he came off the track, he was frankly one hell of a mess. More than a year later, we have him fat, happy and en route to sound. He needs strength and potentially hock and hind ankle injections (but I want to get him strong first). He was diagnosed with chronic suspensory issues initially, but at this point with no acute lesions and less inflammation we go back to work. And what does Fig love almost as much as attention? Work.

So what does that mean? Means he’s not your average rehab. It means he’s not the lovely adopter’s horse who wants to have an easy hack out on occasion… maybe hit the trails once in a long while. No. Nopelope. Sorry. I need a rider who wants to put a lot of miles in the saddle but with no agenda. The right person needs ride regularly (like 3+ days a week) and has OTTB experience and a big sense of humor … and maybe bigger beer budget (for both of you). Oh and said rider also needs the seat to laugh through any fresh-day antics he might toss out there and direct him towards the great things that are to come. Don’t have all of that? Please ask me about a different horse.

Fig is available for the low fours- with a guarantee that as with any Stall 13 horse, no questions asked- he can always come home.

STALL 13 SUPPORTED HORSE

Fig is available through Stall 13, the New York based non-profit organization (www.stall13.org) that I (AP Graham) spearhead alongside Kivu Sporthorses. Stall 13 Thoroughbreds specializes in challenging-case horses like Fig. Our goal is to help horses like Fig can recover and make it to second careers and have a good life, despite physical setbacks. As such, he comes with lifetime protection and a contract - he’s always welcome back here and we’re always here to help. His carrots go directly back to the program to support avenues for other tough case ottbs and prove the notion that one should always “ride the horse, not the xrays (or ultrasound). Reach out for more information.

Please avoid commenting questions on posts and reach out directly to tell me a bit about yourself and your goals. Thanks!