Instead of running down the stretch toward the finish line, ten year old thoroughbred mare, Pansy raced around barrels and maneuvered her way through poles at the recent National High School Rodeo Finals held in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Owned by fifteen year old Ashlyn Tate of Brigantine, New Jersey, the Pennsylvania-bred mare transitioned from horse racing at Parx and Penn National to rodeo events that include barrel racing, pole bending, and roping.
“Pansy is an awesome horse, and we had a great time in Wyoming,” Ashlyn said. “We got Pansy through the Turning for Home program on December 28th, 2020, during COVID. The weather was terrible the day I tried her. I could only ride her in the indoor arena for a few minutes because someone was having a lesson, so we had to go outside. The wind was blowing, and it was snowy and cold, but what clinched it for me was that nothing fazed her. She just walked to the ring and went through puddles, and didn’t shy at anything,” explained Ashlyn.
The Turning for Home program, established by the PTHA, Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsem*n’s Association, relocates and finds homes for retired race horses from Parx Race Track in Bensalem, PA. According to Program Administrator, Danielle Montgomery, “Turning for Home partners with approved farms along the East Coast to rehab and retrain horses for other careers after their racing days are over. Pansy was bred by Elizabeth Houghton, and she raced at Penn National and Parx. Her last owner, Nancy Lyons donated her to us, and our partner farm, Another Spin, matched her with Ashlyn.”
Horse trainer, Harry Dimitriou claimed Pansy in 2016 as a two-year old at Penn National the day she broke her maiden. “I train from a farm near Penn National, and Pansy seemed to thrive in that situation. She was a stall walker, and she loved being turned out, so the farm situation worked for her. She also had a window in her stall so she could look outside, and she had her head out the window all day,” Dimitriou commented.” She is an honest filly, and gives her all whatever she does. She earned over $180,000 in her career,” he said. “She’s a sweet horse too and has lots of personality, and I was glad to see she has a good home. She is a blocky filly and is very quick, so the rodeo fits her personality.”
“Harry Dimitriou gave us a very generous donation toward our trip to Wyoming. We really appreciate it, and it helped us make the trip,” added Jill Tate, Ashlyn’s mother.”I’m not a horse person, but now I drive the horse trailer, and I bicycle along with Pansy and Ashlyn. Last year, we took Pansy to the beach in Brigantine, and I rode my bike along with them on the beach,” Jill said. “Ashlyn was Rookie of the Year and qualified for the rodeo finals, so she’s doing fantastic. We love Pansy, and she’s a great representative for Turning for Home.”
“I used to ride hunter/jumpers before COVID, but I got bored with it, and I was introduced to gaming and I loved going fast,” explained Ashlyn. “I switched to barrel racing and pole bending, and I worked with Pansy and taught her barrel racing, and roping, and pole bending. Pansy is a bit stubborn and a challenge, but we clicked the summer I got her, and I was Rookie of the Year and state champion, and I qualified for the high school rodeo finals in Wyoming this year. Pansy taught me a lot. She’s very athletic and fast and versatile,” said Ashlyn.
The National High School Rodeo Finals, held in Rock Springs, Wyoming this year, promotes the sport of rodeo and preserves Western heritage. It provides a chance for family bonding and promotes education and leadership. “The High School Rodeo Finals is the biggest rodeo in the world. There were about two thousand contestants from the whole U.S. plus Mexico, Canada, and Australia. Pansy was one of the only thoroughbreds there, and she had to compete with mostly Quarter Horses. I qualified through the New Jersey High School Rodeo Association in barrel racing and pole bending. She’s a great horse. We went to the horse expo in Harrisburg, and we took Pansy to a fund raiser and Kentucky Derby party at school. She took selfies with all the kids, and they couldn’t believe she was a thoroughbred because she was so quiet,” Ashlyn remarked. “I was obsessed with horses since I was three years old, and thanks to Turning for Home and Pansy’s former trainers and owners, I feel blessed to have Pansy.”
