Art By Keene is enjoying new career as a pleasure horse

by Norinne “Nonni” Hilchey Daly

Orono, ME — Word is out that there is a Standardbred horse in Maine who is living a double life and, to come clean, there is.

Katie Flaherty Photography

Art By Keene and Stephanie Gray are enjoying this new venture.

Art By Keene, a 14-year-old horse owned and raced by Adam and Stephanie Gray, has had a good career and started looking for his next “job” after retirement. Stephanie helped him think about becoming a pleasure horse and he entered his second show of the pleasure season on Sunday (May 12).

Standardbred owners in Maine are pleased that more and more of the pleasure shows are adding Standardbred divisions and attracting many entries as a result. The horses are calm and confident competitors who have “been there and done that” for so much of their lives. Their composure in the show ring is testament to their work ethic and their dispositions.

Art By Keene was entered in the American Saddlebred Association of Maine’s Dunegrass Show, to compete in the Standardbred In-Hand Class, often called a “Halter Class” in other shows. This was a double judged show and this seasoned veteran of the track was judged second and third, respectively, by the two judges.

Art By Keene’s work under saddle will commence when he is through with his racing career. He will be qualifying for this year’s meet in about three weeks.

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