by Jessica Otten, for Post Time with Mike and Mike
In this edition of horse highlight, we feature a Michigan veteran, If All Else Fails, who was donated by Tim and Ashley Leineke in 2009 to the New Vocations Michigan facility.
If All Else Fails is a beautiful 17-year-old, pacing gelding that stands 15.1 hands tall and has been broke to ride for many years.
Shelley Johnson photo
If All Else Fails, a 17-year-old son of Stay Forever, is available for adoption through New Vocations.
“He was placed again, because of life changes for his previous adopter,” stated Winnie Nemeth, Standardbred Program Director.
When talking with past connections, Ashley Leineke said, “I’ll never forget the first time I saw him, I think he was three, he had a long poofy forelock, and big eyes, I thought he was the prettiest Standardbred I’d ever seen.”
She mainly remembers the one race he won for them at Raceway Park, in Toledo, Ohio.
“It was memorable because he was parked the whole mile and won by open lengths; that was pretty exciting,” she said.
Both Nemeth and Leineke said he is really nice to work with around in the barn.
“He was used to being a pet and hadn’t been ridden much, but since coming back to us, he is now adapting very well to riding, and he loves it,” Nemeth said. “He would enjoy going on trails and is also a good turn out buddy for other geldings.”
If All Else Fails last stepped on the racetrack in 2009, earning more than $17,000 in 84 starts. As a 3-year-old he took a mark of 1:57.4. Although he hasn’t stepped foot on a racetrack in eight years, he is broke to drive and it wouldn’t take much practice to get him used to it again.
Although he is 17-years-old, he still has a lot of life left in him. And would be the perfect horse for just about anyone. If All Else Fails is currently standing in the Laurelville, Ohio facility, with a waived adoption fee. Visit www.newvocations.org and check out the amazing athletes, to make next horse an ex-racehorse.