Columbus, OH — Robyn Cuffey, 69, died Oct. 10, 2023.

To everyone who knew her and to the horses affected by her generosity and commitment, she was an inspiration, a champion, and a friend. She will be sorely missed.

With a lifetime of horsemanship and more than four decades of experience with Standardbreds, she was instrumental in the founding of Futures For Standardbreds (FFS), an organization committed to retraining and rehoming New England-based Standardbreds as they transition from life on the racetrack to life as pleasure horses. She was instrumental in creating FFS in 2014, transitioning it from the Ambassador program of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization to a registered 501c3. Since its work began, the organization has rescued and rehomed close to 100 horses through a careful process that sets the wellbeing of the horses as its highest priority.

Ms. Cuffey served as the executive director of FFS for the last three years and was inarguably its most tireless member. Under her watchful direction, the organization grew its volunteer base, increased grant awards, expanded its fundraising efforts and created a presence in the community through publicity efforts and participation in parades and events with horses in tow. Perhaps most important, she strengthened the relationship with the U.S. Trotting Association (USTA) and the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and educated its members about FFS, resulting in a rise in donations and an increase is horse transfers from racehorse owners into the FFS program. She also oversaw the process whereby FFS was accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance, a national organization committed to helping organizations like Futures For Standardbreds fulfill their missions to provide aftercare for Standardbreds.

She was a gifted trainer, a thoughtful teacher and accomplished writer. She authored four books on the Standardbred retraining process, including Retraining the Harness Racehorse, The Equestrians’ Guide to Acadia, and the Essential guide to Carriage Driving.

She was the founder of the Maine Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization (MSPHO) and served as president, and was a senior director of the Maine Horse Association.

While she eschewed praise or recognition, she was named a WMTW Community Champion in 2019 and was highly respected by Maine, New England-based and national equine organizations.

While she generally focused her work on Standardbreds, her most recent prodigy was Dimitri, a 14.1 Arabian who was seized and taken in by the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA). As was outlined in a recent story in Chronicle of the Horse, “after adopting him she single-handedly peeled back the layers of his abuse, revealing a gifted, athletic horse. It was pure joy to watch these two perform together, so tuned in to each other they moved as one.”

Ms. Cuffey showcased his amazing progress during a recent demonstration at the State of Maine Dressage Association’s final show of the season, impressing spectators with Dimitri’s half-passes, leg yields, counter-canters, and flying changes.

Despite a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, she earned a blue ribbon during Dimitri’s third level dressage test at a schooling show earlier this summer; continued her work with FFS and Dimitri; and continued teaching, training and organization leadership.

To honor her legacy, memorial contributions may be made to Futures for Standardbreds at www.futuresforstandardbreds.org/donate.