I first wrote about the egregious abuse of the then-3-year-old Shamrock Road back in 2015. I followed that up with two update posts: here, here. Clearly, Shamrock was headed for a bad ending – death in the dirt of one of the cheap tracks he was being raced at, or the shackle-hoist-slash-bleed-butcher at a Canadian slaughterhouse. But thankfully, a group of tireless advocates became involved, and they eventually were able to purchase Shamrock from his exploiter. Here is Mary Johnson’s retelling of that liberation.
The road, though, was not smooth, as Mary explained in this follow-up just last year. Ultimately, Mary was able to have Shamrock placed at Zorro’s Crossing Sanctuary in Georgia – a final, forever home, at last. This past week, Mary sent me a couple videos of Shamrock from Zorro’s, which they have allowed us to share with you. Enjoy…
The TB I rescued from the track and slaughter was a cribber, too. As soon as I moved him to a farm where he had freedom –5 acres of pasture and when he got loose, the occasional run around the 40 acre farm — friendship of two other geldings, and all the forage he wanted, he quit cribbing. He lived to 30.
That is wonderful news! Thank God this beautiful animal was saved🙏🙏🎊🎉
The way all their lives should be…God’s favored creatures.
Great post! Loved seeing Shamrock Road playing with the ball. To those of you have your good mothers still with you, enjoy their company as long & as much as you can. 1 day you will no longer have them. We miss our mother every day!
Beautiful sharing from two Beautiful Beings.
Do No Harm.
May All Be Peaceful.
May the wicked become gentle.
Amen.
Let It Be.
And So It Is.
Thank you , Mary,. for your tireless work on behalf of the horses. And thank you, Patrick, for this uplifting post and your dedication to ending horse racing.
Zorro’s Crossing, the sanctuary, where Shamrock and many other very lucky horses are cared for is an amazing place. Jennifer, who owns and operates the sanctuary is extraordinary in her devotion to each and every horse. The operation of the sanctuary is expensive and time consuming. Any sponsorship for the horses means a few more horses can join the herd!
Made my day!
What an uplifting post! One thing worth noting is that Shamrock Road was a cribber when I owned him and wore a cribbing strap. You’ll notice in the video where Sham is listening to music that he no longer wears a strap and is “grooving” to the music and seems to have no interest in cribbing. Music is a great healer. Finally, Sham is healed…in body and soul. Thank you, Jennifer!