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Daretobeastar (Star) made a remarkable transition from the track to helping people learn to walk, talk and be independent.

A new career for a ‘Star’

Ever wonder what happens to racehorses when they can no longer race?

One special horse made a remarkable transition from the track and now gives therapeutic riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities — helping people learn to walk, talk, and gain independence.

At the age of six, and after 52 career starts, racehorse Daretobeastar (Star) was purchased by a young rider and continued on to a private life of training and competing in classical dressage, one of three Olympic equestrian events.

Star’s third and current career as a therapy horse began when it was time for his owner to go to college. Because of his easy-going temperament, natural talent, and patience, Star was leased to Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center to join their equine staff.

Star, a 24-year-old Washington-bred thoroughbred gelding, now revels in his new career, helping to change the lives of a new generation of riders with disabilities.

He is a top choice for emerging independent riders, as well as the advanced dressage riders because of his patience and attentiveness. He helps riders with disabilities improve muscle control and balance and discover their potential for independence.

Careful and quiet with inexperienced riders, Star is consistently focused on their needs, adapting to the cues each rider is capable of giving.

Chris, one of Star’s riders puts it this way, “When I ride Star I am above things, and things seem different. He listens to me.”

Based in Woodinville, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, with the help of their equine therapists such as Star, provides weekly therapeutic horseback riding lessons and Hippotherapy to over 200 riders with disabilities each week. Little Bit’s mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with disabilities through the use of the horse in therapy and to be an inspiration and educational resource to the therapeutic riding profession, both regionally and nationally.

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Star is a popular choice for all the riders at Little Bit.

Over 300 volunteers are needed each week to assist with the horses and riders in classes.

On Aug. 6, Star once again paraded down the track to stand in the winner’s circle – but this time for a different purpose.

Star, along with other horses, riders, staff, and volunteers from Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center were on hand as the beneficiary of the Emerald Down’s 4th annual “Little Bit Day at the Races.”

Little Bit’s goal was to show the power of therapeutic riding through a demonstration and to educate the public about our programs, volunteer opportunities and how ex-racehorses can have second careers as therapy horses.

To find out more about Little Bit, call (425) 882-1554 or at www.littlebit.org.