Cross-posted from the Star-Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Written by RACHEL BLOUNT
Like a proud uncle, Dr. Richard Bowman can recite the latest accomplishments of the equine boarders who spent time on his North Dakota ranch. One is beginning a career in law enforcement. Another won an event at her very first horse show, after only a few weeks of training. And the one who broke both front ankles, who nearly died right there on the Canterbury Park track, has teamed up with a child to compete in rodeos.
Each of those former racehorses came to Bowman as damaged goods. In some other place, they might have been shipped off to slaughter or euthanized. But at Canterbury, Bowman and his colleagues in the state veterinarian’s office — Dr. Lynn Hovda and Dr. Christy Klatt — believe that even the injured and lame can be led into a new life, a philosophy that has become their personal mission.
Over the past 12 years, the trio has rehabilitated 370 horses, covering much of the considerable cost out of their own pockets. Once the horses are healthy, they are given to carefully screened owners who use them for trail riding, polo, police work and all manner of equestrian events. Those who cannot be adopted live out their days at Bowman’s 4,000-acre spread near the Montana border, where the only thing more expansive than the land is the generous heart of its owner.
“I didn’t intentionally start a horse rescue,” said Bowman, who recently received the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s Carl Nafzger Award in honor of his work. “These horses needed a place to go. I had a place to take them. And it just kept growing.
“We’ve taken some pretty bad wrecks. It’s amazing; some of them that can barely walk onto the trailer, a year later, they’re running around the pasture. It’s a good feeling to see them get another shot.” Read all >>
Tuesday's Horse 
Linda You are an inspiration to all Mankind !!! I thank You !!!
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Drs Bowman’s dedication to these horses is such an inspiration! We currently have 3 OTTBs at our little 5-acre rescue. Rehabbing and retraining them has been quite a challenge.
Dancer (a grandaughter of Northern Dancer) had a very short time on the track. She was retrained, and had a successful career in dressage until she developed arthritis. At 24, she’s been retired to the rescue, but still has plenty to teach young riders.
Sara is a nervous wind-sucker (probably from confinement at the track), and it’s a constant battle to keep weight on her. Despite the best efforts of our trainer, she didn’t do well away from home. Now she’s back and gaining weight, but we have to get her fit before she can go to a foster pasture for the rest of the summer.
Prince has developed into a superior all-around riding horse. His greatest achievement was learning he didn’t have to “go like hell” the right way of the track. He’s going out on a 6-month trial adoption as of two days ago, and we think he’ll prove a good match for his adopter. If not, we’ll take him back and refund the adoption fee.
Like Dr. Bowman, we’re very picky about finding good, loving homes for these abused horses. Working with and placing OTTBs is sometimes difficult, but, after all they’ve been through, we believe they deserve nothing less than our best efforts.
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To know there are people like Dr. Richard Bowman with such a respect for horses is knowing there is in fact help for these Beautiful Race Horses after racing is not an option for them , The Horses again give there all to us especially in racing, it is not easy being a race horse, to give them a second chance is heart warming to say the least. Horse Racing needs huge reform…… There are so many things that need to be changed, now we all know that horses love to run and be competitive, and should be treated with kindness and respect, but just as we would not send a football player on field without protection, they should not sent out there taking precautions for them also, There should also be a fund for them when they retire a certain portion of every purse put into fund for them …………………………It is heart breaking to know what goes on at the race track………………….there is alot of pure greed there, there needs to be a committee, to regulate all aspects of treatment of the horses that race……………People like Dr. Bowman arnt so far and few between…….
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Great story, great people…how refreshing!
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