Oreo the reluctant NYC carriage horse traded to the Yankees

Following the trail of Oreo, the reluctant Manhattan carriage horse, who has now been traded to the Yankees

Oreo, the reluctant NYC carriage horse, who bolted and was subdued by Police, was taken off the streets by his owner and sent to Blue Star Equiculture, a draft horse rescue. Oreo has now been traded to the wife of the President of the New York Yankees. The adorable rogue, shown here in his Manhattan stable before he left town, will now be called Orion.

The New York Post reports:

MINDY LEVINE, a longtime animal-rights activist and wife of Yankee president Randy Levine, is adopting Oreo, the endearing brown-and-white carriage horse that made headlines last month by making a run for it in Columbus Circle.

Activists who want to banish the carriage-horse industry from Central Park immediately pounced on the incident, which left his driver and two passengers spilled to the ground, as further evidence that working horses don’t belong in congested urban settings.

But Mindy Levine said she isn’t trying to make a statement, just save a horse.

“I love animals,” she said. “I don’t like fighting. When people fight, animals suffer.”

Oreo is currently living at Blue Star Equiculture, a horse sanctuary outside Springfield, Mass., where he’s receiving what amounts to psychological counseling. Physically, he’s fine.

“He just needs help understanding noises,” explained Pamela Rickenbach, who runs the non-profit operation. “He’s really smart — which got him into trouble in the first place. He really does think a lot.”

Rickenbach said Oreo won’t be put out to pasture at the Levines’ farm, which already has two other horses and five dogs.

“The draft breed needs exercise as part of their care protocol,” she said. “They really need homes that understand their special needs.”

Mindy Levine appears ready to do whatever’s necessary to pamper the newest member of the Yankee family.

“I’ll have a trainer working with him,” she said. “We’re going to find out what makes him happy. We’re going to keep him busy.” Along with a fresh start Oreo’s going to get a new name — Orion, in honor of the Yankees’ Universe Fund for pediatric cancer research.

Read more >>

I love the way these ladies think and work. Thank you Mindy Levine. Thank you Pamela Rickenbach and Blue Star Equiculture. –Ed.

RELATED READING

— Oreo, the NYC carriage horse who spooked and bolted, gets new home; Tuesday’s Horse; Aug. 20, 2012

— Carriage horse who bolted in Manhattan may end up on Easy Street; Tuesday’s Horse; Aug. 18, 2012

— Three injured when Manhattan carriage horse Oreo bolts and breaks free; Tuesday’s Horse; Aug. 17, 2012

RELATED IMAGES

This slideshow requires JavaScript.