Thursday Video: Meet Hokenheim

The best teacher for young horses is often… another horse. Meet Hokenheim, a jump-out horse who has taught an estimated 3,500 young horses how to break from the gate.

Not every horse is destined for greatness on the racetrack — and increasingly, breeders, horsemen, aftercare organizations and racetracks themselves are networking to create a world in which every racehorse has a home in their days after racing. Many Thoroughbreds find their ways into second careers as sporthorses or recreational mounts, learning skills for both the show ring and the trail.

A select few, however, help carry the torch for the next generation — such as Hokenheim. Never particularly successful as a racehorse, Hokenheim found his real calling in his second career: the perfect jump-out horse. A jump-out horse helps settle youngsters and horses in re-training in the starting gate, teaching them how to break calmly but effectively when the gates flash open.

Watch Hokenheim at work:

Godolphin has racing outfits on four continents, but supports all of its horses through their second careers, whether bloodstock, training horses or second-career options. Visit the website to learn more about Godolphin’s Lifetime Care program.

Go riding!