Horses of Unbridled: A birthday for Prince 

In Columns, Columns - Greenville, Horses of UNBRIDLED, The Greenville Pioneer
January 5, 2023
0
Share

By Susan Kayne

For Capital Region Independent Media

Prince, pictured, and his mother, Miss Ruud, are among the rescued horses of Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation. Contributed photo

On Jan. 1, Prince, a handsome chestnut colt who was born on April 4, 2022, officially became a yearling. He shares his birthday with 18,608 other Thoroughbred foals who were also born in 2022. 

Regardless of when a Thoroughbred is born, he or she will become one year older with the turn of each new year. The Jockey Club, the registrar of all Thoroughbreds, instituted the rule to group horses in races based on age.

When Prince entered this world, the special occasion marked the eighth time his mother (dam) gave birth. Her name is Miss Ruud. The foaling was uncomplicated. Prince emerged in perfect position inside of a silky amniotic sac. First, his front feet side-by-side, followed by the bump of his nose resting upon his knees. With a few more hard contractions his shoulders slid out along with a rush of fluids followed by the rest of his beautifully formed body. With a quiet confidence, Miss Ruud softly nickered and welcomed her masterpiece.

Within moments, his legs flailed and broke free of the covering that had protected and nourished his life for the previous 11 months. Wet and bright-eyed, baby Prince had arrived into the clearance of individuality. Miss Ruud licked and nuzzled him and encouraged him to stand. He quickly connected his primal instinct to get up with the newness of movement in an unrestricted space. Within 45 minutes he stood up, stretched up tall, and began to nurse. When satisfied, he nestled into a warm thick bed of straw. 

Ocean Knight, the father (sire) of Prince, is of regal heritage. He is a graded stakes-winning son of Curlin, a two-time national Horse of the Year. Curlin retired in 2008 as the highest North American money-winning racehorse with earnings over US$10.5 million. Both Ocean Knight and Curlin raced in the colors of Stonestreet Stable owned by the American billionaire Jess Jackson Jr. and his wife Barbara Banke.

Prince is the first-born colt under the banner of Unbridled. His life experience is that of kindness; a comfortable stall, gentle hands, and the support that he requires to flourish. Gracious eyes and skilled care meet the everyday needs of his emotional, mental and physical health. Prince is loved and protected; he is a very lucky colt.

In contrast to the life that Prince was born into, the world can be callous and extremely cruel to Thoroughbreds who are used in service to The Sport of Kings. Prince’s mother is a rescue horse. At just over a third of her natural lifespan and seven months pregnant, Miss Ruud, age 12, had been weighed, tagged and sorted for shipment to slaughter.

Malnourishment and neglect had weakened her to the point that she could barely lift her head. Her ribs protruded and her muscles had deteriorated in an effort to feed herself and her foal in utero. The Jockey Club confirmed that she was last bred to Ocean Knight on April 29, 2021, this meant she’d be due in early April – if she could hold onto her pregnancy.

Miss Ruud earned $39,502 while racing at five different racetracks. In the Winner’s Circle at Keeneland, dozens of smiling people flanked her side in celebration of her victory. After racing as both a two- and three-year-old for famed trainer Kenny McPeek, and prior to being abandoned, she gave birth to seven foals for multiple owners in Kentucky and Louisiana. She had done all that had been asked of her.

When no past connections stepped up to save Miss Ruud and her unborn foal, Unbridled stepped in and purchased their freedom. After a month in quarantine, a beleaguered Miss Ruud shipped to Greenville. With the peaceful rhythm of care in her new home, she settled in swiftly and began to recover her health, nourish her foal within, and reclaim her dignity.  

Miss Ruud is stunningly gorgeous. Her beautiful face is adorned with a wide white blaze, and her flawless legs are dressed in four very tall white socks. She is as striking as “The Pi” in National Velvet. With a glance, she and her son Prince will invite you to consider how such magnificent beings could ever be deemed so unworthy as to be discarded and butchered for meat.

Annually, over 80,000 horses are shipped out of America to be slaughtered. It is estimated that 20% of those killed are Thoroughbreds like Miss Ruud and Prince. Some people find the slaughter of horses a hard topic to talk about, but it’s not nearly as dangerous as what they are creating with their silence.

Columnist Susan Kayne operates Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation on the border of Greenville and Albany County.

Related Posts

Plane crashes in Windham

In News, News - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
November 25, 2024
0

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

WINDHAM — A plane crashed in a remote location of Windham on Sunday evening.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash of a Cessna T210L that was carrying the pilot and three dogs, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

The plane was traveling from Maryland to Albany and crashed at around 6:10 p.m. Sunday.

“Responders reached and secured the crash site,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.

No information has been released about the pilot’s condition.

Assisting the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation are the New York State Forest Rangers, state police, Greene County Emergency Services, the Windham and Hensonville Fire Departments and the Civil Air Patrol.

The FAA is also responding and the investigation is ongoing, according to the statement.

Police blotter

In Police Blotter, Police Blotter - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
April 8, 2022
0

Editor’s note: A charge is not a conviction. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed.

STATE POLICE

  • Thomas Saggese, 20, of Tannersville, was arrested March 16 at 3:01 p.m. in Hunter and charged with second-degree criminal contempt, a class A misdemeanor. He was released on his own recognizance.
  • Dawn Vernon, 43, of Catskill, was arrested March 16 at 9:56 p.m. in Catskill and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors.
  • Sally Bender, 40, of Cairo, was arrested March 17 at 6:03 p.m. in Cairo and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Billy Bender, 41, of Cairo, was arrested March 17 at 6:03 p.m. in Cairo and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Lauren Torres-Bailey, 37, of Purling, was arrested March 17 at 8:35 p.m. in Durham and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, all class A misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Lance Molter, 36, of Durham, was arrested March 17 at 8:40 p.m. in Durham and charged with second-degree obstruction of governmental administration and endangering the welfare of a child, both class A misdemeanors, and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Joseph Casazza, 29, of Ashland, was arrested March 17 at 9:11 p.m. in Ashland and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Summer Constantinou, 27, of Greenville, was arrested March 17 at 10:16 p.m. in Greenville and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors, and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Samuel Keir, 52, of Hannacroix, was arrested March 17 at 10:08 p.m. in Greenville and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Rachel Corsi, 36, of Hudson, was arrested March 19 at 2:15 a.m. in Catskill and charged with one count of manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Jason McDevitt, 20, of Jewett, was arrested March 19 at 5:44 a.m. in Hunter and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Ivan Serrano, 45, of Kingston, was arrested March 18 at 11:06 a.m. in Cairo and charged with petty larceny, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Samantha Oliver, 31, of Cairo, was arrested March 18 at 10:27 p.m. in Durham and charged with four counts of petty larceny, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Kyle Weiss, 24, of Catskill, was arrested March 18 at 8:07 p.m. in Durham and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a class E felony, and operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08%, driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated, all unclassified misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Maceo Jones, 69, of Catskill, was arrested March 20 at 2:25 a.m. in Catskill and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. His arrestee status was unknown.
  • Amanda Jimenez, 30, of Catskill, was arrested March 20 at 2:13 a.m. in Catskill and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Cassidy Buckley, 34, of Saugerties, was arrested March 20 at 10:37 p.m. in Catskill and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Nicholas Dodge, 27, of Cohoes, was arrested March 21 at 3:10 a.m. in Cairo and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a class D felony; two counts of manufacture of drug-related pharaphernalia, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, three counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia/package, and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia/scales, all class A misdemeanors; and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor. He was released on his own recognizance.
  • Amy Chadwick, 46, of Athens, was arrested March 22 at 11:36 a.m. in Kingston and charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Sean McNulty, 49, of Freehold, was arrested March 22 at 10:25 a.m. in Cairo and charged with criminal mischief and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Lauren Mallen, 32, of Windham, was arrested March 24 at 1:06 p.m. in Cairo and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, both class A misdemeanors; and operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor. She was released on her own recognizance.
  • Margaret Doctor, 63, of Cairo, was arrested March 24 at 9:02 p.m. in Catskill and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Melissa Strack, 55, of Acra, was arrested March 24 at 8:55 p.m. in Catskill and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Brody Larsen, 24, of Palenville, was arrested March 26 at 7:45 p.m. in Catskill and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Michael Young, 56, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was arrested March 26 at 3:44 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with first-degree criminal contempt, a class E felony. He was held.
  • Lakeisha Simmons, 45, of Schenectady, was arrested March 26 at 3:32 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, a class D felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Paul Burns, 56, of Catskill, was arrested March 27 at 2:14 a.m. in Catskill and charged with manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors, and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • William James, 31, of Coxsackie, was arrested March 27 at 5:41 a.m. in Coxsackie and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor. He was held.
  • Bruce Millett, 29, of West Coxsackie, was arrested March 27 at 5:36 a.m. in Coxsackie and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Richard Sweeney, 28, of Tannersville, was arrested March 27 at 9:58 a.m. in Cairo and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Rosen Petrov, 52, of Rego Park, was arrested March 27 at 1:25 p.m. and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Jahad Graves, 32, of Albany, was arrested March 27 at 1:24 p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with second-degree introduction of contraband into a prison, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Paul Raymond, 40, of Catskill, was arrested March 28 at 1:37 p.m. in Catskill and charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
  • Tyace Thompson, 48, of East Orange, New Jersey, was arrested March 29 at 12:25 a.m. in Coxsackie and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a class E felony. He was released on his own recognizance.
  • Jessica Collazo, 31, of Catskill, was arrested March 29 at 11:30 a.m. in Cairo and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
  • An unidentified 18-year-old female, of Round Top, was arrested March 29 at 6:15 p.m. in Cairo and charged with third-degree menacing, a class B misdemeanor. She was released on her own recognizance.
  • Kelsey Rodriguez, 22, of Troy, was arrested March 29 at 6:15 p.m. in Cairo and charged with third-degree menacing, a class B misdemeanor. She was released on her own recognizance.
  • Michael Ballou, 25, of Catskill, was arrested March 29 at 9:44 p.m. in Cairo and charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content over 0.08% and driving while intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors. He was released to a third party.
  • Sean Randel, 29, of Craryville, was arrested March 29 at 1 p.m. in Cairo and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a class E felony. He was held.

Ravena News-Herald

The Ravena News-Herald is a weekly newspaper reporting on the news in the Ravena, Coeymans and New Baltimore communities of beautiful upstate New York.

Greenville Pioneer

Greene County’s independent newspaper. Featuring local news, letters to the editor, upcoming events, police blotter, columns from local writers and more.

The Columbia Paper

The Columbia Paper is a weekly newspaper reporting news and events from the communities of Columbia County in beautiful upstate New York.

Copyright © 2025
Capital Region Independent Media.

A product of NYVT Media LLC
TheUpStater.com is powered by CityMediaInc.com