Lapochka (now called Klaus) and Nycola Penfold. (Photo courtesy of Nycola Penfold)
An Aftercare ‘Sweetheart Story”
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
ORONTO, Ont.— Nycola Penfold was instantly smitten the moment the gallant-looking gelding came into view.
She had been searching for months for the right horse—one she could give a good home to and share a quiet but fulfilling life with.
When she arrived at the picturesque Hillsburgh, Ontario property this past spring—a haven for more than 50 retired Thoroughbred racehorses, just under an hour northwest of Woodbine—Penfold didn’t expect to find the horse she had been looking for.
That all changed the instant she saw Lapochka – Russian for “sweetheart” – a striking chestnut who had made 84 career starts, with 20 wins and 47 top-three finishes, walking toward her.
“I was searching for a loving horse,” Penfold recalled of what had brought her to the 100-acre property, home to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, a horse retirement and adoption organization founded in 1999. “When I met him, he was so goofy and so loving and sweet.”
“I had the chance to ride him that day. I did a walk-trot, and I asked Lauren (LongRun farm manger, Millet) if I could canter him. So, I got him in a canter.”
That’s when a sudden realization struck.
“I already knew… I’m in love. As soon as I felt his beautiful, floaty canter, I knew, ‘This is my boy.’”
Penfold, still in the saddle, leaned down to Millet.
“I looked at Lauren and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”
If those initial moments weren’t already a clear sign they were meant to be, a glance at his personal information left Penfold momentarily at a loss for words.
“When I found out his birthday – January 30 – it’s the same as my grandfather’s, who passed away last year. It felt as if adopting this horse was meant to be – everything about it was right. I don’t know what it is about him. He has this energy, this silliness and this intelligence that combines to create this unique, wonderful personality.”
To start the adoption process, a representative from LongRun visited Troy, Ontario, a small community in the scenic countryside of Flamborough, and the farm where Penfold rides.
“They came and thoroughly checked the place, the other horses, and we got approved,” said Penfold.
Not long after the visit, Penfold received an email with an adoption form from LongRun.
She filled it out the same day.
Less than a week later, on Father’s Day, the 12-year-old son of English Channel out of the Absent Russian mare Russian Sweetpie was at his new home.
Lapochka, now known as Klaus – a nod to Penfold’s late grandfather’s last name, Kloster – fit in seamlessly.
“When I brought him here, we gave him a week to settle into his new surroundings. He had to be on his own for the first week because we have quite a few senior horses. We wanted to make sure everything went smoothly, health and safety-wise, with the transition for all the horses.
“He’s in with three other geldings and two mares. He became instant friends with one of my riding coach’s warmbloods. They look exactly the same, similar markings, except the other one is way bigger than him. They are like brothers. They drive each other nuts, but they love each other.”
Klaus also quickly captured the attention of the mares.
“He has two girlfriends. At first, it was just Missy, who is 27. They were obsessed with each other. And now, it’s Tango, who is a Thoroughbred, and she is 16. He loves the ladies. Every time I get to the farm and walk out to the field, he is out there grazing with the two girls.”
It is one of many scenes that gives Penfold a reason to smile.
“I love him. He’s wonderful. He is everything. He is your typical goofy gelding. He likes to chew on water bottles, and he likes to try and drink out of them, which obviously does not work for a horse. He is just awesome in every way. I read stories about how much people loved him during his racing days and it’s easy to see why.”
Klaus hasn’t lost a bit of his charm – or his trademark silliness.
Penfold is privileged to be the latest in a long line of many who adore the gelding.
“I have my coach training him. Twice a week, she trains him on her own and once a week she is doing training with me and him. We have been doing that for a few weeks and it’s going so well. He’s so smart. He’s a goofy guy and you wonder sometimes just how smart he is, but when you are in the saddle, you see how smart he is. He picks things up so quickly.
“Every so often, my coach will take some of the boarders and other horses to clinics she runs. If that comes up in the future, it would be something I would consider doing.”
For Penfold, what matters most is that the horse she once dreamed of bringing into her world has now become a reality.
It is something she is reminded of every time she arrives at the riding farm and sees the chestnut with the kind eyes, striking coat and playful personality
“He is my baby,” said Penfold. “He is everything to me. There is not one day where he doesn’t make me laugh. He is amazing.”
And above all, deeply loved.
“Every time I see him, it is reminder that these horses deserve nothing but love and the very best that humans can give back to them.”
