06/16/2026
✨ OTTBs can accomplish ANYTHING✨
When Secretariat Center graduate Peace Cry—now known as Lucien—left our program, we knew he was special. A Godolphin-owned and bred Thoroughbred, Lucien has continued to prove just how extraordinary off-track Thoroughbreds can be.
After surviving a horrific car accident in 2021, Lucien's owner, Ashley Rusch, was told she would never ride a horse again. But neither Ashley nor Lucien were willing to accept that ending.
After 12 long, excruciating, and patient months, Lucien helped Ashley beat the odds and get back in the saddle. While they could no longer pursue barrel racing or rope cattle, they refused to let that stop them.
Today, Ashley and Lucien are a certified mounted search and rescue/patrol team for the Menominee County Sheriff's Department in Michigan. Out of five horse-and-rider teams tested, they were the only team to earn certification.
The testing was grueling—including operating a chainsaw from the saddle while Lucien stood calmly beneath his rider. Their bond, relationship, trust, and teamwork prevailed.
Ashley was recently sworn in under oath with the Sheriff, while Lucien proudly received his patrol and search-and-rescue breast collar. Together, they now serve their community and help save lives.
We are incredibly proud of Ashley and Lucien and honored that a Secretariat Center graduate is making such an impact.
Stories like this remind us why aftercare matters. Off-track Thoroughbreds are athletes. They are partners. They are healers. And they are capable of anything.
Congratulations, Ashley, ruschash, and Lucien. Your journey is an inspiration to us all. ❤️🐴
