Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement

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Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement is a non-profit organization established to help rehabilitate, retrain, and re-home retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

10/09/2026

South Bend banked more than $700,000, won the Street Sense Stakes, and started in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. As BloodHorse notes, he’s traded racing shoes for springs — now jumping with Emily Castrenze, who used to gallop him for Mark Casse at the Thoroughbred Makeover.

Same horse. New job. Thoroughbreds can do just about anything!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1434208565509209

It was a beautiful yet very rainy day at Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement today! Jacky, Debbie and Sandy spent a rainy...
09/20/2026

It was a beautiful yet very rainy day at Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement today!

Jacky, Debbie and Sandy spent a rainy afternoon at Step Ahead with the Thoroughbreds — pulling manes, grooming coats, and making these beautiful horses look as lovely as they already are.The rain never let up, and somehow that only made it better.

Quiet stalls, soft nickers, and three of us fussing over horses who have already given so much. A simple day that felt exactly right. 🐴🌧️

08/18/2026

You want heart?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want courage?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want intelligence?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want grit?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want loyalty?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want an athlete who will dig deeper when you swear there’s nothing left to give?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want a horse that feels everything, notices everything, and somehow seems to know exactly what you’re thinking?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want one that will challenge you, humble you, test your patience, and make you earn their trust?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want a horse that was bred to compete, born to be an athlete, and carries generations of determination in every stride?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want a horse that can leave the racetrack and prove that one career was never going to define everything they were capable of becoming?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want versatility?
One that can race today, jump tomorrow, dance in a dressage ring, work cattle, hit the trails, or simply become somebody’s once-in-a-lifetime horse?
Get a Thoroughbred.

You want a horse that may make you question everything one day and make you feel like you could conquer the world together the next?
Get a Thoroughbred.

They are sensitive.
They are intelligent.
They are athletic.
They are resilient.
They are complicated.
They are courageous.
And they have more heart than can ever be measured by a stopwatch.

They don’t always take the easiest road.
But the best ones rarely do.

And when a Thoroughbred decides you are their person, when they trust you enough to give you everything they have, there is nothing quite like it.

Because racing may be what they were bred to do.

But heart?
Heart is simply who they are.

You want a horse you’ll never forget?

Get a Thoroughbred.

✨It’s not the end of their story — it’s the beginning✨

On July 4, 2026, Sarkar, a former Step Ahead resident (the grey TB in the picture),  sustained a 6-inch gash to his stom...
07/10/2026

On July 4, 2026, Sarkar, a former Step Ahead resident (the grey TB in the picture), sustained a 6-inch gash to his stomach after panicking from the massive explosions from a neighbor's commercial grade fireworks. Other horses in the area were left completely stressed out, sweating, running fences, and traumatized — some still showing signs of severe anxiety.

Horses are extremely sensitive to loud, sudden noises and bright flashes. What’s “fun” for some is terror and injury for these animals. Sarkar and the others didn’t deserve this. We need real restrictions on commercial-grade fireworks, especially in areas near livestock, horse properties, and residential neighborhoods with animals. Existing laws are clearly not enough when people treat powerful fireworks like toys with no concern for the consequences.

While we are thankful that Sarkar and his pasture-mates are okay, we hope this incident leads to real change.

Please contact your state legislators and urge them to support stronger restrictions on commercial fireworks. It only takes a minute to write them, but it can make a real difference.

Happy Birthday, Scupper! 🥳🥳🥳May your day be full of extra carrots, sunny gallops, and all the mane flips you deserve! ❤️...
06/06/2026

Happy Birthday, Scupper! 🥳🥳🥳

May your day be full of extra carrots, sunny gallops, and all the mane flips you deserve! ❤️🐴❤️🎉🎂🎈

Please join us in wishing Young Man (Man of Character by Outofthebox x Parting Shot by Buckhar) foaled May 11, 2007 a ve...
05/11/2026

Please join us in wishing Young Man (Man of Character by Outofthebox x Parting Shot by Buckhar) foaled May 11, 2007 a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 🥳🐴❤️✨️

Happy belated Birthday (04/10/13) to our handsome boy, Tom! 🎉 (Boston Patriot by Patriot Act x Holiday Honey by Harlan's...
04/13/2026

Happy belated Birthday (04/10/13) to our handsome boy, Tom! 🎉 (Boston Patriot by Patriot Act x Holiday Honey by Harlan's Holiday)

You're not just gorgeous- you've got such a big, fun personality that makes every day brighter! ⭐️

Hope your day was full of treats and love!
🥳🎂❤️🐴

Happy Easter from Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement! 🐰😋🐍❤️
04/05/2026

Happy Easter from Step Ahead Thoroughbred Retirement! 🐰😋🐍❤️

✨Happy Heavenly Birthday, John! ✨(Special Song a/k/a Johnny Rocket) foaled in Florida on April 1, 2008 by Songandaprayer...
04/01/2026

✨Happy Heavenly Birthday, John! ✨(Special Song a/k/a Johnny Rocket) foaled in Florida on April 1, 2008 by Songandaprayer x Kickapoo Princess by Unreal Zeal (35 starts 6/8/5 – purse winnings $118,647)

We remember our “John” today as he would have turned 18. His prior trainer had nicknamed him “Johnny Rocket” because he was unbelievably fast (Beyer 110!) and loved to run, as reflected by his racing career. 🐎

Johnny retired from racing and joined us at Step Ahead in 2014. He was a horse that seemed aware of his greatness and reveled in it. He was a powerhouse with a clowny side who loved to have his tongue pulled on and adored peppermints.

However, he selected his friends very carefully. No one could ever accuse him of being overabundant in his affections. One such friend was our barn dog, Mickey. Micky, also gone but not forgotten, was a very small but clever dog. One sunny day he was out in Johnny’s pasture and a coyote came sneaking up on him. Upon seeing this, Johnny took off galloping across the pasture and chased the terrified coyote away. Johnny saved Mickey’s life that day.

Johnny will also be remembered for his sweet nicker which reminded us throughout the day that we needed to hurry up and bring him in or bring him some hay. Sometimes he would just nicker to say hello. He was quite a character!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Johnny Rocket. We so dearly miss you! ❤

Happy 17th Birthday to our boy, Big Ed! 🥳 (Starship Storm). Ed was a formidable opponent on the track. 🏇 Now he's living...
03/29/2026

Happy 17th Birthday to our boy, Big Ed! 🥳 (Starship Storm). Ed was a formidable opponent on the track. 🏇 Now he's living his best life in full retirement mode: relaxed, leisurely, and loving every peaceful moment. 🐴 ❤️

Today we’re celebrating this incredible horse who continues to bring joy every single day. Here’s to many more happy, hay-filled years ahead, Big Ed! You’ve earned every bit of this easy life. 💕

Address

11519 Innfields Drive
Odessa, FL
33556

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 1pm
Wednesday 9am - 1pm
Thursday 9am - 1pm
Friday 9am - 1pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+18132159906

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