With summer in full swing, it’s time for me to share my spring farm photos. In this post I’ll share photos I took this past spring at Old Friends at Cabin Creek, the thoroughbred retirement farm where I volunteer. As always, if you purchase prints of any of these photos, I will donate my profit to the farm. Click here to view my previous Old Friends posts.
In April we had our annual birthday party for the boys. Pictured are donation boxes for some of the boys.
Volunteers enjoy a toast of Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps before the festivities begin.
Volunteer Lenny plays a song about the boys to other volunteers.
Some candids of volunteers at the party.
Riddle items containing all sorts of goodies entice visitors.
Volunteer Cathy gives King Congie a pet.
King Congie runs in his paddock.
Upset, the mascot of Dark Horse Mercantile, looks out from the round pen.
Trainer Carl Domino poses with his dog and King Congie.
Hall of Fame jockey Ramón Domínguez, friend of the farm Kariann, retired track announcer Tom Durkin, and trainer Carl Domino pose for a photo in the barn.
Hall of Fame jockey Ramón Domínguez pets Mr. Cowboy, whom he rode to victory at Saratoga in 2012.
Volunteer Mary gives a treat to This Hard Land.
Volunteer John introduces visitors to A Shin Forward, the third highest-earning New York bred of all time.
Volunteer Wendy and friend of the farm Sophia race Mr. Cowboy down the hill.
King Congie was full of it that day! Click here to order a print of this photo.
It’s hard to resist photographing this handsome face!
In May, we sadly lost our beloved Handy Stan at the age of 14. Below is a tribute video I made for him. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
In May, we also welcomed the farm’s newest resident, Valiant Crusader. He is the son of the late Crusader Sword, who also lived at the farm. In this photo, JoAnn leads him to his paddock to be turned out for the first time.
Valiant Crusader occupies the same paddock his father occupied during his Cabin Creek days.
I love looking down on the farm from above.
In June we had a brunch in honor of Commentator, as the Commentator Stakes, named in his honor, was run at Saratoga this year as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Old Friends at Cabin Creek owner JoAnn Pepper and Old Friends CEO and President John Nicholson pose with Tator himself for a photo.
Tator’s halter was auctioned off, and farm visitor Leslie was the winner. Here, JoAnn removes his halter and presents it to Leslie.
To see more of my Saratoga and equine photography, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and X. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
Love these pictures!