Potomac was a wonderful and special horse whose spirit grew to personify and re-shape our rescue.

Potomac was born to race, and under the name of "Cliff's Place", he did it well. He was descended from the Great racehorse, Native Dancer. He raced 40 times throughout the United States and earned more than $270,000.00 in career earnings. He was bred, born, and raised in the bluegrass of Kentucky until he was sold as a yearling at the prestigious Thoroughbred sale, Keeneland.

As happens with the vast majority of racehorses, Cliff's Place's racing career began to decline and he was passed on from owner to owner. We will never know where he ended his racing days, but we do know that he eventually fell into a life of terrible neglect and abuse. He developed debilitating and agonizing osteoarthritis and was denied even the most basic vet care. At the age of 20 his abuse had grown so bad that he was finally taken from his owner by the Clark County Animal Control. This is when he came to live with us here at Shiloh.

He was renamed Potomac after the historic and beautiful river and like that river he had an incredible, but quiet, strength. He never let his physical disabilities stop his curiosity or love of life. We will never forget the way he could not wait to get out of his corral in the morning and make his daily rounds of the ranch. He was probably the only stallion that could be controlled by a mere fly mask, even when around mares! Despite the unbelievable cruelty he had endured at the hand of humans, he never once laid back his ears or became angry. He was always kind, patient, and gentle.

For those of us fortunate enough to have loved him, Potomac was a horse to be admired and respected. He had our compassion, but did not need our pity. He taught us that there is much that can be endured and that life is to be lived and that our spirits can rise above the ignorance, greed, pettiness, and cruelty that sometimes surrounds us.

In the end it wasn't his incredible spirit that gave out- but his body. His huge heart, that had endured so much and had propelled him over the finish line countless times, finally slowed down. As he left us, we reminded him that he now would have four strong legs and that he could once again gallop and play without any pain. I know that he is finally at peace and that he knows that he was loved by us here at Shiloh.

We are better people for having known Potomac and for learning the lessons that he taught us in those all too brief months. Someday, we will be reunited and I will see him running free, strong, and healthy. I know that he will truly be a sight to see.