KPBS is featuring a story by Frank Deford of NPR about a horse that raises money for less fortunate horses by painting abstract pictures.
A happier Thanksgiving for horses and humans
Like many broken-down thoroughbreds, Metro Meteor could have simply ended up being sent to slaughter, but Ron Krajewski, an artist and his wife, Wendy, were looking for a horse to use in trail riding and adopted him.
The horse, Metro Meteor, is a thoroughbred foaled in 2003. Over the years, he competed at Belmont, Saratoga and other tracks earning close to $300,000 before a knee condition ended his racing career.
Like many broken-down thoroughbreds, Metro Meteor could have simply ended up being sent to slaughter, but Ron Krajewski, an artist who lives in Gettysburg, Pa., and his wife, Wendy, were looking for a horse to use in trail riding and adopted him.
Soon, the Krajewskis found that the horse's knees were so bad they couldn't use him to ride trails. In addition, a vet told them that Metro Meteor's condition was terminal.
By then, the Krajewskis loved their horse, a nd when Ron noticed that Metro Meteor liked to bob his head up and down, he decided to put a brush in the horse's mouth where a bit used to be, and put a canvas in front of him to see what would happen.
Incredibly, the horse painted in big, colorful brushstrokes, and, in fact, became a best-selling artist at a gallery in Gettysburg. The horse's paintings have been compared to famous impressionist paintings.
Using part of the money from his paintings, the Krajewskis decided to find a way to save Metro Meteor's life. A young vet, Dr. Kim Brokaw, worked up an experimental treatment that reversed the bone growth. The knees are still a problem, but, thankfully, Metro Meteor can at least walk the trails.
And the rest of the money that Metro Meteor makes painting? It goes to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, which helps retired thoroughbreds find homes and get new careers.
Now many old horses can give thanks that an equine pal has donated almost $45,000 from the sale of his works to keep them alive and loved.
As Ron Krajewski says, his artist partner is "the unofficial spokeshorse for racehorse adoption."