AGE: April 3, 2015

BREEDING: Artie Schiller - Beautiful Noise, by Sunny’s Halo

RACING STATS: 4 Starts: 0 First, 1 Seconds, 0 Thirds. Won $8,730

SEX: Gelding

HEIGHT: 16.2 hh

ABOUT: Art of Listening came to Akindale through Beyond the Wire in 2018. At the time, he showed tremendous potential for a second career, so he was sent to a trainer in Virginia to begin his retraining and prepare for the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover.

Beautiful, athletic, and immensely talented, Art of Listening progressed well in his training and went on to compete in show jumping at the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover in 2019. Following the RRP, however, he began to develop a concerning rearing problem that made it clear something wasn't right.

Art of Listening was then sent to another trainer who specialized in working with more difficult and complicated horses. After receiving a thorough veterinary workup, he was diagnosed with severe kissing spine, providing an explanation for the behavior he had begun displaying under saddle.

With his comfort and well-being as the priority, the decision was made to retire him from riding. Art of Listening returned home to New York and became a permanent member of Akindale's sanctuary. Today, he enjoys a peaceful retirement with his herd, where he can simply be a horse and receive the lifelong care he deserves.