Lord a harness evangelist

A young harness horse owner based at Vernon Downs is looking to share his love of working with Standardbreds with disabled children. Chase Lord, who lives in Corfu, N.Y., is currently traveling throughout New York State to introduce people to his Mossy Creek Foundation, a program he is developing which will allow children with disabilities to work therapeutically with harness horses.

Lord and several trainers at Vernon Downs will be hosting an open house for children and parents, at which they can get up close and personal with harness horses at Vernon Downs on Thursday, July 13 and Thursday, July 20. Children will be able to learn about the Standardbred horse, see how a horse is harnessed and hitched to a sulky, and talk to drivers and trainers in the sport.

Lord and his horse, Market Street Kash, have already appeared at several county fairs in New York during the racing programs to lead the post parades. The pair will continue to do so during the summer in order to raise awareness about the new program and answer questions.

Lord, who is 21-years-old and has cerebral palsy, is creating this program in cooperation with the Root Farm in Vernon, N.Y., which has offered therapeutic riding since 1999 and wanted to develop a program with harness horses. Lord is currently working under the auspices of the Root Farm and is seeking not-for-profit status for the foundation.

"I'm in the same position as the kids are," Lord explained. He uses canes and sometimes a wheelchair to get around. "There are a couple kids around here who have disabilities and I'm working with the farm to see how we need to adapt and modify for individual kids and their abilities."

Originally from suburban Buffalo, Lord was introduced to harness racing by his uncle and later was given his first Standardbred, Mossy Creek, in 2002 when his racing career was complete. Although that pacing gelding died two years ago he is the namesake of Lord's foundation -- and the inspiration for the endeavor.

Although Lord had owned horses for some time and watched their conditioning, it wasn't until he received strong encouragement from Vernon Downs-based trainer-driver Howard Okusko, Jr. that he finally mustered the courage to get in a sulky and jog a horse on the racetrack. Being a more active part of the care of his racehorses is now something he enjoys and wanted to share with children who face similar challenges.

"Kids want to do things like everyone else, even if they are in a wheelchair or have to use canes," Lord explained. "It gives them an equal playing field, plus they have the opportunity to have control over something that is bigger than them -- a 1,000 pound animal. This empowers kids and I think it helps their self confidence."

"Kids think horses are the greatest things in the world," Lord added. "When they are working with horses they have the freedom to do the things everyone else can do."

Lord attends the State University of New York--Morrisville and has just completed his associate degree in equine racing management and business. He plans to pursue another degree in gaming and casino management, beginning this fall.

For more information about the Mossy Creek Foundation, or to find out what tracks and county fairs Lord will be visiting this summer, contact him at (315) 825-6391, or via e-mail at Lordstables@yahoo.com.

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