DEVGRU – A CANTER AZ Success Story
of Rehabilitation and Hope
By Adam M. Trenk, Esq. and Dennis Miller
I
n September of 2012, Dennis Miller, founding board member of
CANTER Arizona, acquired a four-year-old gelding, named DEVGRU.
He turned out to be a wonderful horse. He was professional in every
respect, easy to be around and spirited on the track. Over the course of the
next six months, DEVGRU won two races and finished second place in a
photo finish in another.
In January 2013, DEVGRU returned from the track after a poor race with
some pressure in his left knee. A vet check revealed a strong possibility of
bone chips and unfortunately DEVGRU’s racing days were over.
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The mission of CANTER, which stands for the Communication Alliance
to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses, is to transition horses from the
racetrack to new homes with new jobs. This program has two phases.
Phase I is a free listing service for owners and trainers to list their horses
online in an effort to place them in a new home. Phase II is a program
whereby CANTER will adopt a horse that is sound enough to undergo
training for a new career. Once able, a re-trained horse will be offered to a
new owner for an adoption fee, and the promise of a new career.
Although DEVGRU would not be an immediate candidate for adoption,
Dennis contacted Adam Trenk in his capacity as CANTER’s Executive
Director about DEVGRU. They discussed whether or not they would take
him into the CANTER Arizona’s Phase II program. To make a long story
short, they agreed that CANTER would adopt DEVGRU if Dennis would
be responsible for the cost of the surgery DEVGRU would likely need.
Ultimately, Dr. Mark Anderson of Prescott Animal hospital agreed to
perform the surgery at a great discount, allowing DEVGRU to receive the
care he needed.
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While the surgery was successful, it revealed DEVGRU’S injury was more
extensive than expected with numerous bone chips in both his upper and
lower knee joint. DEVGRU would have a long recovery, and went to Bit
O Luck Farm to recuperate under the watchful eye of owner Vicki Dryer.
Vicki’s facility is recognized by the Arizona Department of Racing to rehab
and train ex-racehorses horses on behalf of CANTER.
Rehabilitation was not without setbacks. Time and again DEVGRU
appeared to be progressing enough to be turned out, only to come back
sore and swollen. There was even a time the CANTER board discussed
the possibility of euthanasia. Fortunately, the decision was made to give
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continued on page 10
AZintheSaddle.com
May 2014
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