Meet Lorna, The New Horse At Maymont Farm

 

Richmond, Virginia – Maymont welcomed a new horse this week to Maymont Farm. Lorna, a retired thoroughbred mare from Maryland, comes to Maymont through the Equine Welfare Society (EWS), a horse rescue organization based in Keswick, Virginia. She joins Artie and Dani, retired carriage horses and longtime Maymont residents, in the pasture at Maymont Farm, which also houses cows, goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas, chickens, ducks and a Sicilian donkey.

Lorna, a bright chestnut mare who stands a stately 16 hands tall (64 inches from the ground to her withers), was born in 2011. She had a brief career as a racehorse and broodmare under the name Count My Blessings until she was retired and placed with EWS.

Lorna’s pedigree includes the legendary Secretariat, the Virginia-born-and-raised 1973 Triple Crown winner, as well as other notable Kentucky Derby winners, Northern Dancer and Swaps. Longtime horse racing fans might note a resemblance in her coppery coat and white star marking to another of her great great-grandsires, Alydar, who was famous as the archrival to 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed.

While Lorna can no longer support being ridden, she has proven to be an excellent pasture-mate at EWS. She is already proving to be a good companion for Artie, 18, and Dani, 29.

“Lorna seems to enjoy her new surroundings and her new companions. She is a natural at posing for photographs and seems to know when cameras are pointed in her direction,” said Parke Richeson, President and CEO of Maymont Foundation. “Maymont is happy to give her a new forever home.”

Free parking is available at Maymont Farm, 1001 Spottswood Road, which is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily, free of charge (closing at 4 pm through the end of Garden Glow on November 10).

About Maymont

Maymont, located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, is a well-preserved 100 acres where all are welcome to connect with history, nature, wildlife and each other. Built as a Gilded Age estate overlooking the James River, Maymont opened to the public in 1926 and today offers free admission to explore its miles of walking paths through rolling hills, beautiful landscaped gardens, a petting farm and the Virginia Wildlife Trail with habitats for rescued native animals. In addition, Maymont offers guided and self-guided tours of the 1893 Maymont Mansion*, historic estate buildings and gardens, plus the immersive “Run of the River” experience highlighting the remarkable ecology of the James River in The Robins Nature Center. Since 1975, the nonprofit Maymont Foundation has been entrusted to care for this unique place, galvanizing community support around its mission to delight, educate and inspire all who visit. Maymont annually welcomes over 800,000 guests and is consistently ranked among the region’s top attractions by travelers and locals alike.

*The Mansion is currently closed for a roof restoration project, and portions of the Virginia Wildlife Trail are undergoing an enhancement and expansion project. Learn more here.

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Note to editors: Images are available upon request to mabernathy@maymont.org.