Disruption, a 2010 Thoroughbred gelding, started his career in 2012 as a racehorse in Washington with his trainer and co-owner, Monique Snowden. While racing, Disruption, also known as Bruce, had a stellar career winning five out of 16 starts and earning over $100,000 in prize money over the course of four years.
Before working at the racetrack as licensed trainer and exercise rider, Snowden was an upper-level, competitive eventer. She decided to cross-train Bruce to demonstrate that a dressage foundation strengthened both sides of the horse's body equally and gave the horse and rider a deeper connection. Many thoroughbreds are very intelligent and need more than just racing to keep their minds occupied at a young age. The extended education for Bruce kept him mentally stimulated and challenged. It gave his body a break from running as he and Snowden toggled back and forth between disciplines. The risk was that he would not run as fast or perform like a racehorse, but Bruce proved that myth to be invalid.
In a tragic turn of events, Snowden took her life at the young age of 37-years-old. Bruce was retired after Snowden's death and found a new home at Second Chance Ranch (SCR) where he quickly embraced his new job as "equine coach" in their suicide-prevention programs. At SCR, Bruce is a part of their Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program called Leading With Horses. His job at SCR includes participation in the Equine Art program which aims to make creative expression and art therapy fun for people of all ages. The program serves both military families and youth programs for those coping with various degrees of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, with a focus on suicide prevention, anti-bullying, and substance abuse.
Bruce has stepped up to every challenge and exhibits a genuine love and understanding of what people need. For a horse that is always thinking ahead and needing stimulation, he never loses patience with people. While working in the SCR agility course or art program, if something is difficult for a guest, Bruce will move onto something else and then circle back to the original task. For example, if a guest repeatedly does something incorrectly, Bruce will lead them to another prop or task in the course, and then return to the original task later so the guest can give it another try.
The first thing that people recognize about Bruce is his exceptional intelligence and intuition. He has an eye that immediately connects with people. He captures and keeps the attention of everyone he works with. Bruce is patient and affectionate, but also politely demands attention and wants to be included in conversation. In the pasture, Bruce will go from horse to horse to get their attention and try to start a game of horse-play.
Bruce is the 2019 recipient of the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Thoroughbred of the Year Award, which honors Thoroughbreds in non-competitive careers, such as equine-assisted therapy or police work. With every recognition that Bruce receives, it is even more special for SCR guests to spend time with this honored horse. For Bruce, he gets to honor Monique Snowden and represent the heart and confidence she gave him. He is most deserving of the honor of being inducted into the Horse Stars Hall of Fame.
