Meet… Bourbon, The Therapy Pony at Barn 32 

“I’ve had him for about six months,” Robert Falcone Jr. of Falcone Jr. Racing tells me when we meet at Barn 32 to get a look at Bourbon, his therapy pony. He’s adorable. And very friendly! 

Bourbon is the resident therapy pony for the 18 horses Falcone trains, visiting when they are anxious and calming them down with unique social skills that were once associated more with dogs. I make the mistake of asking if I can see Bourbon interacting with some of the horses while I’m there. Robert gently corrects the notion. “No,” he says, shaking his head. “Bourbon comes out to be with the horses if they are riled up and nervous about something. Look around the barn now,” he opens his arms and waves towards the horses in their stalls, chomping on bales of hay, peeking out to see who I am. “See how calm they are? Everyone is good at the moment, I’d disrupt things if I brought the pony out now.” 

Falcone shares that his lifelong love for horses led him to the track at an early age, and that he worked under Dominick Schettino while still in school, before taking over the training of horses belonging to his father, Robert Falcone Sr., at the age of 20. 

“I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t thinking about horses,” Robert smiles as he looks down the expansive barn, nodding at people walking by. I ask him about a big teddy bear hanging from one of the stall’s doorways. “What’s that all about?” I ask him, remembering teddy bears from my childhood, how I’d hug them and gain some comfort when I was upset. I’m not surprised when he explains that the stuffed animal is a support friend to the horse there. 

“I made my start at Belmont with a few horses my father owned. My stable has grown since then, and my client list is a robust one.” Robert names a few of the eighteen horses he works with now: Nilos Rose, Bint Al Dandy, Cristobal, Castle Chaos, and Commuted are just a few. “They are all so different,” he tells me. “And our training approach is hands-on, where we can and do prioritize each horse’s health and well-being.” In Falcone’s program, proper nutrition, specific conditioning routines, and mental/emotional stimulation are paramount. 

“Where will Bourbon go after the Saratoga meet?” I ask, gazing at the friendly pony who lets me get close to pet her. “She follows us – after here, we’ll head back to Belmont.”  Robert has a highly competitive stable on the East Coast Circuit. He trains at Belmont, Saratoga, Monmouth Park, Keeneland, Fairgrounds, and Gulfstream during each of their respective meets.  

Before I say goodbye and thank him for letting me meet the pony, I ask how Bourbon got his name. Robert grins. “I love Bourbon and I love horses, it made sense to give this special pony an extra-special name.” His pony is therapy for everyone, not just other horses. People come to visit while working here at the barn every day, and Robert’s niece and nephew are often seen riding Bourbon around the grounds. It’s easy to imagine smiling faces as various individuals spend time with him. I certainly feel as if Bourbon has lent me some calm and mental clarity during my visit, which I genuinely appreciate! I turn to see that Bourbon is still watching me walk away. One last wave and I’m at the car, ready to face the day ahead.