When the Southern Belle Thoroughbreds ad for a recent retiree popped up on Nicola Bowers’ Facebook feed, she and her daughter Abbey Fraser weren’t in the market for a new horse – but there was something about the tall, gentle-looking bay named Society Joe that, quite literally, caught their eye.
“I paused, looked at it, read it through, and said to Abbey, ‘Hey, how about a one-eyed horse?'” Bowers recalled. “I got a vibe from the pictures and the description, and she got that same feeling when she looked at him.”
“It said his price was reduced,” Fraser followed. “I think he had been waiting a while, and I felt really bad because I could tell he was a great guy, and he deserved a good home.
“I know a lot of people were scrolling away because of the one eye, but to me that didn't mean anything, because having one eye doesn't mean he's not as good as all the other horses.”
Expressing an aligned interest, Bowers and Fraser reached out to Southern Belle for more information about the now 9-year-old son of Society’s Chairman–Jonjack.
Before anything was finalized, though, Fraser – an avid horse show competitor – had a decision to make.
“We had a brief discussion about it being very unlikely this horse will be in her show plans for 2026, because her plan was initially to compete higher and do the 2’9” and 3-foot Hunters,” told Bowers.
To which her daughter responded, “I'm thinking about changing all my plans for next year for this horse.”
Their initial assessments of Society Joe, who earned the nickname “One-Eyed Wonder Horse” after an improbable 40-1 victory in the 2024 Puss N Boots Cup Stakes at Fort Erie, proved spot-on from screen to reality.
“He's super sweet, he tries really hard, and he’s just a really great guy,” lauded Fraser. “I posted pictures and videos when we first got him and had a bunch of people commenting on my stuff saying they knew him and he's so sweet, and I really understand where they were coming from.
“He’s just a big puppy dog.”
Coming off the trailer for the first time, Society Joe’s observant nature immediately stuck out to the 16-year-old Fraser.
“He's very aware of everything,” she said. “He likes to know what's going on, and he likes to know where you are. Say that you're grooming him, and if you're on the side and he can't see, he likes it when you talk to him, so he knows where you are.”
Getting the gelding, who made 50 starts across his six-year racing career, settled into his new surroundings also revealed a particular quirk in his palate.
“One of his favourites are strawberry granola bars,” said Fraser with a laugh. “When we first got him, he didn't know what treats were, which was a bit sad, but over time, I’ve gotten him to like eating treats. He's super picky about them – he really only likes specific ones – so when he really seemed to like those, we thought it was really funny.”
In Society Joe, Fraser sees constant reminders of her last treasured retiree, Salem, who passed away in January of 2025.
“I've noticed they have a lot of the same quirks: they both like really unusual treats, the way they move is both really similar, they're both bays, both geldings and they have some similar markings.”
Seeing those shared traits only deepens their conviction that giving their adoptees a chance to enjoy a well-earned retirement comes before all.
“Spoiling them is our number one thing,” added Bowers. “It's horse first, and what they can do second.”
With Society Joe being their third off-track Thoroughbred, both Bowers and Fraser never get tired of seeing former racehorses thrive in their next chapters.
“We know they put in their work, so now it's all about enjoying them and enjoying our time with them,” said Bowers. “If we want to compete in a horse show and they enjoy it, then we'll go do that. If they only want to do it once or twice, then we'll figure out something else to do with them.
“The Thoroughbreds are such athletes and a lot of them really do enjoy working, so finding them second careers just seems like a natural fit.”
The newest addition to the mother-daughter team being such an athletic marvel made finding his new calling a breeze.
“He's definitely got the classic Hunter movement and jump that they'll be looking for in the show ring, so that's where they're headed one day,” said Bowers.
Fraser, who has already watched her budding star make noticeable strides, feels the same way.
“As he's relaxed into his new career, he's definitely gotten a bit flatter with his movements – but not in a bad way, in the typical Hunter way that we want him to be going. When it comes to jumping, too, he's got quite a natural talent for it, in my opinion. He looks great doing it and his technique is amazing.”
One of Fraser’s goals is to compete in the Thoroughbred classes at the Royal Horse Show, as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, with Society Joe – or “Cookie Monster” as he will be known on the show circuit.
It’s a name, which Fraser said came together out of the blue, but carries a meaning that feels entirely their own.
“Once we decided we're going to get him, I looked at horse names online and I saw a bunch of food ones, but none of them really fit him. Then, I got a random idea because I have a baking business – I bake cookies – so I thought of the name ‘Cookie.’ I also thought it worked because of his missing eye. I like to say it's like a missing chocolate chip.”
Perhaps the new moniker may even give way to a new favourite snack.
“He's never tried cookies before, but maybe he will someday, and we'll see how he likes them,” Fraser added with a laugh.
One certainty is that Society Joe has found his calling with Bowers and Fraser, who make at least four trips each week to visit him at the barn where he’s stabled.
The hard-working Ontario-bred, whom they first laid eyes on by complete chance, has proven to be everything they’d hoped for and more.
And for Fraser, the kind of horse you shift priorities for without hesitation.
“He just means a lot to me, in general. I've worked with green horses a bunch before, but this is the first one I've actually owned and worked with. I wasn't planning to start working with horses until I was about 20, so a little bit earlier than I expected – but that's okay. He’s worth it.”
Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine