After Racing: Retraining Thoroughbreds

Magic is really settling in well into life at the barn. Its pretty laid back here with not a lot of action, so its a great place for exracers to come and learn that life can have a slower pace. He does have some bite marks on his butt, but nothing terrible. He seems to have quickly figured out his place in the herd. He is also buddies with River, who is another TB gelding at the barn. I've seen the two of them running around together and playing. Their favorite game seems to be "I'm going to bite your butt and run!" Its pretty comical.

I don't know if Magic had been lunged before, but he took to it pretty quickly. Its been cold and I've wanted to take it fairly easy on him, so he's just been working on the lunge so far this week. However, I do plan to get on him tomorrow. I don't think it will be a big issue. I would have ridden him today, however I was by myself at the barn much of the time and I make it a practice not to get on a track horse for the first time when I'm by myself. They usually don't do anything stupid, but you just never know. I'd rather be safe than sorry. And I know there will be others out there tomorrow, so that will work out fine. Plus, I'll have the week to prepare him for the upcoming clinic with Linda H, and it would be a good thing to have a couple rides on him before we go.

Roman is also going to the clinic. I'm really thrilled with how well he is doing. I rode him again today and he did really well. Like most exracers, he has a hard time getting off of his right front leg. When tracking right, moving outwards on the circle is really difficult for him, even at a walk, he really has to work to lift the right shoulder and move it over to the outside. It will get better with time. He's also going through a growth spurt right now. He was 15.1 and fairly level when he arrived in November. He's currently 15.2 in front and 15.3 behind. That doesn't make it ay easier to lift the front end. Speaking of growing, his last baby teeth are falling out and his canines are starting to come in.

I lunged him outside yesterday too. He did great! I also let him run around the outdoor to get some action shots of him. These aren't bad considering he's having a hard time lifting the front end up and his neck is a little on the short side (not to mention being totally upside down from racing). Once he really gets some carrying strength and builds the right kind of muscle, he is going to be a very nice mover!

Isn't he just the cutest thing you've ever seen? JC has been adopted! Yippee! Congrats to Pam Groth of Madison, Wisconsin. Pam snapped this picture of JC and I when she was down to visit on Valentine's weekend.

After a little time off for a stone bruise, Roman was officially started under saddle yesterday. I couldn't have been more proud of him! We started off working in hand with the dressage whip so that he understands moving away from pressure. He quickly figured out about moving away from the tapping without over-reacting. He also figured out about moving towards me when I tapped on the far side of his body (so, away from tapping even if it is towards me).

He was very agreeable under saddle. If anything, he was a little sluggish. He was not opposed to me carrying a whip and moved any of the body parts over that I tapped on. This was very good in getting him to move his shoulders and/or haunches out and over on the circle. I finished the ride on a high note, which was when we actually had 5-6 trot strides with him stretching down over his topline into contact. He was such a good boy!

I really don't think the ride could have gone better and I'm really looking forward to watching him develop under saddle.

Magic arrived on Saturday afternoon. He has since settled in nicely and is doing very well. He is a real sweetheart! I think its a little strange for him since this is probably one of the first times that he has gone somewhere that Tianna didn't take care of him. Tianna was his owner/trainer. He was a little worried at first, but seems to have really settled in well.

I worked with him Monday on the lunge line. He was happy to be out and about. He has a VERY nice trot and figured out lunging quite easily. He also picked up both correct leads at the canter on the first try. I could tell he was uncertain about what we were doing, but he tried hard and that's all I can ask for. I was quite pleased.

After lunging I worked with him a little in hand getting him used to a dressage whip and moving his haunches or shoulders over when they are tapped. This is how I start to teach them to come to me at the mounting block. He's very smart and tries really hard to do what I ask.

Some old friends of mine from Wisconsin came down to see JC this past weekend. It was a wonderful time for all. JC was his usual, charming self. I think he won their hearts for sure. He had multiple riders, including myself, Nicki Butler (my old riding instructor and the person who will be his trainer), Olivia (the daughter of the woman buying him) and Denise (another friend and experienced horse woman). I really don't think it could have gone better. In fact, it was nice enough on Monday morning that we were able to lunge him outside and they could see him canter. I also rode him at the canter so that they could see what he was like. He's such a good boy.

The next step for him is to plan the vet check. After that, its just a matter of finding him a ride to Wisconsin on or around April 1. :)

Around 2pm on Saturday, I was heading out to the pasture to get Jewel and JC to ride them when I noticed a horse blanket in the round bale feeder. Then I noticed a leg sticking up out of it! *GASP* It was Tara, or "granny" as I call her -- the 36 year old Arab mare. As I looked closer, I could see three of her legs sticking up out of the feeder. It looked as though she had finally passed and just happened to fall into the round bale holder when she did. Poor girl. Her pasture buddy Count, he happens to be the alpha horse in the herd, guarded her body and licked her face. I ran over to the house to see if anyone was home who could help me get her out of the feeder. There wasn't. I ran back to the paddock and called the barn owner, who was in Tennessee to let her know that granny had died. As soon as I said the word "granny" out loud, Tara picked up her head and looked at me. She wasn't dead after all. Now I had to figure out how to get her out of the feeder. Upon closer inspection, I could see she was laying on her right side with her right front leg wedged up against the inside wall of the feeder. All three of her other legs were up over the side of the feeder and she was laying on a huge pile of hay. I don't know how she got herself in there, but she was smart enough to know not to struggle.

I'm not too familiar with round bale feeders, so I don't know if they're all like this, but this particular feeder was in three sections. It was held together with rebar. Pull the rebar out and the three sections came apart. Unfortunately, the feeder was partially burried in the ground. I don't know where the strength came from, but I was able to get the rebar out and pull each section out of the ground on my own. I only had to move two of the sections to get Granny free. I didn't know how long she had been laying there, but she looked a little shocky to me. However, within a minute of being free of the feeder, she stood up. She favored her right hind and held it in the air, but would walk on it gingerly to move about.

During this entire time, I had been on the phone with the barn owner's daughter, who was coordinating help to move the feeder, as well as talking with the vet. After she finally got up, I spoke with the vet and told him that there were no cuts or broken bones that I could see. He said to give her 2 grams of bute and let her rest in her stall for the next day or so. He also said to keep in touch if her condition worsened.

Thankfully, my dear friend Nicki, who is a certified equine massage therapist was visiting and got there later Saturday afternoon. She also does energy work and was happy to do work on Granny's hip. She worked on her for probably 1/2 an hour Saturday afternoon and I believe made a significant difference. Granny looked much improved Sunday and as well today and doesn't seem any worse for the wear.

I'm pleased to announce a new horse that will be in training with me. His name is Magic Trial and his owner is Chris from Florida. Magic will be arriving on Valentine's Day. He is a 2001 TB ex-racehorse who was locally bred and raced. He will be getting a good foundation for a new career and new home. I'm looking forward to working with him!

Here are a couple new videos of JC. This first is one of JC's newly acquired skills. He has overcome his fear of riding crops and can now be directed into position for mounting at the mounting block. He also stands quietly for mounting.

The second video is just general work under saddle. He quietly and happily goes about his business.

Just a quick update on everybody:

Roman
This guy is turning out to be a solid citizen and is a VERY nice mover. I was quite surprised to put him on the lunge and see a lovely trot with suspension. Too cool! I'm looking forward to seeing how things go with him.

JC
Has a hidden tooth that needs taking care of (a wolf tooth hidden under the skin). Other than that, he's doing great. I took him out on his first trail ride the other day and he was fabulous! We were alone and he was just fine. What a good boy! He also has a serious adoption application submitted on him. Some friends of mine from Wisconsin are coming down to look at him next weekend. I'm very excited about it!

Stormy
Stormy is moving today to a barn with a trail rider who will be putting more time on him. That is what he needs. I think its the perfect situation for him.

Legend
New horse that I haven't received yet. He'll be coming at the end of the month. I'm excited to meet him!

Jewel
Doing very well! She got her first intentionally done flying changes yesterday. I was so proud I almost cried. :)

More to come!!!