After Racing: Retraining Thoroughbreds

Roxie is really coming along nicely. I'm quite pleased with her! The tenderness of her ears is decreasing despite the fact that her ear plaque is coming back. :( She also has some funky looking warts on her vulva and anus, so I'll be having the vet out to check on those. I think part of her tenderness is just plain old head-shyness, but when combined with very sensitive ears, it makes for a difficult time bridling and haltering. The good news is that we can now halter without issue. Bridling has come a long way as well. The first time I tried to bridle her, I resolved to taking the bridle apart after nearly 20 minutes of struggling. Now, I no longer have to take it apart and she stands quietly. I still have to take things slowly with no sudden movements. And I have to talk to her and love on her the entire time. But, she allows me to bend her ears and put the bridle on. It is no longer a huge production. So I'd say that's improvement!

Under saddle, I couldn't be more pleased. She is learning to come to me at the mounting block. She pretty much has the "come to me" part figured out. Its the proximity that she needs to work on. That is to say that she gets too close. But still, to have a whip-shy, head-shy horse be able to take direction from someone on a mounting block holding a whip and then stand quietly for mounting is a pretty big accomplishment.

Her gaits and temperament under saddle couldn't be nicer. She is a very floaty mover with long, stretchy strides. She responds wonderfully to the seat and shifting in weight. She's doing so well that we're registered for the February 6th dressage show at Foxton Farms. Part of this is to get her out and let people see her go. Another part is to see how her mind handles going to a new place with new horses. The only other time she's done that has been to go to the track. She could be just fine. She could be a spaz. We'll see. ;) We'll be riding in Intro A & B (just walk/trot). I don't think it will be a big deal as long as she settles into things. I'm also taking Jewel and riding Training 4 and First 1. It should be a fun day!

I was contacted by Jennifer Haas Hoyt of Eclipse Press in December about possibly reviewing a book about success stories of off-track Thoroughbreds.  With my passion for exracers, how could I do anything but say "Of Course!"  The official title of the book is Second-Chance Horses: Inspiring Stories of Ex-Racehorses Succeeding in New Careers.  That sounds pretty much right up my alley...doesn't it?

I finally got around to starting it yesterday (and finished it this morning).  Second-Chance Horses a moderate size at 214 pages.  The version sent to me is a hardcover with a lovely full-color dust jacket.  There is a really nice forward written by Nick Nicholson, the president and CEO of the Keeneland Association, 18 chapters of wonderful stories (usually just one store per chapter) and its followed up with a Rescue Resource Guide listing equine rescues that work on placing exracers.

The stories are heartwarming and entertaining.  They are well written and many contain multiple B&W photos of the horses succeeding in their new lives.  As a Thoroughbred owner and lover, I was not really surprised to read any of the stories about these retired beauties because I already now how fabulous they are!  However, I do think this book is an excellent way to introduce someone to the possibility that a retired Thoroughbred could be a good horse for them.  Anyone who is a horse lover will certainly enjoy this book.  Its sort of a Chicken Soup for the Thoroughbred-Lover's Soul. :)

My only disappointment came when I turned to the end of the book only to find that the Resource Guide was missing a crucial element -- Friends of Ferdinand, Inc.  Not only did they not have FFI listed, they had no listing for the state of Indiana.  With two tracks here and hundreds of Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeders, not to mention our proximity to Ohio and Kentucky tracks, it is really a shame that FFI was not included in their Resource Guide.  Hopefully, if future editions are printed, FFI will be included.

This is an interesting and thought provoking article on the greyhound racing ban and potential implications for horse racing.

Thoroughbred racing can learn from greyhound ban