I Don’t Even Know Where to Start

I know you’re supposed to begin at the beginning, or go in chronological order, at least, but so much stuff has been going on lately it’s all competing for priority in my brain.

So let’s see… Katerina’s Song has officially commenced riding training. Our volunteer Laura has been working with her on lunging and progressively increasing her exercise time, and so last Tuesday, Allie decided she was more than ready to begin being ridden. Her first ride went incredibly well- she stood for mounting and though weak and green, she was very willing. Her second ride took place the next day, after Klondike came in with a giant neck hematoma and I thought better of asking him to work in front of a local newspaper videographer. So who do I grab? The mare with one ride who doesn’t like the indoor so much (it was also POURING).

She was a superstar- she walked, trotted, and did a tiny amount of cantering in each direction, as I talked a little bit about teaching steering and cruise control. She also was a great example of the “standing at the mounting block” problem.

In the days since then, Kat has had several more ring rides and also her first trail ride, where she let 99% of the way, crossed mud and water, and didn’t flinch at stampeding wildlife. She will be appearing on the website soon as available for adoption

In other news, on Saturday Charles Town Races presented the first annual Charles Town Classic. The big race was worth 500,000 to the winner, with a bonus for winners of graded stakes races. Commentator, the Nick Zito trained favorite, was eligible to take home 1,000,000 if he won. Instead, Researcher, a local horse stabled at the Chaz, took home the number one spot in a thrilling and amazing finish.

Russell Road, another fantastic Chaz horse (yay!!!!) also dominated and beat out the ship-ins in a spectacular drive to the finish. I mention all that simply because it was very exciting, and I sincerely LOVE seeing “our” horses beat out the horses who had only come to town for the bigger than normal prize money. Russell Road was also the SOLE West Virginia-bred horse in his race. I’m very happy for their connections- they are trainers we see and communicate with regularly, and the wins could not have happened to better people. ALSO, Charles Town picked that historic night to present CANTER mid-atlantic with a grant, in official Winners’ Circle, Ed McMahon check style. It was a really wonderful moment for us- getting that kind of support directly from track management is very meaningful.

Did I mention we also had a great time?

Sunday dawned impossibly early, it seemed like I’d just gotten home, but it was soon time to accompany Allie up to Delaware to meet with Delaware Park track management about starting up track listing and rehoming from that track. It was a very exciting meeting- the people up at Delaware are fantastic, tuned in to the issues, and I think we will be working out of that track soon It is also a beautiful facility. Granted, my track experiences are basically Pimlico and Charles Town, where one sees a lot of concrete. Delaware Park is totally different- grass and a surrounding golf course make for a beautiful, park-like setting. Even the saddling paddock is beautiful (with a mulched walking circle and more beautiful surroundings!

As I’m sure most of our readers LOVE browsing the listings, I figured this would be an exciting and welcome development

And now… a few days of normalcy, before shipping off for ROLEX!!!!!

The Afton Mountain Update

Since I’ve been so busy with Klondike and such, I have to admit this blog has been getting a little neglected.  I thought to make things more interesting, it would be fun to have Afton’s (now named Owen, which I think is wonderful and appropriate!) new owner contribute a guest post.  She happily agreed, and it makes me super happy to post it here- complete with pictures showing what looks like a VERY happy, shiny bay horse

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Hi everyone!  Kelly asked if I wanted to provide a blurb for the blog, giving an update on Afton, and I happily agreed.  Who wouldn’t want to brag about their CANTER cutie, right?

I’ll start with a little background. 

I first found Afton Mountain in December of 2008 on the CANTER MidAtlantic website when idly searching for my next project. He was the first horse listed under “CANTER OWNED” and his picture and description captivated me from the first.

The only problem was I still had the horse I was trying to sell and couldn’t do anything about moving on until I had found her a new home. I had a buyer in the final stages, though, and was hopeful enough to begin shopping. Whether that was a jinx or not, who knows, but the sale fell through and I was back to the beginning. Advertising, showing, hoping, waiting. Selling horses is never fun or easy (although since this was the first one I had ever tried to sell, how did I know?) but as the economy got worse, the prospects of selling a 17 year old horse were getting dimmer.

That was when the person who had first come to try her back in the summer of 2007 emailed me out of the blue to see if she was still available. Sometimes the stars just align. Within 10 days, the sale was complete, and my 17 year old OTTB mare – eventing partner for 9 years –  was on her way to her new home. By all accounts and reports, she is well loved, being cared for like a princess, and impressing all the trainers with her abilities and her condition. I guess I did something right.

In the meantime, it was no almost three months since I had first seen Afton’s photo and started reading his blog and tracking his progress. I was amazed that the horse was still available, considering how well he seemed to be taking to his new career.   I immediately started the process of seriously evaluating for my needs based on all of my requirements.  I really intended to shop around, try at least 5 horses before I bought anything, since I tend to always buy the first thing I sit on, and twice have bought them sight unseen.  Since he was four hours away, this evaluation thing was a challenge. (Eventually, I just took a Saturday and drove down to try him.)
 
I was looking for a bay gelding (no more chestnut mares for a while!) — check — between 15.3 and 16.1 — check — between 4 and 6 years of age — check — with good conformation — check — and no known soundness issues or vices — check — that had a pleasant expression and seemed to like people — sort of check. When I first saw him in person, he had a very cautious look on his face, as if he were skeptical of this person’s intentions. I think the track horses can get this way, as they get shuffled from trainer to trainer, groom to groom, they are never able to make strong connections with specific people. Some horses don’t care, some do. His expression wasn’t bad or mean by any stretch, Kelly described it is a bit “cynical”. I continued with my evaluation.

"Not so sure what I think of you..."

 I was on my own with this adventure, which made me a bit nervous. My dear friend Pat went with me for moral support and to man the video camera, but my trainer wasn’t there, and my husband was in Aiken, SC competing. I had only my own judgment to go on, which had me a bit nervous.

When it was time for me to get on and ride him, I was nervous. Getting on a young just off the track thoroughbred can have unpredictable results. What impressed me the most was that my nervousness vanished as soon as I sat on him. I was totally relaxed and comfortable. I have no idea why, but that made a huge impression on me. He was willing, pleasant, and oh-so comfortable! Walk, trot, canter, turns were a bit wobbly and assisted by the indoor arena walls, but that’s a baby horse for you. He even happily jumped some little jumps, never surging in front of them or on landing. I walked him out the driveway and around the front field, where trucks, cars, and motorcycles were whizzing past, and he was rock solid.  Kelly had really done a nice job with this guy!  His expression had even softened by the time we were finished, as he began to trust me.
 

OK, so maybe you're pretty OK...

I was beginning to get excited.  On the four hour drive home, I had lengthy conversations with Duncan (husband) and with Maureen (trainer) to tell them my experience and my thoughts. I was trying to be dispassionate, but could find nothing to tell me not to buy this horse. I decided to proceed with the pre-purchase vet exam.

The following week was a whirl of making plans long distance (scheduling the vetting, coordinating people to be in certain places at certain times, all while being insanely busy at work and with Allie on crutches!) and then waiting. The vetting was scheduled for Thursday. Waiting is the worst. In the end, though, it was all okay. The vet called Thursday night and found nothing to raise red flags, so Maureen drove down on Friday to bring him home.

Afton Mountain was my project!

Since then, we have had so much fun!  His barn name is now “Owen” but due to popular demand, he will show as Afton Mountain.  He has his own big stall, all the hay he can eat (and not to say he wasn’t getting fed by any means!  He just thinks he’s now being pampered ), his own SmartPaks with hoof and coat conditioners, and is now being turned out in a big pasture all day long with two other Thoroughbred buddies.   He got shaved the first weekend, and went on a trail  ride at the Bucks County Horse Park the second weekend, and was a perfect gentleman!  He did show a bit of a stubborn streak when asked to cross a gully, but happily followed Big Brother Tip.  Here he is, naked and waiting to be tacked up for his trail ride:

 

Oh dear! He looks so naked! hee!

We’ve been working steadily on explaining the concept of yielding to contact, by simply following him all around with the contact and a soft supporting leg, and he is really starting to get it.  He natural head/neck carriage which was a little upside down and braced has begun to soften and drop about 8 inches, and he even goes really nicely round now and again!   I have felt the promise of a really big extension in there somewhere.  All I can hope is that I have the patience, understanding and skill to bring out the best in him!
Here are some photos from a week ago today  (Sunday), schooling at home.

Walking Into Contact

A Really Lovely Trot

Canter, please!

From a distance, a lovely little oxer

 
Now looking more cute than cynical, don’t you think?

 

Relaxing at the end

Sorry this went on a bit long, but I am just so excited to have this lovely horse, and to be looking forward to so many adventures!  I am honored to have a CANTER horse, and to have entered into the special group of people who have also taken these terrific creatures on to new careers.  Thanks for listening, and I’ll be in touch, if you all want me to!

Susan & Owen

Ponies, Ponies Everywhere!

Saturday we had a Spring Cleaning day out at Lazy Acres Racehorse Spa.  Of course I did have my camera, but being out of it and busy all weekend, I haven’t gotten a chance to upload them yet. 

The weather was nearly perfect- sunny and a decent temperature, but with a bit of gusty wind that made it hard to know what to wear.  When out in the wind, it would seem cold, and I’d wish for another layer.  Back at the barn, while grooming, I’d get warm and need to strip off my jacket. 

The mares were pretty much awful.  Apparently, the hormones are flowing, and they are taking that as an excuse to dance around and be goofy.  One mare, the delightful and large Wek, decided she was much more interested in a gelding herdmate (who thinks he’s some sort of herd stallion, of course) than in coming in, so at one point she managed to get her lead rope out of Deidra’s hands and go galloping off to the other end of the field.  Fortunately everybody survived this debacle, and we did manage to get a few mares cleaned up. 

Even Rosey was being a little goofy, but fortunately we had some extra hands (Allie, heh), and a chain lead (which worked beautifully.  Rosey just needed a tiny reminder, apparently, and didn’t test things after that).  She does look wonderful, and appears to be sound and ready at any time to come back for some riding.  Of course, just because she’s spiteful, after getting her cleaned up and checked out, her first order of business was to find the slimiest mud possible and roll in it.  When we were out in the field later to photograph horses for an upcoming article, she looked like she was in the middle of getting a mud and seaweed spa wrap. 

The geldings weren’t really all excellent either-   Cecil (the horse who came in after re-bowing a front tendon), was a little shirty, but vastly improved from the last time I handled him, when he was constantly trying to bite.  He only tried it a few times (well, compared to how he used to be), and mostly stood.  His patience level was a bit low so he was returned to the field fairly quickly, after being brushed and inspected.   Mikey, bless him, decided that standing still was boring, so kept searching for things to do.  It was sort of comical, as he was trying to get into the brush boxes, and trying to turn around, and trying to pester other horses, but at the same time, he maybe needs a teeny bit of work on manners.  I think we can’t help but spoil him a little, because he’s earned it.  On the other hand, he’s bored silly, and I think he’ll be much better when he’s got a job

Whisper was lovely, of course.  He was happy to stand there and receive attention, so he got the works.  Bite marks soothed, rain rot treated (he only had a tiny bit), mane and tail detangled and brushed out.  He still looks like a Barbie horse. 

We also had some play time with some new horses, of which there are three I haven’t talked about before on here. 

That’s… Something Wildcat.  Total Wildcat, maybe?  He came fairly recently, and I had only seen one photo of him.  In it, he looked rather feisty and full of himself.  On Saturday, though, he was acting very sweet and quiet.  I was able to groom him without even tying him.  He leaned right in and really enjoyed his ears being rubbed, and was pretty adorable.  Allie had been calling him The Deuce, because his attitude on arrival was so much like Klondike’s (very, very proud of himself and cocky).  And of course, his current attitude is still like Klondike.  Because of the similarities, I figured I’d call him Yukon.

He was so coated in dried mud that I was huffing and puffing by the time I got it all off.  But under all the dirt was a lovely horse, with a broad chest and stocky build.  He’s going to be super-sweet, and like Klondike, I have visions of him with a kid. 

“View My Rear,” the newest arrival (he’s been with CANTER a little over two weeks), was not interested in being social, so I don’t have any decent photos of him yet.   He is in that phase of his new life where he doesn’t really want much to do with people.  And while he came up to inspect me at first, he very quickly took to walking the other way when approached with a halter.  This is pretty common with these guys- once they discover freedom, they decide they’d rather be left alone.  Until they get bored, of course, and then they turn into Truckee and Mikey, following people around and demanding attention.  I’m looking forward to him getting to that point, because he is a big and pretty horse. 

Here’s another new face:

This guy is still waiting on a nickname.  Of course at the moment I can’t remember his racing name, but we came up with a bunch of possibilities- Snoopy, Will, etc.  I’m not sure what fits.  So, for fun, we’ll test our readers’ creativity and ask for YOU to suggest something!  He has a lovely, sweet personality and seems fairly quiet.  He also looks (to me) like a nice hunter type, if that helps.  Please comment with your suggestions!

In other news about this horse, he suffers from a breathing issue that will require surgery to fix – so he won’t be available until that is taken care of.  Chondromas are tumor like growths on the horse’s airway, tending to grow on or near the larynx (these tend to be caused by previous damage to structures in the throat- sp it might be seen in horses with previous tie-back surgery).  This can eventually cause a severe obstruction to breathing, and in this horse’s case it is quite obvious there’s a problem.  Even when quietly hanging out, you can hear him breathing (you don’t even have to be right next to him).  When working (we free lunged him a few minutes to see how bad it was), the roaring sound gets very loud.  So before he can safely begin retraining, these will need to be removed.  For some more information and a photo (yuck!) you can check this link to a page from “Diseases and Disorders of the Horse.”  Anyone interested in buying a horse off the track might want to learn more, as it seems to be becoming a little more common, from our observations.   A chondroma can be serious enough to completely obstruct breathing, and effects not only inhalation but exhalation as well. 

On a brighter note, here’s a pic of Mikey, King of the Hill:

What could be better?

Kat Goes to Work

Hey everybody!  I’m back from my cruise, which was pretty nice.  I was enjoying some lovely 80+ weather, sun and beautiful clear water, only to come back to… endless drizzle.  For real, it’s been nonstop mist/drizzle since I got home, and every cell in my body is telling me to go back to Mexico (note to others: I really have to recommend Tulum.  Such pretty beaches!).  But that is not to be, instead, it is back to work with the ponies.

The bulk of my riding for a while is going to be with Klondike, concentrating on actually riding, instead of puttering around.  So look for frequent updates on his blog.

Kat, on the other hand, is still a bit far away from serious riding, and is just getting reintroduced to the idea of “work” after a ten year hiatus (give or take a little).  Our volunteer Laura has been working with her the past few days, which Kat is enjoying very much.  Particularly the beauty school part.  Laura has removed the equivalent of two medium sized shetland ponies from Kat with the shedding blade, and on her neck and shoulders, you can see a slick and shiny coat starting to peek out from under the long guard hairs. 

On Wednesday, we went ahead and plopped a saddle on her to see what she’d do.  Her reaction was basically just to crane her head around and watch the process, and you could see the wheels turning in her head.  Not the bad kind of wheels, like the horses that think, “I’m just waiting for you to tighten that girth… go ahead, I dare ya!”  but the more quiet kind of wheels, like, “Hmm… I really thought I was long past this… Didn’t they give me a ‘Get Out of Work For Life’ card at Broodmare central?”

Yesterday the re-education continued and Kat was both saddled AND bridled.  She’s a little unhappy about the bridling, apparently.  Although she didn’t seem to have issues with me touching her ears while grooming and messing about with her mane and forelock, the appearance of the bridle seemed to make her much more sensitive about her ears, particularly the left one.  While it’s possible this is just her, and she is highly sensitive, our assumption is that at some point she was ear twitched, and that we will need to do some work to get her over it.  I foresee many an enjoyable ear rub in her future.

Once tacked, Laura brought her to the ring for some lunging- to get her used to the feel of tack while moving, and also to start the process of getting her more fit.  I took some pictures, but it was overcast and dark (did I tell you it’s been misting/drizzling nonstop?), so I haven’t bothered to upload them.  I will tell you that in tack, Kat goes from being pretty to looking downright classy.  She is a STUNNING mare who looks like she would be right at home in the hunter ring. 

On the line, she practiced whoa and go, and got about twenty minutes of exercise.  I’m very excited at the prospect of getting on her eventually, because not only is she a pretty mover, but her natural tendency seems to be to go, yes, like a hunter.  So far she’s showing no real inclination to be hollow or to giraffe with her head.  That may change with a rider, of course, but Afton was always very giraffey no matter what- she looks like she’ll be very willing to stretch out and be an enjoyable ride.

After lunging, she got introduced to the mounting block.  Because horses tend to be a little worried about people being up above them, Laura walked her back and forth by the mounting block several times as Allie first stood next to it, then got up on the steps.  She gave it a little shifty eye at one point, but didn’t seem too fussed.  Likewise, she didn’t move a muscle and didn’t seem to care when Allie draped herself over the saddle and layed on her back a little bit. 

So far, so good