Learning to Lunge with Laura and Meeting Lucky

 Tuesday, when working with Laura, I learned how to actually do the lunging. Laura lunged BB first, demonstrating how it looks when a horse/mule in trotting in balance, with their head down as if on a stretchy circle. I was able to see how when a horse/mule is balanced without tension, their loin area springs up and down. It's fascinating to watch. Laura also demonstrated one of the basics of what she does with equines–being able to direct their attention where you want. If you direct their mind somewhere, their feet will follow. She showed me how she can select an object, then gently nudge BB's head toward that object to get her to focus. She then let me try the same thing. This concept is important, especially when I learned to lunged, which I soon did.

 Once I put BB away, I brought Dyna to the round pen, and Laura demonstrated another piece needed for lunging: being able to move the equine's feet. She showed how he can walk toward Dyna's hindquarters to get her to do a turn on the forehand. Then she showed how she can direct dyna's attention to the way she wants Dyna to go, say the right, face Dyna's left should, and get Dyna to turn on her hindquarters. Once I practiced the same thing, she put it together into lunging.

Dyna in the evening sun.

 She started with Dyna facing her, directing her attention the way she wanted, and then have Dyna move her shoulder and go around in a circle. When lunging, she did this without moving her feet because with equines, the one who moves first is lower ranked. to turn Dyna around, she shortens the rope, pointing the whip, which is an extension of the arm, not a punishment, towards Dyna's hindquarters to get Dyna to face her, then switches to lead rope to the other and points toward Dyna's shoulder and directs her attention to the new direction. She does this fluidly. To get Dyna to walk on, she gets more energy in her body and Dyna walks. To trot, she increases her energy and gets the rhythm of the trot her body.

 Then I tried. I was uncoordinated at first, and it took me a while to find the right way to ask for trot without being too energetic and without stepping in front of the drive line, the part of the horse's body you stand next when you lunge, which is right where you sit when riding. it felt really amazing when I got a great trot transition and a smooth change of directions.

Clipping Lucky's muzzle and jaw.

 Next I met Lucky, the mare I will be riding. Lucky is a 17 year old bay Hanoverian/Thoroughbred that was once a jumper in Southern California. She had a few problems and emotional baggage, but Laura took her and began training her about eight years ago. Lucky is a really nice, well behaved mare now. Since she has been out in the pasture for a while, we took her out, gave her a nice grooming(I even clipped her muzzle), and Laura lunged her at liberty, meaning without any tack–no halter or lunge line/lead rope. Lucky was a bit frisky, but otherwise really nice. After working her for a bit, Laura let me come in. First Laura turned Lucky's haunches and front just like she had done with Dyna, with me following. Then I did the same thing, turning her around, then walking a few steps away from her, with Lucky following as if I had an invisible alter and lead. It is really extraordinary and I love how I can learn to build a connection with horses rather than ride and leave.

Give and Take

 For my ride yesterday, Moe was extremely energetic and all go, acting as if she was half her age. When I walked her she wanted to trot, and when I was finally ready trot, she was ready to canter or just speed away, becoming all twisted and crooked when I tried to slow her down. She had so much go that Meghan had to get on her to slow her down and to show me how best to handle such a situation. My trainer usually doesn't get on and has done so only once before, when Chester was giving me some trouble. Nevertheless it was a good learning experience to watch my trainer ride.

 Rather than using pulling the reins every time Moe sped up or tried to canter, Meghan half halted with her seat and gently pulled the outside rein. Whenever Moe slowed down, Meghan rewarded her with softness, telling me to do the same. Riding has a lot to do with giving and taking, and it is essentially to learn when to do which to get the desired result.

Cantering for real now!

 I remounted, keeping all this advice in mind, and focused on keeping my hands soft and light while I rode Moe on a circle to the right, Meghan said I looked really good and soft when I first got on. Whenever Moe tried to take off, I held the outside rein, softening my connection when she responded by slowing down.

Here's the cute one.

Making funny faces while being groomed!

 After doing this for a bit. I asked for canter right on a circle. Moe picked up the left lead, strangely enough as she usually prefers the right left, so I did a simple change the pick up the correct lead. As I rode, I focused on sitting deep in the saddle, keeping my outside leg back, and half halting the outside rein to keep her at a comfortable pace.



 Even though I had to spend the entire lesson keeping Moe under control, it was a good learning experience, because after all, challenging horses teach you a lot. Not every horse I'll ever ride will be easy.

Rolling--right after I gave her a thorough grooming

She looks so cute laying down.

 After I gave Moe a thorough grooming because she was very sweaty, dirty, and hasn't been trimmed yet, Moe decided to roll, the first time I've seen her do so.

Lesson and Cantering on Chester Lease Horse

 I had another lesson on Chester, the TB/Percheron gelding I will soon lease, today. I started the lesson by warming up with walk-halt transitions, as I always do, the began a trot circle to the left in the dressage part of the arena. As I did so I worked on sitting up straight and posting on the correct diagonal. The edges the the arena come up quickly with a big a horse like Chester, so at one point I didn't turn soon enough and ran into the P dressage letter cone, knocking it over.

 After circling for a few minutes, I drank some water, then changed directions and started heading to the right.I was a bit better at posting on the correct diagonal right away, although a couple times Chester did some leg-yields, which Meghan said was because of uneven leg pressure. Chester is a sensitive horse and was unsure of what I wanted. I put him back of the circle and continued to ride him on it.

 Then, I started riding at the trot around the entire dressage arena, heading right. The more I worked, the better my posture and posting became. I later rode across the diagonal from M to K so I could change directions.

 Towards the end of the lesson, Meghan wanted to know if I wanted to canter. I did, so she put Chester on the lungeline I began a trot circle to the right. I was a bit nervous because I've only cantered a handful of times and had fallen last time, but after doing a few strides I was just fine. Chester's canter isn't as big and rocking horse-like as Ginger's, so it was consequently much easier to sit, though there was a moment when I almost went over, but I soon caught myself. I did several strides of canter at a time, three times. It was fun!

 I then trotted a bit more and cooled Chester down by ride the path that encircles the barn and pasture. I told him he was a good boy, untacked and groomed him, then put him away. Wednesday, I'll have another lesson on him, this time with Jessica, his owner, watching. Afterward we will work out a lease. If all goes well, which most likely will, I will start leasing him at the beginning of next month. I'm excited! When I start leasing him, I will ride three to four a week! I can't wait!

 In other news, I changed my blog name to The Aspiring Equestrian. I decided upon this name because I have aspirations when it comes to riding horses; many people who know me know I want to be a fourth level eventer someday. I thought the name was suiting!

Lesson on Chester--Potential Lease Horse!

 After about a month off, I had a lesson today on Chester, the horse I may possibly lease. He is chestnut Percheron/Thoroughbred, so he is quite big at about 16 to 17 hands high. His sometimes owner leases him out to riders that ride with Meghan. In fact his previous leaser was a young girl about eleven, who just got her first horse. Chester is a friendly, even-tempered horse and doesn't seem to spook at much, although his temperament seems a little higher than unflappable Reno.

 I led him from his paddock to the barn, only tying him up with his lead rope because he feels trapped when in the cross-ties. I brushed him, picked his hooves, then tacked him. Before I mounted Meghan told me a little more about Chester, telling me to make sure use light aids since Chester is sensitive and it doesn't take much to get him to go.

 After mounting I made a circle to the left in the dressage part of the arena and got used to riding Chester. His walk seems much like what I read about in dressage books---forward and marching. I did some walk-halt transitions as I circled, then changed directions and did the same thing.

 Next, I rode him at the walk around the dressage arena, doing several walk-halt transitions. Then I made a 20 meter circle at B, trotting part of it and working up to doing the whole entire thing. My reins weren't even, so he went to the outside after passing E. When I tried to turn him back, he thought I was asking for a leg yield and promptly began to do just that, heading left with his haunches toward the fence! It was my first time leg-yield, even if it wasn't planned. ;)

 Anyways, I brought him back to the circle and continued to trot, working on keeping my heels down and shoulders back, as well as not occasionally looking down. I don't want to end up on the ground! It's a longer way down than from Ginger.

 I soon moved to a circle at C, worked at the trot for a bit more. Now that he was more relaxed and warmed up, his trot was bigger, swinging smoothly forward. Not warmblood gaits but he has some pretty nice gaits.

 I then began to cool him down, and Meghan said I could ride him on the trail the circled the barn and paddocks by myself(my parents followed). She said that trail riding is Chester's favorite thing. Chester was very relaxed, and Meghan let me ride I went around the short loop twice. We spent this time to get to know each other more.

 After I put him away, we talked some more about the lease. Meghan said I could ride Chester in my lessons this month rather than Ginger or Reno. If all goes well I can start leasing him at the beginning of July! I'm really excited about this! When I lease I will be riding hopefully 2-3 times a week, or more, and will be able to take him out and ride outside of a lesson as well. This is going to be great! I can't wait to get to know him better.

Tersk Horse

History
 In the early 20th century, at the Tersk and Stavropol breeding farms in the Caucasus region of Russia, Russian horse breeders began breeding a new breed to replace their Strelets Arabians, a larger Arabian better suited to the climate of Russia. The Strelets had almost been wiped out during the Russian Revolution and were losing popularity. Only a few were remaining. These were crossed with Thoroughbreds and their native Don horses. The result was a pretty horse with lots of stamina. Though they are not as fast as a Thoroughbred, they do well over long distances, such as endurance rides.

 For the past few decades, horses like that were bred, creating the breed now known as the Tersk, after the stud farm where in was bred.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Tersk is a muscular horse standing an average of 15 to 16 hands high. They have short pasterns, long legs, and sloping shoulders. Their neck is of medium length, and their profile is slightly dished, with large expressive eyes, like the Arabian. Tersks are usually a shiny gray, though bay can be found as well. They are kind, patient, and willing to please.

 Because of their stamina, Terks do well in endurance racing and eventing, and can be used in show jumping as well.

Thoroughbred

History
 The Thoroughbred was originally developed as a racehorse in England in the 17th century. Oriental stallions, the most influential being Darley Arabians, Godolphin Barbs, and Byerly Turks, were bred with native English mares. One of the most important early Thoroughbred stallions was Eclipse, from the Darley Arabian line. As an undefeated early racehorse, he had a huge influence on the Thoroughbreds of today. In fact, about 90% of Thoroughbreds can trace their line back to Eclipse and the Darley Arabian.

By the 18th century, horse racing had become very popular, and was considered the "sport of kings" because it was watched mostly by royalty. Thoroughbreds were selectively bred both as flat racers and steeplechasers in the England. Originally, races were much longer than they are today---about four miles---but this later changed to the shorter, mile long races that are now seen. With this change came an increased need for faster, younger horses rather than those better suited for longer distances.

Thoroughbreds, particularly the ex-racers, are commonly used in eventing.
credit

 The first Thoroughbred arrived in America in 1730, and before long horse racing became popular in the United States as well. Today, Kentucky is the hub of Thoroughbred breeding, though California and New York breed a lot of them as well.

Breed Description and Uses
 Thoroughbreds are a tall breed, averaging around 16 hands high or taller, with long legs that give them ground-covering strides. They have sloping shoulders and prominent withers. Their neck is long and thin and their face has a straight profile. All in all, centuries of selective breeding has made the Thoroughbred into a runner. Chestnut, black, grey, and various shades of bay are the colors Thoroughbreds come in.

 Other than racing, Thoroughbreds are used for show jumping, dressage, and eventing, the latter of which is common in OTTBs.

Shagya-Arabian

History
 Near the beginning of the 19th century, breeders from the Austro-Hungarian were searching for the perfect calvalry, one that was strong, beautiful, obedient, and had lots of endurance. The famous Arabian horses caught their eye, so they imported a desert stallion named Shagya from Syria. Because they wanted larger, stronger horses, this horse was bred to several breeds of horses, including the Thoroughbred, Lippizzaners from the Siglavy line, and several Asian and Spanish horses. Afterward, the best offspring were bred to other Arabians.

Shagyas are typically grey or white, though chestnut and bay can also be found.
credit

 The result of this cross-breeding was a Arabian-type horse with stronger, more substantial bone, and a calmer temperament. The breed became quite popular throughout Europe. It was not only used as a calvalry mount, but also as a royal parade horse and a carriage horse. After World War II, however, most countries didn't see breeding horses as a priority. Consequently, the number of Shagya-Arabians dropped to the 3,000 they are today. They remain extremely popular in Hungary, though.

 In 1947, a Shagya-Arabian named Bravo was imported to America and bred to create the American line of Shagyas. His sons and daughters are being used for breeding today.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Shagya-Arabian, named for the foundation stallion, stands 15 to 16 hands high and has the same high-set tail as the Arabian. However, it is much more substantial and less refined than pure blooded Arabians, with stronger hindquarters and bigger bone.

 Today, they are used dressage, jumping, eventing, endurance racing, and even as a western mount by some.

Stories from off the Track: Sarah and Bohemian

 I decided to start a series on my blog, called Stories from off the Track, where I will spotlight bloggers with OTTBs. If you would like to be featured, you can submit your story by emailing me at paola.pedranti@gmail.com.

 Without further ado, I bring you Sarah and Bohemian, from Eventing in Color. If you don't know her, go check out her blog.

Photo by Sharon Weaver.

Their Story

 My horse's Jockey Club name is Bohemian Spirit. I kept the name Bohemian because it suits his personality. He is 9 years old this year. He was not a very talented racehorse, never "breaking his maiden" (winning a race). But he was smart and handsome, so HBO bought him and used him for filming the HBO TV series "Luck" with Dustin Hoffman. The show was cancelled after just one season and all the horses were adopted out.

 I got Hemie through Thoroughbred Rehab Training Center, Inc which is just a few minutes from Santa Anita Racetrack. My trainer and the rehab center's manager picked Hemie out for me based on my experience and goals - I did not try out a selection of horses as most people normally do. I met him in a box stall with my trainer and close friend. I did not test ride him or even trot him out - I just signed the paperwork and my trainer led him onto the trailer!

 We quickly became close friends and have a very special bond, but we certainly have had some challenges.

 Our first challenge was that Hemie had a problem with the idea of going forward. I thought this was quite ironic for an ex-racehorse. Especially early on in our training, he would get stuck in place and get more up-and-down rather than move out. Sometimes he would wiggle sideways or swing his hips or shoulders instead of just move forward. Luckily my trainer is very experienced with OTTBs and we've been able to address it through consistent, positive training. 

 Our second challenge was Hemie's inexperience as a personal pleasure mount. As a racehorse, and later as TV horse, he had a specific job to do. That job did not include looking out for the well-being of his rider. That job did not include easy-going relaxing rides, nor bareback work, et cetera. That was a fun challenge to fix - it took time but now Hemie knows how to just be a fun pleasure horse in addition to working on our "job" of eventing. Interestingly his spook has changed. He used to have huge spooks where he'd leap out sideways or bolt, but working bareback had taught him to look out for his rider and her balance, and now he has a much more subtle spook (even when under saddle).

A painting I made of Sarah and Bohemian.

 Right now we are starting our 2nd show season together. We are moving up from "Intro" to the "Beginner Novice" division in eventing. We both enjoy eventing so we plan to continue on in that discipline, potentially moving up levels as we gain skills and experience. I don't have particularly competitive goals - I just want us to do the best that we can.

Oldenburg

 History
In the early 17th century, Count Johann XVI von Oldenburg needed good calvalry horses, so he built several small breeding facilities all throughout the German provinces of Oldenburg and East Friesland. At these facilities, Count Oldeburg bred Friesians, Andalusians, Turkish horses, Danish horses, and Neapolitan(Italian) horses.

 Count Anton Gunther, who also helped to found the breeding program, want the breed to excel at dressage, and make a great carriage horse as well. While looking for suitable horses to add to the breeding program, Count Gunther searched Europe and Africa, eventually bringing back horses from Naples, Spain, Barbary(part of Africa that is now Morocco, Algeria, Tripolitania, and Tunis), and some Thoroughbreds from England. In addition, he gave some of these stallions to local farmers, who assisted in further refining the Oldenburg.

Oldenburgs commonly come in black. credit

 By June of 1820, the Oldenburg's studbook opened, and with it a law that stated all Oldenburg stallions had to be approved by government after completing a test before breeding. After passing it, the Oldenburg brand---an "O" with a crown above---would be branded on the horse's left hip, proving that he had been approved. Two breed asssociations were founded in 1897, but in 1923 they merged to form the Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes(Oldenburg's Horse Breeders' Society) in Vechta, Germany.

 In 1950, with the use of horses in agriculture nearly obselete, additional Thoroughbred blood was added to the Oldenburg, and the original cavalry, carriage, and agriculture Oldenburg gave way to the sport horse we know today.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Oldenburg is a compact, yet refined and elegant horse that stands an average of 16 to 16.2 hands high. As a warmblood, it is built for competing, and it's long front legs and powerful hind legs prove it's talent for dressage and show jumping. Most, and the gaits are of high quality, with the trot been active and elastic and the canter being uphill. The Oldenburg's long neck is high-set over the shoulders and it's head is usually quite pretty. Common colors are bay, black, grey, and chestnut.

 According the breed association's rules, and Oldenburg must be named according to its parent's names. For example, a colt's name must begin with the same letter as its sire, and a filly's the same as its dam.

Favorites

 I found this fun favorite quiz from Viva Carlos, so I decided I would love to participate so you can learn more about me.

Breeches: I have only used one pair of breeches, which I got from Dover, so I don't have anything to compare it to.
Footwear: I love my Saxon paddock boots.
Comfort food: I love Mexican food, particularly soft tacos, with fish tacos and breakfast tacos(with eggs and taco meat) being my favorites. Also, I like Bejieng beef, though there really is not any food I dislike.
Online personality: I'm pretty much the same person online as I am in real life. I love to share what I know with people and enjoy making friends.
Movie: Narrowing it down to just a few is hard, but I love Secretariat and Seabiscuit.
TV show: My all-time favorite is X-Files. I also enjoy watching both the Original series of Star Trek and the Next Generation, as well as the Yu-Gi-Oh.
Magazine: Horse Illustrated
Book: This may be strange, but I really enjoy reading non-fiction horse care and training books, such as the Original Horse Bible by Sharon Biggs and Beyond the Track by Anne Ford.

I want to watch this in person and someday compete.

Vacation destination: I would love to go on a horse vacation someday, such riding through Iceland on an Icelandic pony or watching the Lippizaners or the WEG. Of places I have visited, I enjoyed Hawaii.
City: I don't really have a favorite city.
Place to ride: I've only ridden at one place, the barn I ride in, but it would be cool to ride somewhere exotic.
Place to shop: I actually buy most of my stuff through Amazon. Books, movies, etc.
Type of restaurant: Mexican.
Non-horsey hobby: When not doing horse related things, I usually draw, read, blog, and play Yu-gi-oh, a popular trading card game.
Things to do with your family: I love playing the Star Trek Deck Building game, which my family does together.
Things to do with friends: I love sleepovers!
Memory in saddle: My first ride or my most recent ride, since I felt accomplished after improve my control of Reno, who was energetic the whole lesson.
Part of course to ride: I have not ridden any course, but I did to dressage serpetines, which were fun.
Type of horse: Sport horses, particularly Thoroughbreds, are my favorite.

Missouri Fox Trotter

History
 In the early 1800s, when it was popular to use your regular work horse as a race horse over the weekends, people needed horses that were strong with enough stamina to work all week and run during the weekends.

 Just after the Louisiana Purchase, many people travelled south, some to the foothills of Missouri's Ozark Mountains. They took with them horses they already owned, namely Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Morgans, with the intent of crossing them with horses already in the area to create a perfect work-race horse. They were successful. The resulting horses were hard workers, willing to do what they were asked, whether that be working the farm, pulling a buggy, racing, or riding out on the trails. Settlers also noticed that the horse had developed a broken gait, which made them easier to ride.

The fox-trot. credit

 Later, Tennessee Walking Horses, Saddlebreds, and Standardbreds were added to the mix, further refining the Ozark horses. The broken gait developed into what is now called the fox-trot, thus the name Missouri Fox Trotter. Breeders selective bred to pass the gait on, and now the breed is synonymous with that unique gait.

 The breed was popular among doctors, police officers, and post men due to its smooth gait.

 In 1948, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association was founded and opened to any horse that met the requirements. It wasn't until 1983 that the studbook was closed to all except those that had two registered parents. In 2002, the Missouri Fox Trotter became Missouri's state horse.

Breed Description and Uses
 Missouri Fox Trotters are compact and muscular, standing 14 to 16 hands high on average. They have wide barrels, sloping shoulders, rounded withers, and a powerful neck. The head has a straight profile, small ears, and expressive eyes. Fox Trotters come in many colors, including bay, chestnut, black, grey, and pinto.

 The breed is willing and usually easy to control, making them excellent workers, as well as partners. Today, they are used as endurance horses, ranch horses, or just as pleasure horses.

 The fox-trot is a unique and unusually gait in which the front legs walk and the hind legs trot. In addition to the fox-trot, the Fox Trotter has a gentle canter and a smooth, flowing walk.

Interview: Lynn Reardon

 Last week, I was able to interview Lynn Reardon, who runs the LOPE(LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers) in Texas. She re-homes ex-racehorses, something I am interested in doing. It was a really fun interview and I thought you guys would enjoy it.

Midway, one of the horses Lynn rehomed.
credit

Do you need any special education or a license to rescue horses? No, that is not a requirement. I had owned horses before and had some very basic understanding of horse care needs -- which was helpful.

How did you first get interested in rescuing horses? How did you get started? I wrote a book (Beyond the Homestretch) about how I began my work -- it was a bestseller in Austin and Dallas, plus became the #1 horse book on Amazon for a short period. I actually never got interested in "rescuing" horses -- instead I had fallen in love with ex-racehorses and wanted to work with them very much. I wasn't a professional trainer and didn't have the usual credentials to become a trainer. My career had been in accounting and administrative management for nonprofit organizations -- horses were a hobby. I took lessons at a polo barn -- and nearly all of the horses were ex-racehorses. When I realized that ex-racehorses often need help transitioning to new lives after racing -- and that Texas didn't have a racehorse charity to do that -- boom, I had the idea to start LOPE. It was a way to combine my previous nonprofit experience with helping ex-racehorses :) We actually see ourselves as an employment agency for at-risk equine youth rather than a fireman kind of rescue place. 

What are your primary responsibilities around the rescue? At our ranch, I supervise the care of all the horses (feeding, vet care, farrier, etc). I also do the riding and training at our farm (though we also send some of our horses to professional trainers before being adopted). I am also responsible for fundraising, event management, updating the website and social media pages -- and writing for our blog.

How do you find the horses and how much do you usually buy them for? We take donations of horses directly from the racing industry -- which means that race owners, trainers and breeders donate their horses to LOPE that aren't racing anymore. We don't usually buy horses.

How do you decide which horses to rescue? We take horses on a first come, first serve basis from the industry. We do prefer that the horses have raced within the last year and that they be able to do another job with retraining and rehab.

Lynn on Mystery Blessing. credit

How much work does it take to train and rehabilitate the horses before you set them up for adoption? Each horse is an individual, so the answer to this question varies depending on the horse. Typically, we like to give the horses a month or so off from work (like a mini-vacation) before we start retraining them. The retraining might take just a few rides or a couple months. Rehabilitation also varies, depending on the type of injury. We have taken in horses with simple mild body soreness as well as horses requiring surgery to remove bone chips -- so the range is pretty broad :)

What sort of training exercises do you do with them to get them ready for being ridden off the track and prepare them for future careers(pleasure, jumping, etc)? We like the horsemanship school of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt. These two master horsemen are now deceased, but there are several excellent clinicians who studied with them -- such as Buck Brannaman, Peter Campbell and Tom Curtin. If you would like to get a better sense of this horsemanship, you might want to check out the documentary called "Buck" -- it is about Buck Brannaman and you might really enjoy it. The movie won the Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival and made the long list for an Oscar nomination.

But back to your question -- we like to help the horses with the basic foundation training (kind of like kindergarten for horses). We do ground work exercises, a gentle re-starting under saddle (so they learn that being ridden doesn't mean racing anymore) and overall building their confidence levels. If we help the horses get a good foundation in the basics, we think that will help them no matter what career (jumping, trail riding, etc) they go into later.

What is your favorite part about rescuing horses? I really love working with the horses and riding them! It is so much fun to help a horse learn new job skills that help keep him safe in the future :)

What is your advice to someone wanting to start a career in rescuing horses?(I realize that it's more of passion than something you do to make money) First, I would say it is important to narrow your goal. Do you want to rescue horses from neglect situations? Do you want to transition racehorses to new careers? Do you want to work with senior citizen horses? Or PMU foals? All of those things (and more) are considered forms of horse rescue -- but are all very different types of work. It's kind of fire fighting. Do you want to be the firefighter who pulls people from burning buildings and leaves them safely on the curb? Or do you want to be the nonprofit shelter that takes the people in while their house is being rebuilt? Or do you want to be the person who set ups smoke detectors in homes -- so that a fire wouldn't happen at all?

Also, I worked in the nonprofit world for years before I started a horse adoption charity. There is no reason why someone who runs a horse rescue shouldn't be paid -- it helps keep the organization stable to have a paid person running it and also is reassuring to funders to know that the charity is well-managed. I am paid for my work -- it's a very small salary, but my charity's board of directors insist that I take some payment for my work -- because they think it is important to value the efforts of the executive director position.

What do you do if a horse doesn't get adopted? That has never happened :) Once a horse comes to LOPE, he or she can stay as long as necessary to find the right home. One horse (Storm, who is in my book) was with us for almost two years -- but eventually found the perfect home for him.

Do you have a favorite horse that you have rescued? In my book, I talk about a beautiful stallion named Tawakoni. He was the son of a famous winner of the Kentucky Derby (Grindstone). I had never worked with a stallion before -- and when I asked horse neighbors for advice, they all thought I was crazy to have a stallion on our place (because in their biased world view, all stallions were dangerous). But Tawakoni was very gentle and well-mannered. He was adopted by a petite woman who owned a beautiful breeding facility for show horses. She worked with her stallions easily and had no fear of them. She and Tawakoni taught me how important it is to not accept the "conventional wisdom" on face value -- but instead to keep an active, inquisitive mind to learn the truth about horses.

Is there anything else you would like to add? No, you asked excellent questions -- thank you for that!

Also, do you allow visitors? Yes, we do allow visitors by appointment :)

The Connemara Pony

History
  More a thousand years ago, small, Shetland-like ponies roamed the rocky coast of Western Ireland. They remained untouched by other breeds of horses until the fifth and sixth century, when raiders brought Celtic ponies with them. These ponies bred with the Shetland-like one. Over the next few centuries, more horses, possibly Spanish Jennets(extinct) and Irish Hobby horses, came to Western Ireland, mixing with the native breed. The result was the famous Connemara, who is believed to have inherited its smooth gaits from the Jennet and the Hobby horses.

The Connemara
source

 As with many other breeds, the Connemara began as a farm horses(ponies). Poor farmers would capture one, usually a mare, and train it for farm work using food was much better than that found in the wild. Because most families only owned one, the pony had to be able to perform a variety of tasks: driving, plow pulling, riding, and even breeding.

 Throughout the 19th century, Arabian blood was continually added to the Connemara as a way of refining it. However, in the late 1800s, the number of Connemara took a plunge. Many died during the Potato Famine, when people had better things to worry about than the continuation of the breed. Nevertheless, the breed managed to survive through the Irish government's efforts to preserve it by adding Hackney, Thoroughbred, Norfolk, Yorkshire Roadster, and Welsh blood to it. Today, the government still checks the beed yearly, inspecting it to see whether it is suitable for breeding.

Breed Description and Uses
 Connemaras are nimble, sure-footed horses, able to leap stone walls and canter over uneven ground. Standing 12.2 to 15 hands high, the ponies have round haunches and long legs with high knee action and ground-covering strides. Their coats come in brown, dun, black, gray, and chestnut.

 Because of their athletic ability, Connemaras are often used are sport horses in England.

American Quarter Horse

 In the colonial era, many people wanted a tough, sturdy horse that could work all day, everyday during the week and still be able race on weekends. They seemed to love match races that were a quarter mile long, so they began to develop a hardy sprinter. Among the breeds they used to create this breed were Thoroughbreds, English Pacers, Chickasaws, and French stock.

 One of the most influential Thoroughbred stallions used as a stud horse between 1746 and 1800 was Janus, who was directly related to Godolphin Barb, one of the foundation stallions of the Thoroughbred breed. Unlike most Thoroughbreds, however, he was stocky and had short legs, with a body that was not quite as long as is expected of Thoroughbreds. Today, you can clearly see his influence in the Quarter Horse---the strength, athleticism, and even conformation. It all traces back to a single stallion. In fact, nine of the eleven foundation stallions all trace to Janus. 

 Everybody loved the quarter mile races, but when they increased to half miles and miles, a new breed stepped into the racing spotlight: the Thoroughbred. Consequently, when pioneers headed West in the early 1800s, the Quarter Horse came with them. Quarter Horses seemed to have an natural ability, called cow sense, to read a cow's body language, so they became a cowboy's preferred mount. Today, they are still cowboy horses, and are used in many western disciplines, including reining, cutting, teaming penning and sorting, and just as a pleasure horse. Even some rural ranches still use them while working with cattle. 

 With 4 million registered worldwide, the Quarter Horse is today's most popular horse breed.

This chestnut Quarter Horse, whose name is Streakin' Six, was
inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2011. He entered in
nineteen races, winning ten, coming second in five of them, and
place third once. (Credit)

 Quarter Horse's usually range from 14.2 hands high to 15.3 hands high. Their head is compact, with wide-set eyes, small ears, large nostrils, and large cheekbones. Also, their shoulders are sloping, their barrels are deep, and their chests are wide, and many people say that their muscular hindquarters, which can easily thrust them forward, are remarkable. 

 They come in many colors, although sorrel, which looks like a burnished chestnut, is very common.

Belmont Stakes 2013, Part 2

The next seven horses are listed below:

Revolutionary(credit)
Revolutionary was sired byWar Pass. He broke his maiden
on Aqueduct's inner track, then won several stake races back-to-back,
including the Grade 3 Withers and the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
Out of seven starts, he has never placed worse than third.

Golden Soul(credit)
Golden Soul is out of Hollywood Gold, the
daughter of Mr. Prospector, the half-brother of Quintons Gold Rush.
His sire is Perfect Soul. One of his best finishes this year was when he ran second 11 1/2 lengths behind Oxbow
in the LeComte. He also finished third behind Orb in the Kentucky Derby.

Unlimited Budget(credit)
Unlimited Budget was sired by Street Sense. Her dam is Unlimited
Pleasure. As a two-year-old, she was purchased for $475,000.
In November of last year, she won her first start by 9 1/2 lengths,
then won three consecutive stake races:Grade 2 Demoiselle last year,
and the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandria and the Grade 2 Fair Ground Oaks
this year. Her first defeat came when her stablemate Princess of Sylmar and
two-year-old filly champion Beholder beat he in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
She will be the 23rd filly to compete in the Belmont. Only three fillies have won:
Ruthless in 1867, Tanya in 1905, and Rags to Riches in 2007.

Midnight Taboo(credit)
Midnight Taboo was sired by Langfuhr. His dam, Hot Red, was sired by
Thunder Gulch, who won the 1995 Belmont. In 2011, he was bought for $240,000
at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He raced only once as a two-year-old,
coming second at Saratoga, and broke his maiden this year in a mile long race at Aqueduct,
defeating older, more experienced horses. Next he placed second to Irsaal, a
well-regarded horse.

Palace Malice(credit)
Palace Malice is the son of two-time Horse of
the Year Curlin and the dam Palace Rumor. His only victory
was in his maiden race at Saratoga. This year,  out of five starts
he has two seconds, one at Gulfstream and the other in the
Grade 1 Blue Grass, and one third in Grade 2 Risen Star.

Vyjack(credit)
Vyjack was sired by Into Mischief, and his dam is Life Happened.
He won the first four starts of his career, which were all at
Aqueduct, including the Grade 2 Jerome and the
Grade 3 Gotham. He placed 18th in the Kentucky Derby and hasn't raced
since. Also, he is attempting to be the third gelding to
win the Belmont, the others being Creme Fraiche in
1985 and Ruler on Ice in 2011. His name comes from
his owner David Wilkenfield's parents: Vivienne
and Jack.

Will Take Charge(credit)
Will Take Charge was sired by Unbridled's Song, winner of
the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the 1996 Florida Derby
and Wood Memorial. His dam is Take Charge Lady. In
his lifetime, he has only won two stake races: The Smarty Jones
and the Rebel, and came seventh in the Kentucky Derby an the
Preakness. As a yearling, he was purchased for $425,000.

Belmont Stakes 2013, Part 1

A few weeks ago, Oxbow upset Orb in an exciting race at Pimlico. Though we will not have Triple Crown winner this year, the Belmont Stakes remains the exciting Test of Champions, which will show who the better horse is. Both Oxbow and Orb will be entering, but they will have to get through a lot of great horses if either of them want the Triple Crown's third jewel. Maybe we will have another Triple Crown near-miss, like I'll Have Another last year. You will see some horses returning to take revenge for their loss in the Derby. Below are the horses listed to enter:

Orb(credit)
Orb, who's paternal grandsire is A.P. Indy, 1992 Belmont winner, is
attempting to become the first horse since Thunder Gulch in 1995
to win a Kentucky Derby-Belmont double. If he succeeds, he will
become the 12th horse to do so. Orb was beaten by a total of 30
lengths in his first three races, but improved from there. By the time
he won the Derby, his winning streak was at five. In the Preakness,
he got boxed in and came fourth.(click here for footage)

Oxbow(credit)
Oxbow was sired by Awesome Again, winner of the 1998
Breeders' Cup Classic. His dam, Tizamazing, is the unraced
sister of Tiznow,  2000's Horse of the Year and two-time winner
of the Breeeders' Cup Classic. As a yearling, he was bought
for $250,000. With 11 starts, he is the most experience
three-year-old heading into the Belmont on Saturday.

Frac Daddy(credit)
In 2011, Frac Daddy was purchased by Magic City
 Thoroughbred Partners for $50,000 at the Keeneland
September Yearling Sale. His sire is Scat Daddy,
and his dam Skipper's Mate. He is known for
placing second in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and
the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. So far, he has earned
$288,116.

Incognito(credit)
Incognito was sired by A.P. Indy, one of Seattle Slew's successful
sons who won the 1992 Belmont, Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of
the Year Honors. His dam is Octave, by Unbridled's Song.
He finished fifth at Aqueduct on December 15, his only
race that year. On March 16 this year, he broke his maiden,
running a 1:37.62 mile on Aqueduct's inner track. He won his
first allowance by a nose on April 13. Then he came
third place in the Grade 2 Peter Pan, finishing less than
half a length behind the second placer.

Overanalyze(credit)
In 2011, Overanalyze was purchased for $380,000 in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is by Dixie Union, and his dam is Unacloud. Just after breaking his maiden as a 3-5 favorite at Saratoga on August 9, he jumped to graded stakes races, where he placed fourth behind his stablemate, Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 2 Hopeful. Next he won the Grade 2 Futurity and placed third in the Grade 3 Iroquois before closing his season with a victory of a nose over Normandy Invasion in the Grade 2 Remsen. He qualified for the Kentucky Derby by winning the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by 2 3/4 lengths. He placed 11th in the Kentucky Derby.

Freedom Child(credit)
Freedom Child's sire is Malibu Moon, who is by the
great A.P. Indy, and his dam is Bandstand, by Deputy Minister.
He raced only twice as a two-year-old, breaking his maiden
on March 10th at Gulfstream Park. In the Grade 2 Peter Pan,
he lead wire to wire in a 13 1/4 length victory.

Giant Finish(credit)
Giant Finish is by Frost Giant, the 2008 Grade 1 Suburban Handicap winner, and he is out of Apocalyptic. After placing in the John Battaglia Memorial, he finished third in the Grade 3 Spiral. Then he came tenth in the Kentucky Derby. His owner's goal for him is that he becomes the first New York bred to win the Belmont since Forester in 1882.

Affirmed: Four-Year-Old Season

 After spending the winter in California, Affirmed returned to the track for his final season. He had a new jockey: Laffit Pincay, Jr. He began his season with an almost effortless ten length victory in the Charles H. Strub Stakes. Next he won the Santa Anita Handicap with 128 pounds on his back, running the mile and one quarter in the record time of 1:58 3/5, as well as defeating the son of champion racehorse Exclusive Native by four and a half lengths.

 That May, he went to Hollywood Park for the California Stakes. Many worried about the burdensome weight of 130 pounds that he was required to carry, but it didn't affect his performance; he won by five lengths.

 Because of his victory, he was then required to carry 132 pounds in the Hollywood Gold Cup. In that race, he met the Italian champion Sirlad, who forced Affirmed to run at a tremendous pace considering his burden. Affirmed managed to hold the lead long enough to win by three-quarters of a length and to run the race in 1:58 2/5, missing the American record for that distance by only 1/5 of a second.

 Affirmed rested for two months following his victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup before going to New York to win two more races. However, trainer Laz Barrera kept him out of the Marlboro Cup since he was assigned 133 pounds, while the young champion Spectacular Bid was assigned only 126 pounds. He did race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, though. Each horse was weighted according to its age.

Affirmed won the Jockey Club Gold Cup after battle
for first place with several different horses, including
Spectacular Bid.(credit)

 The race was incredible! All throughout, many horses moved forward to challenged him for first place, including Coastal, the 1979 Belmont Stakes winner, and Spectacular Bid, who challenged him four times. Affirmed won in the end, but Spectacular Bid was far from disgraced. Few horses can repeatedly challenge the leader like he did and not come close to last.

 Affirmed retired after that. He had earned a grand total of $2,393,818 in his lifetime, was made the world's Current Leading Money Winner until Spectacular Bid took his place in June 1980, and once more earned Horse of the Year honors. This time, no one questioned whether he deserved the title or not; he had proved himself many times that year.

 He first served as a stud horse in Spendthrift Farm, the Calumet, and finally Jonabell, where he passed away in January 2001.

 Some racing fans believe he failed as a stud horse since he never duplicated himself at stud. Despite those beliefs, he actually sired several noteworthy horses, including Peteski, winner of the Canadian Triple Crown; Charley Barley, the successful Canadian turf racer who earned $922,943; Bint Pasha, who became France's 1987 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly; Tibullo, who was successfully enjoyed his career in Italy; Easy to Copy, who won in Ireland; Trusted Partner, winner of Irish One Thousand Guineas; Buy the Firm, a good handicap mare; and the mare Flawlessly, who won the Eclipse Reward twice and earned over $2,000,000 while under the racing colors of Harbor View Farm, the same as her sire.

Affirmed: Three-Year-Old Season

 Despite an unusually long rest due to uncharacteristically rainy weather in South Carolina, Affirmed began his three-year-old season with a victory at Santa Anita, followed by a win in the San Felipe Handicap.

 After that, he defeated Balzac by eight lengths in the Santa Anita Derby. There was then only one race to win before he traveled back east: the Hollywood Derby. However, with little competition since Alydar was racing in the east coast, Affirmed began to develop bad habits. Whenever he was in the lead, he would mess around and waste time. This worried trainer Laz Barrera since the same thing had cost Affirmed the Champagne Stakes the year before. In spite of Barrera's worries, the Hollywood Derby proved no problem, and Affirmed, though slightly bored, managed to win by two lengths. After that, he went east and defeated Alydar in three classics.

Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, with Alydar second and
Believe It third. Credit

 Then came the Kentucky Derby. Sensitive Prince took an early lead, setting a fast pace while Affirmed lingered in third place. Just as the pack entered the backstretch, Believe It took the lead, followed by Affirmed, who quickly replaced him. Alydar gave it his all, but only managed to beat Believe It for second place money. The roses belonged to Affirmed by one and a half lengths.

 In the Preakness, Alydar was more on top of things. When Affirmed took the lead at the half mile mark, Alydar followed close behind, waiting for the right moment to make his move. As soon as the two entered the homestretch, they fought hard until Affirmed won by a neck. Believe placed third for the second time.

Affirmed won the Belmont Stakes by a head in the closest
Belmont victory since 1962, when Jaipur barely defeated
Admiral's Voyage. 

 Only one more race remained, and only one horse stood between Affirmed and the Triple Crown: Alydar. Affirmed took the early lead, followed Alydar, who opted not to wait to make his move fairly late in the race like the two previous times. This time, with more than half a mile left, he began to battle his rival, doing everything in his power to steal the final Triple Crown jewel from Affirmed. Yet it was all in vain. After a long and hard-fought battle, Affirmed won by his head in the closest Belmont Stakes since 1962, when Jaipur barely defeated Admiral's Voyage.

 After a long and well-deserved rest, Affirmed once more won a race. In the Jim Dandy Stakes, he came from behind to beat Sensitive Prince, despite the slick track, carrying his winning streak to eight. However, he was unable to continue his streak to nine, as his fans had hoped. Although he came first in the Travers Stakes, he was disqualified for bumping Alydar.

 Next, he raced Seattle Slew, the previous Triple Crown winner, in the Marlboro Cup. To his fans surprise, he hardly gave Slew a challenge. Later, after a vet inspection, his owner, jockey, and trainer found that a throat infection had been the cause of his poor performance.

 In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the two met for the second time. Affirmed failed to win once his saddle slipped after battling with Seattle Slew for an early lead. Seattle Slew, though, also failed. He was in poor condition considering the length of the two mile race, so Exceller won by a nose, becoming the first horse to defeated two Triple Crown winners, let alone in one race.

 Despite the fact that Affirmed had lost three times in a row: once because of poor health, another time due to to disqualification, and another due to tack failure, he was voted horse of the year. Lots of arguments followed that decision. Some people were outrage, thinking that Seattle Slew should have had the honors since he had defeated Affirmed---twice. Others believed that Affirmed had fair excuses for his failures. Nevertheless, Affirmed was 1978's Horse of the Year, and no argument could change that.