Training Report #2

December 18, 2012

Today was Tuesday of the third week of training. Before even getting into how much fun we are having with the horses I have to say just how overwhelming the response has been already from the public. Our Facebook numbers shot past 5400 fans today with a weekly total reach of nearly 20,000. Eleven thousand of our 110,000 You Tube channel views happened in the last two weeks. We are all over the net: Chronicle Forums, Eventing Nation, Daily Racing Form, and had a photographer out on Friday for a feature story in Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. In addition to Thoroughbred Charities of America, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and Bourbon Lane Stables, we have just signed on Maryland Jockey Club, Stübben, and Bit of Britain. This is all just the start.

These four horses couldn't know that they are ambassadors for their kind, and that they have the power to convince thousands of people to learn to ride better and to find themselves a Thoroughbred off the track. They can't know, but they act like they do. That's how hard they try every day. At least that's how it seems to those of us lucky enough to be working with them.

January 12, 2013

The Maryland Horse World Expo begins this coming Friday. Michelle Warro and I plan to ride the horses in front of a crowd that is seated in tall bleachers set two feet from the railng of the 60' by 120' arena. Two weeks ago we were worried. Now we are more confident. Steady progress with all four horses, but a bump in the road for Gunport.

The expo takes place at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Tickets are purchased at the door for $10. Parking is free. Our booth is near the southwest corner of the Cow Palace. We will have our magnificent black Equicizer, Idle Dice, and 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge t-shirts designed by our funky cool designer Julie Magruder, along with RRTP hats, saddle pads, and fleeces. Here is the schedule:

Friday at 4pm in the Exhibition Hall Arena (building uphill from outdoor show ring) - We will present each horse in hand, moving free, and jumping through a chute. This will be an educational forum in evaluating Thoroughbred horses for various sport disciplines and be the only opportunity to watch these superstars free jumping.

Saturday at 11 am in the Cow Palace Seminar Hall - I will lead a discussion about Selecting and Starting Your Ex-Racehorse. We will cover as much as we can get to in an hour and take questions from the audience.

Saturday at 1pm in the Cow Palace Main Arena - Michelle Warro and I will each ride two of the horses. We will discuss where they are in their training after six weeks and where we expect them to be at 100 days. This is the horses' first public appearance under saddle since their last races. We will do basic flat work and a bit of jumping.

Sunday at 1pm Exhibition Hall Arena – This has been titled Jockey Dressage but is actually a presentation about how sport horse riders can integrate the methods of exercise riders and jockeys into the basic flat work that we do with our horses off the track during that critical time when they are learning to rebalance themselves as riding horses. In years past we have had retired Lady Legend jockey Andrea Seefeldt Knight, but this year will have a guest appearance from another star jock who can do dressage in a racing saddle. We will use the two of our Challenge horses who have seemed to enjoy the crowds most.

Now for the actual report on the horses...