Visionaire is one of the foundation writers of Eventing Nation from the very early days in 2010. She has ridden up to Advanced level and spent six years as head groom for Dorothy Crowell. After a few years in the Thoroughbred industry, she now spends her time writing for EN, riding a few nice OTTBs, and working with her husband's hay business, A.T. Acres Farm.
You may have heard that the FEI dumped Rolex and adopted Longines as their new official timepiece. That left many of us to wonder… what will happen to ROLEX Kentucky?? A new name seems unfathomable… the event has been “Rolex” forever, and calling it anything else just couldn’t be right.
Today, the USEF issued a press release announcing that Rolex Watch USA will remain title sponsor for our grand CCI**** in Lexington, Kentucky. We can all breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to many more years of Rolex.
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From the press release:
Rolex Watch U.S.A. and the United States Equestrian Federation continue their longstanding partnership as Rolex Watch will remain the “Official Timepiece” of the USEF, the title sponsor of the Kentucky Three-Day Event and the USEF Show Jumping Computer Ranking List.
This partnership has spanned 32 years and has been an integral part of the storied evolution of equestrian excellence in the United States, specifically through Rolex USA’s title sponsorship of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
“The Kentucky Three-Day Event is synonymous with the name Rolex,” said John Long, USEF CEO. “In most cases, it is referred to as simply ‘Rolex’. That kind of association and branding is proof of the strength of the relationship between the USEF and Rolex Watch U.S.A. We so very much value and appreciate this partnership now over three decades old.”
“Rolex has been an outstanding partner over the last three decades and we would not be in our present position as one of the world’s best known and most respected equestrian events without their involvement and support,” said Equestrian Events, Inc. President, Darren Ripley. “Their commitment to continue with us for another four years is not only great news for our event, but for all fans of equestrian sports.”
As one of the longest-running partnerships in equestrian sport, the organizer EEI and the USEF have been able to revolutionize the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event based on the strength of Rolex’s support. In August 2009, Rolex began lending its name to the USEF Show Jumping Ranking List, which ranks the top show jumping riders in the United States.
Don’t have any show jumps for a high-jump competition? Why not use a gate? Watch how they do it in Ireland, raising a metal gate to see who can clear the highest. I think I’d file this into the “don’t try this at home” category… my horse certainly doesn’t need any further inspiration to leave his paddock and wander at will!
Last fall, we presented a couple articles from EN reader Dana Diemer on the sport of combined driving, including some fun facts and information about the equipment involved. Today, Dana’s back to explain the fun, “cross-country” part of combined driving– Phase E of the Marathon. Many thanks to Dana for writing, and thank you for reading. If you have something to share on Eventing Nation, send it to [email protected]. Go Combined Driving!
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From Dana:
Hazardous
Pony, whip and ‘gator work as one. Photo by Kelly Butler.
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It’s the really fun part of combined driving. It’s the puzzle part of combined driving. It’s the ultimate anti-Alzheimer’s portion of combined driving. It’s the how well do you really know your horse on the day part of combined driving. It’s the Phase E part of combined driving. (Phase E?)
Marathon Day at a combined driving event remains a true test of fitness, skill and an accurate memory.
This portion of the competition is broken up into three phases. Phase A is a marked course of a measured distance ranging from a minimum of 5000 meters to a maximum of 8000 meters. This may be accomplished at any pace at any level. Phases B and C no longer exist. Phase D is a marked course of 800 to 1000 meters, executed at the walk. At the end of the walk phase, the competitors enter a mandatory rest period at the vet box of ten minutes. Vital signs are checked and the horses are trotted in harness, in front of an official to insure soundness and ability to continue.
Then the real fun begins! Phase E is a marked course of 6000 to 9000 meters. Hazards, more correctly known as Obstacles are located roughly every 1000 meters, there may be up to 8 obstacles dependent on the level of competition. Each obstacle has a clearly marked entrance and exit and up to 6 compulsory gates marked with red and white letters A, B, C etc. which indicate the sequence they must be driven.
You must drive the gates in order.
You must drive through them in the correct direction (red on the right, white on the left).
You may not pass through a higher gate in order to reach a lower one (in other words you can’t drive through C to get to A more quickly).
Once you have passed through a gate it is considered “dead” and you may drive through it in either direction without penalty.
Each obstacle is timed. The clock starts as you pass through the entrance and stops when you pass through the exit. The longer you are in a hazard the more penalty points you incur.
Driving Fun Fact: A knockdown is a dislodgeable element located in an obstacle. They range from a tennis ball balanced on the top of a post to a strip of wood velcroed to the side of a post. All warn “don’t come too close” and all add a penalty of 2 points for each knockdown to your overall marathon score.
There are easily hundred of variations of route that can be driven in each obstacle. The challenge is to determine the fastest route for you and your horse, on the day and in the moment. Oh yeah, back up plans are a real good idea when you blow by a turn, as is an acute awareness of where you are in the obstacle at any point in relation to all the gates you must drive through. Lather, rinse, repeat. Six to eight times.
How many ways do you see to drive this obstacle?
Savvy drivers walk obstacles multiple times and have developed a routine that works for them.
The first time through is a get acquainted look. Check out the overall hazard- terrain, layout of gates, entrance/exit, any compulsory turning flags (course gates) before or after the hazard, any kilometer markers on the out gate, and a general feel for the obstacle.
The second walk is all about options. Look at the routes between gates, measure possible routes, and make a basic plan. Talk to friends about their thoughts and watch others walking, invariably someone will find a way to go you hadn’t thought of.
Driving Fun Fact: To spin or wrap, as in “we are going to spin red B” is to execute a 360 turn around a letter on a gate.
Third walk- time to get serious. Select the route, noting landmarks and points in the hazard to use as focal points on the chosen path. Discuss what/when the driver wants the navigator to say or do. Walk the angles in the turns. Discuss the place and angle to be used between the entrance and exit gates. Attention to this can shave a few seconds off your time. Consider the flow from gate to gate to gate all through the hazard, not just from one gate to another. Smooth and flowing is often faster than taking the short route. Every time you change rein or have to slow then speed up, you are burning seconds and also your horse’s energy. Make sure it’s worth it in terms of saving time.
Walk the hazard as many times as necessary for you to feel confident driving at the speed you plan to drive. Most new drivers underestimate how many times they need to walk the hazards. Better to be over prepared.
And did I mention you do this for up to eight obstacles?
Driving Fun Fact: To button hook is to pass through a gate, execute a 180 degree turn and go back out the way you came in. It’s a ground saving maneuver, but also requires a lot of strength to keep up the momentum.
Many thanks to 2012 World Pony Championship team bronze medalist Rochelle Temple for her help with this article!
Next time: Coverage of the 2013 Little Everglades International CDE, February 21-24, Dade City Florida. www.littleevergladesranch.com
Video: Jacob Arnold driving Halstead’s Shale at CAI-B Little Everglades 2012 Obstacle 1.
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Red on the right, white on the left and a different kind of insanity in the middle.
We’ve seen Indoor Eventing gain some popularity in recent years, and our sister sport Combined Driving has as well. Carriage driving is hard enough out in the open…now watch as they tackle obstacles within an indoor arena! Just like indoor or “express” eventing, there seems to be a mix of cross-country (marathon) and show jumping (cones) type obstacles. It looks like a blast!
Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City: The Oral Hygiene Edition
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Hey there, Eventing Nation! You’ll be happy to know that I made it through Inauguration Weekend with little more than slightly frozen toes and a general grumpiness towards tourists who couldn’t parallel park if their lives depended on it. Although I did seriously contemplate doing a “ride through” during the parade on my trusty stick horse, Cherry Pie (featured prominently in last summer’s “Insanity in the Middle” video), I figured the Secret Service wouldn’t quite see the humor of some chick running around in cross country attire and a helmet cam (they are not nearly as enlightened as EN readers). I know, I know…how selfish of me to not risk getting arrested for the sake of our sport!!
While I was failed to make inaugural history, I did manage to start packing for my upcoming excursion to Denver for the U.S. Pony Clubs Annual Meeting…and a little skiing afterwards. Like many Pony Club volunteers, I will be wearing several hats during the Annual Meeting, some serious (Council and Board Member) and some absurd (remember that rubber horsehead I wore when I dressed up as Rafalca for Halloween? Yeah, it’s in my suitcase). I will also be team-teaching a session on tack selection (I’ve got the credit card bills to show that I’m a freakin’ MASTER at spending money at the tack shop!) and care…in stilettos (Annual Meeting is the ONE TIME my Pony Club family gets to see me in something other than horrible paddock shoes…heck yeah, I’m gonna rock it out!). So if you’re in the Westminster, CO area this weekend, I promise it will be worth the Day Registration fee to watch me polish boots and clean tack in stilettos.
Anyway, as I hate to travel two-thirds of the way across the country only to discover that while I may have 20 strands of Mardi Gras beads and a helmet cam but nothing I actually need, like, say clothes, in my suitcase, I started making a list:
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I have a feeling the TSA is going to have a field day with my suitcase…
True to Yvette form, my list is very stream of conscience – and you can tell by the order where my priorities lie. So I put the ski boots, helmet cam and rubber horse head ahead of an actual item of clothing…whatevs…that’s not the point. The important part of this list can be found in the two items circled in red…the toothbrushes. Yes, I’m one of those freaks who cleans her tack and boots with a toothbrush – sue me. I use a toothbrush to clean my half chaps and paddock shoes every morning. And like most civilized humans, I use a toothbrush two to three times a day to clean my teeth. Which leads me to this week’s tip:
Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #25:
No matter how itty-bitty your apartment may be, I strongly suggest that you keep at least 20 feet between your tack cleaning toothbrush and the toothbrush you actually use for your teeth. Just thinking about confusing the two makes me throw up a little…
And if you have a toothbrush for your horse’s teeth? In your itty-bitty apartment? You’re just weird and need help.
Despite being left in the gate and spotting the field 10 lengths, first-time starter Market Quote rallied to win a mile race yesterday at Santa Anita Park. Trained by John Shirreffs and bred/owned by Pam and Martin Wygod, the four-year-old filly by After Market showed tremendous talent and heart to circle the field and fight for the win at the wire.
Here are jockey Joe Talamo’s comments from the LA Times:
“Right when the gate opened, I think it scared her,” Talamo said. “She hesitated. After that, there was nothing else to do but be patient.”
She was 13 lengths behind in last place when she started to show her talent.
“Eighth by eighth [pole], I let her pick it up little by little,” Talamo said.
Turning into the stretch, Market Quote unleashed a furious kick, charging on the outside and running down Top Kisser to win by a half-length in 1:34.86.
“For her to do what she did and run as fast as she did, it’s pretty amazing,” Talamo said. “John did an unbelievable job. He was pretty high on her. But I don’t think anybody was counting on that.”
Your Weekly “Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Q&A
Jose Ortelli pretending to gallop racehorses in a somewhat unsuccessful fashion. Silly boy, Thoroughbred fillies are for girls!
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I hope this article finds you well, Eventing Nation! Our winter Eventing season is well under way, Longwood is hopping, Poplar is swinging, and Midnight Rodeo and Hotel Aiken are undoubted dimly lit and densely populated. This week, I have written a follow-up piece that builds upon the foundation of OTTB stalking that I poured onto your computer screens last week. Do not despair if you have not received a reply to an OTTB question that you send last week. I will answer all of those and even more in next week’s column. But this week, get out a pencil and paper to take notes and I will do my best to detail just how a novice can endeavor to decipher the racing results and accompanying charts of their OTTB’s history. Enjoy!
Okay, so remember guys, BEFORE YOU EVEN GO TO LOOK AT AN OTTB, you need to have done the following:
Ascertained his or her Jockey Club registered name
Gone to PEDIGREE QUERY and scrutinized that horse’s breeding.
Gone to , accessed, and studied that horse’s profile.
Once the crucial steps listed above have been completed and you are staring at the EQUIBASE profile of your OTTB-to-be, the time has come. You must click on the Results tab and begin to decipher, to the best of your ability, WHY this horse is no longer suited for the track. For purposes for this article, we will use the profile of a horse I sold some years ago named BAMCO DYNAMITE. He represents the quintessential OTTB and his race record is a fairly standard example to analyze. So let’s start with the basics:
By looking at Career Statistics, you can immediately establish that he has raced 18 times, won twice, and has run 3rd once (represented numerically as 18-2-0-1).
By clicking on the All Years drop down menu, you can be certain that he raced from 2006 until 2008, which tells you that he raced as a 3, 4, and 5 year old.
When clicking the Results tab, you may at first be daunted. Do not be! In the most basic terms, it is easy to see that the horse raced at 4 different tracks (Belmont, Finger Lakes, Foxfield, and Great Meadow). It is important to note that Foxfield and Great Meadow are both steeplechase/hurdle tracks. It is always a step in the right direction when your prospect already knows how to jump, so this is something to watch out for!
As a 3 year old, this horse did not start for the first time until the middle of July but, being a May foal, this is what I would consider to be fairly typical.
Things then get a little crazier for Bamco. After a poor effort in his first race, he was given a short time to learn from that experience and to recover from his effort and then ran back two weeks later. This is a little bit rushed in my opinion but it does not appear as though he tried particularly hard in his first start and in the racing industry, time is money.
Wisely, Bamco’s trainer waited a month to run him back after another poor effort 2nd time out, and this time he improved to fifth.
Apparently eager to keep the good mojo going, Bamco ran back just 8 days later for his 4th start and could only get up for 6th, a little bit of a regression from start number three.
In start number 5, 18 days after start number 4, not much changes.
Finally, in start number 6, 14 days after start number 5, Bamco seems to get things together and gets up for 3rd despite a faster running time in a race of equal class and distance.
After almost a month of well-deserved rest, Bamco runs back for a considerably cheaper tag and catches a field that goes a full 2 seconds slower than his last race. Unsurprisingly, he gets all of his ducks in a row and breaks his maiden on his 7th try.
After his maiden win, Bamco’s connections get a little bit cocky and run him back for a claiming tag of twice what he won for last time out and after only 17 days. Catching a field that finishes a mile and seventy yards 3 seconds faster than his last race, Bamco runs next to last and his trainer throws in the towel for the year and it is likely that, judging but the lay-off of 8 months that follows, an injury occurred after the 11/24/06 race.
2007 kicked off in July once again for Bamco and he proceeded to mimic his form from the year before, throwing a bunch of clunkers before getting his act together towards the end of September and delivering another win in October for the same price that he originally broke his maiden for in a race run just a few hundred meters farther but a almost a second faster than his maiden win.
After his 2nd win, Bamco ran a respectable 4th in a similar race that runs almost two seconds faster than his 2nd victory.
At the end of 2008, Bamco throws another clunker and begins another long lay-off, this time with a change of connections. A race over hurdles sets the stage for Bamco’s 2008 debut with poor results and a 2ndhurdle race end with Bamco being pulled up prior to the finish of the race and an end to his racing career.
With so much information in such a small space, I will follow this article up with one more piece address the manner in which ‘charts’ are read. I encourage you to send any further, horse-specific or general-knowledge questions to me via email ([email protected]) for more in-depth and on-point answers, however, and am certainly happy to help you read any charts that you simply cannot translate from racetrack gibberish. Go Eventing and go gallop a former racehorse.
Diane Portwood kindly sent us a write-up of the clinic she attended last weekend; dressage with Jacquie Brooks and cross-country with Clayton Fredericks. Diane is sixteen years old and in the Wheeler Magnet Program for Math and Science in Marietta, GA. With her ten year old gray OTTB mare Layla, she hopes to make the Area III NAJYRC 1* team this summer. Layla and Diane have completed two preliminary events since they first started working together in Thanksgiving 2011. At the time, Layla had never evented or had any dressage training. Layla and Diane have been moving up the levels and learning together. Many thanks to Diane for the awesome clinic recap! If you have a clinic report or something to share on Eventing Nation, send it to [email protected].
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Jacqueline Brooks and Clayton Fredericks Clinic at Longwood Farm
From Diane:
Day One: Dressage
Two-time Canadian dressage Olympian, Jacqueline Brooks kicked off the first day of the clinic with an educational and extremely positive note. She worked well with all different types of horses and riders, from pairs that had never evented to advanced level competitors. No matter what the skill level, she had each rider place a looped rope around their horse’s neck so that it rested over the base of the neck near the withers. The rope was loose enough for the rider to grab and hold along with the reigns. Most riders, to some degree, ride with too much hand aid which causes the horse to start bracing against its rider. The rope helps to prevent the rider from relying on his or her hand to force the horse into a frame. Jacqueline Brooks stressed that forcing a horse into a frame using the hand is not correct; proper dressage is all about keeping the horse balanced and letting it find self-carriage. The rope helped the rider achieve this without using too much hand. The goal was to use fifty percent pressure from hand and fifty percent pressure from rope.
If you look closely, you can see the ropes around the bases of the horses’ necks.
Turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, and halt
With all of the groups, Jacqueline preached the importance of these movements. The turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches allow the rider to establish control of the horse’s entire body. The halt is used when the horse becomes unbalanced or breaks from a gait. My group started off with trot to halt transitions. Instead of pulling on the horses with our reigns, we pulled upwards on the rope. Normally my horse, Layla, braces against my hand during the halt and falls onto her forehand; however, pulling upwards on the rope kept her from bracing and also helped her stay balanced. Next, we moved onto turns on the forehand. The same aids we used for this movement were also used whenever we did any bending. The turn on the haunches is used to gain control of the horse’s shoulder.
Getting the horse to swing through its back and bend
Layla has a tendency to become tense, especially through her back. Because of this, establishing enough bend can be difficult. To combat this, Jacqueline had Layla and I figure eight around the ring, constantly changing direction and speed. She expressed speed in miles per hour. Having control of speed is incredibly important. She had us do subtle transitions, from a 10mph trot to an 11mph trot and back, and larger transitions, from a 10mph trot to a 15mph trot and back. We did the same at the canter, and then she had me figure eight around the arena at a trot. To help Layla start to bend through her body, she had me open the outside reign just as far as I opened the inside reign. She had me hold the rope in my outside hand so that when I opened that hand, the base of Layla’s neck would be pulled to the outside of the arena, encouraging her to bend more. While doing this, I also continued to constantly change speed. I stopped doing figure eights but continued asking for more bend (opening the outside reign as much as the inside reign while holding the rope in my outside hand) at the canter. During this process, if Layla ever started to fall on her forehand or become unbalanced, I pulled upwards on the rope to help her regain her balance without tugging on her mouth.
At this point Layla was bending very easily and swinging through her back a great deal more than when she started. Jacqueline put us on a circle around her and had me start to really collect Layla at the canter and get her using her hocks. At first I had a hard time creating any difference in the level of collection. After that I started really using the rope and my body to collect her. When I wanted the collection, I pulled back on the rope to make her sit on her hocks and slightly upwards to keep her off her forehand while I sat deep in the saddle and kept my legs on. At this point I was able to collect Layla more than I ever had before without losing power. We did the same thing at the trot.
Jacqueline did not work on any movements we would need to perform at an event except the halt, turn on the haunches, and turn on the forehand; instead, she worked on developing balance and self-carriage which in turn helped develop the horses’ gaits. She stressed that when the horse is balanced and carrying itself, it should be easy to do any movement that is necessary in the actual dressage tests. Unfortunately, it is very hard to hear what Jacqueline has to say because of the wind, so I tried to explain everything in as much detail as possible.
Day Two: Cross Country
Warm Up
After doing a brief canter and trot, Clayton had riders make sure their horses were in tune and sharp off the leg before even starting to jump. He had riders do walk to canter and canter to halt transitions to make sure riders had control of their horses. If horses were dull off the leg, then the riders were to “pony club kick.” Horses could not suck back behind the leg even in warm up. To halt, riders had to use their bodies to ask instead of a lot of hand. At this point Clayton started to notice flaws in the positions of riders; I happened to be one of the offenders. Many of the riders, including myself, had horses that tended to become strong. When Layla pulled on the reigns, I tended to allow my upper body to move forward while my lower leg slipped back. Basically, as I was asking her to slow down with my hands, my body and legs were telling her to move forward. The correct way to get Layla to slow down or collect was to sit back and slide my legs forward. I was to use my body more than my hands, and eventually Layla would learn to slow down in response to just my body movement. Clayton stated that riders must feel like “3/4 of the horse is in front of you.”
XC Riding
I am still developing an accurate eye to fences, which can lead to some missed spots. Clayton encouraged that I count before every fence to get a feel for my rhythm, and this really helped when I could actually remember to do it! On the approach to a fence, the rider’s shoulders must always be behind his or her hips, and if the horse shows any sort of hesitation, the rider must immediately react with a “pony club kick.” If no correction is made for the horse sucking back, the hesitation will continue to get worse until the horse eventually stops. Also, if the horse is continually running off after fences, the rider must halt whenever it gets strong. While schooling, it is important that time is taken to teach the horse, not just jump a few fences. Clayton said that when he cross country schools his horses he doesn’t like to jump large fences; mainly, he focuses on banks, ditches, and water complexes.
Shoulders behind hips!
During my lesson, especially when I started working on harder combinations at the water complex, I tended to get very tense and did not allow Layla to use her head and neck properly. The head and neck are used to balance the horse, and when the horse cannot have full use of them because the rider is pulling, the horse tends to jump poorly. When coming to a drop, it is especially important that a horse can use itself. Unfortunately, this is when I started to hold the most. To add to the issue, I was not letting the reigns slip adequately so that Layla could stretch her neck down while dropping. Before this clinic, I had been having lots of trouble with up-banks out of water; now I know that this was because I wasn’t allowing Layla to use herself on the way into the water, causing her to become unbalanced. I cannot explain these concepts nearly as well as Clayton can, but fortunately my mom caught a lot of that on video. I’d like to thank Jacqueline Brooks and Clayton Fredericks for taking time to coach, Stepanie Rhodes-Bosch for organizing the clinic, the immaculate Longwood Farm South for hosting the clinic, and my parents for always being incredibly supportive of my eventing endeavors.
Here’s a documentary produced in 1988 showing the early history of Badminton Horse Trials. You can’t help but admire the bravery of horses and riders back then… safety has surely come a long way, but the eventing spirit will always bring us back to our roots.
Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City: The Photo ID Edition
Hey there, Eventing Nation! Based on my Facebook feed, I saw that a bunch of you spent your Monday evening following fellow blogger Lauren Nethery’s advice on how to gather more information about your OTTBs. And even though I should have known better, I decided to click over to the Equibase website myself to learn more about the racing past of my dear old Roger Rabbit (the OTTB formerly known as Go Go Boy and newly minted Area II Adult Rider Horse of the Year). All I can say is ”Oh Roger…” Thanks, Lauren, for the good laugh!
Anyway, here in the Nation’s capital, we’re getting ready for the quadrennial inaugural festivus. The Washington Post has been making January 21 weather predictions for the past week (I’m going to take a risk and say that it will be chilly with a chance of rain and fog – the standard DC winter fare), final parade preparations – such as the sealing of manhole covers along Pennsylvania Avenue – are being made, and we locals are doing some last minute jockeying to get on the guest lists of the marquis events and balls. It’s like Times Square on New Year’s Eve…for political nerds (and three weeks late). Having survived a few inaugurations as a DC resident, I have only two things on my mind:
What will Beyoncé be wearing when she sings the National anthem?
Is there any chance that she and some members of Congress will don black leotards and lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Single Ladies” à la Justin Timberlake on SNL a few years back?
But I digress…
Much like the coveted competitors’ wristbands and grooms’ buttons that grant access to the stabling areas to a lucky few at events such as Rolex and Fair Hill, DC is a town in which an ID badge dangling around your neck is seen as status symbol. We can spot a Beltway Newbie a mile away by the way they twirl their “White House” badge on the Metro (and we’re not surprised to discover that it says “INTERN.”) Just as your library card can’t be used to “check out” a beer at a bar, my USEA membership card won’t get me through checkpoint security on the Mall next Monday – and not only because it’s expired.
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Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #24:
While your USEA membership card may give you “street cred” at horse trials, it does not substitute for government-issued identification that allows you to perform day-to-day activities of normal (read: non-horsey) people, such as driving a car on public roads, navigating airport security, voting for anything other than USEA Board members and bylaws, or purchasing alcoholic beverages. And while you may use your membership to obtain discounts through Bit of Britain and SmartPak, it can’t be used as a credit or debit card, either, so stop putting it in the ATM machine.
Your Weekly “Why Does My OTTB (insert weird quirk here)?” Q&A
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Happy New Year, Eventing Nation! Firstly, please accept an apology for my absence since Christmas. I have been moving (myself and 20 horses) and it has been a task so monumental I haven’t even turned my computer on during the last two weeks. With things final settling down, though, I am back again and writing up a storm. This week, with a limited number of questions to answer, none of which addressed new topics that haven’t previously been covered, I have decided to offer a few suggestions and some information regarding what to look for when evaluating the racetrack performance of an OTTB that is for sale, where to look for the information, what all of the jibber jabber actually means, and how indicative a racing career may be of future suitability for Eventing (or other disciplines, for that matter). Enjoy!
To try to put this as simply as possible (nothing about evaluating an OTTB is simple, really!), I will detail to you, dear readers, the process that I embark upon when I get one of those text messages/emails/phone calls/Facebook tags/Craigslist alerts. You know the ones that I mean; where promises of fame, glory, gold medals, Rolex watches, four white socks and a blaze are all made…for the bottom basement price for $500 (or $1500 or $2000). That is clearly a steal for all of those wonderful probabilities, really. Well golly gee, let’s just hook up the trailer and go fetch WhatDreamsAreMadeOf with cash in hand. PUMP. THE. BRAKES. Every single time an OTTB pops up on my radar screen, there are several crucial research items that must be checked off before I even call the owner or go see the horse. Begin as follows:
Ascertain horse’s NAME and, if possible, acquire a PICTURE. Little to no research can be done on an OTTB without knowing his or her registered Jockey Club name. Pookey Magee/Geronimo/Billy/Wiz/Old Nag are not gonna cut it. And, while I am not completely opposed to going to see a horse without having first seen a picture, even the terrible Craigslist pictures and butt shots, a lot of horses can be ruled out of earn lots of points on pictures alone (or a video is even better of course, even if just of the walk). At least in most images, the angles of shoulder/hip/lower limbs and the absence of angular limb deformities and injuries can be established. It is worth mentioning that this is not the case in all pictures and videos. I kid you not, an owner recently sent a client of mine a video of a horse for sale that featured a nose to tail trail ride and centered upon the visage of an equine derrière between the tips of two ears. The pony patootie looked to be well muscled and basically level and that was certainly a plus but when these attributes were mentioned to the owner of the horse for sale, she was quick to correct us that “Oh no! The horse for sale is the one being ridden in the video. Aren’t his ears just the cutest! And you can clearly see he is behaving himself.” Some people.
Okay, now that you have learned the OTTB-for-sale’s name, you can really get down to business. It is imperative that the spelling of the name is correct, but once you are certain of that (ask the owner at least 3 times to spell it out), your very first resource should be EQUIBASE. When you access the homepage, you will see a box in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that is blank and features an adjacent drop-down menu with the word ‘Horses’ selected (other options include Jockeys, Trainers, and Owners which can later be a useful tool). Type the name of your prospect into this box and click search. Here is an example of what will come up for any horse, in this case COURAGEOUS COMET HORSE PROFILE.
The most basic information is there. Given name, state foaled in, color, date of birth, sire, dam, dam’s sire, and connections as of last start. Next, current year statistics and career statistics will be listed, followed by a breakdown of all years in a line graph form and then a drop down menu with all results featuring links to charts.
In conjunction with my Equibase searches, I also open up another window and search the horse’s name in PEDIGREE QUERY. If the breeding cannot be found of Pedigree Query, there are other ways to go about finding out genetic details but some of them cost money and most are more complicated.
After I have established that the horse is decently bred (I should not be looking quizzically at every name wondering who the heck those horses are), is the age that he or she is reported to be, and basically matches the information that the owner has given me, I start to delve a little deeper. If the horse does not match information given to me by the owner, the red flags start shooting up.
I usually work my way from the top to the bottom of the horse profile. I begin by quickly glancing over trainer statistics and owner details. Often not much help, but if the trainer and/or owner has a lot of horses running, I quickly evaluate their performance and class to get an idea of what sort of stable this horse is coming out of.
Looking at the year and career statistics is helpful in establishing how many times the horse has raced, how successful he or she has been, how much money he or she has made (which indicates the level at which the horse is running), and I make a general note of the ‘Highest E’ which is sort of a complicated indicator to explain but just know that the closer to 100 the better. Over 100, you have a G1 stakes horse in most cases. Above 75, you have an allowance performer. Between 75 and 50, you have a claiming horse that is getting the job done. Below 50, you may not be able to outrun SlowPoke.
Moving on to the All Years drop down tab, you can immediately establish the length of the horse’s career, the frequency of competition, and the success rate within those races.
The Results drop down tab may produce an intimidating list of races and details. Don’t be alarmed. Most immediately, you will be able to establish when, where, and at what class the horse ran each and every time he or she ran a race. You can click on the track name for details about location and racing dates, you can make note of the dates the races were run and whether or not there are any significant layoff periods in between races ( the average racehorse races every 3 weeks or so), you can determine at what class your prospect started his or her foray into racing (Maiden Special Weight is the top class, followed by Maiden Claiming which can vary in price from $100,000-$2,500), and whether or not the horse was a consistent performer or yo-yo’d up and down the ranks with an inconsistent level of ability, fitness, soundness, or training.
The little green icons on the end of the results lines are links to downloadable charts that detail every single thing that happened before, during, and after the race. My next article will provide a tutorial of how to interpret these and while they may look like a mess of hieroglyph and mumbo jumbo, they will soon become as easy to read as a children’s book, have no fear!
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I do hope that some of the information above has demystified to OTTB-hunting and evaluating process. I encourage you to send any further, horse-specific or general-knowledge questions to me via email ([email protected]) for more in-depth and on-point answer. I need questions badly! I’ll even bake you cookies if your whole barn will send one question per rider! Go Eventing, go gallop a former racehorse, and may 2013 be your best year yet.
Equine Canada announced this morning on its Facebook page that Bromont is looking more likely to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games. There’s still a decision to be made and it’s far from final, but perhaps Canada is leading the pack. Wouldn’t you like to see the Games come to Quebec? Oui, moi aussi!
Canada is one-step closer to hosting the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Bromont, QC!
We have just learned that Austria failed to make its last submission deadline. Canada is the only bidder to meet all of the FEI deadlines, however awarding the Games still must be approved by the FEI Bureau.
Cutting is something I’ve always wanted to try. The horses look so intense, so focused on their job– much like an event horse out on cross-country! Except our jumps aren’t a moving target. Check out this video of the 2002 NCHA Super Stakes Open champion JR Red Diablo ridden by Chubby Turner. The flashy paint earned a score of 225 (that’s like a dressage score of 20!) for the win. —
Kentucky Performance Products wants to hear about the great horses in every horse discipline. They will be running several contests throughout the year that will allow people to nominate their horse to win the “Horse of the Month” contest.
For January 2013, KPP is celebrating the event horse. Nominate your event horse for a chance to win. The winner will be chosen by KPP staff and will receive a KPP saddle pad, a halter with custom name plate, and a bucket of KPP goodies.
Please CLICK HERE to nominate your horse. Entries will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Equiventures’, LLC Ocala Horse Properties Winter I HT was held on Jan 5-6, 2013 at the Florida Horse Park, Ocala, Florida with 200 entries of beginner novice through intermediate participating and a lively audience reaction.
“The setting on Saturday was perfect! Marc Donovan’s show jumping course was very challenging and it really brought out the best in each and every competitor. Having that course coupled with perfect weather made for a great day of sport,” said Jonathan Holling.
Kevin T. Sheilley, formerly of Henderson, Ky., first president and CEO of the Ocala-Marion County Chamber Economic Partnership (CEP) greeted competitors, judges, volunteers, vendors and the public at the event Jan 5th. Sheilley was “very impressed!” and when requested for a 3 word description, “ well oiled machine” he said. “We are pleased to have community partners to foster eventing in Ocala,” event organizer Peter Gray said.
A competitor’s quick glance to a cheering audience brought a hint of a smile.
Jon Holling added, “As competitors we work hard to perfect our craft. One of the goals of this series of shows has been to increase the spectator base. When I looked out across the arena and saw the grandstands full of people I felt a sense of pride for our sport. It is such a challenge to train an event horse and to have people come out to watch these amazing animals compete is a thrill in itself!”
The Thoroughbred Incentive Program awards are now being offered at the Ocala Horse Properties horse trials. Each event in 2013 will offer awards to the best placed thoroughbred in each division. Series awards with ribbons, prizes and money will be given to the horses who have earned the most points throughout all three 2013 horse trials being held at the Florida Horse Park. Full details are available at The Jockey Club’s website http://tjctip.com
The next event: Ocala Horse Properties Winter II HT will be at the Florida Horse Park on Feb 08-10. “We are expecting over 500 entries,” said Equiventures, LLC event organizer, Peter Gray, “And we welcome tours at this event.” The tentative schedule is to run intermediate and prelim as a one-day event on Friday, with beginner novice, novice, and training competing Saturday and Sunday.
Loyal EN reader Rebecca Barber wrote an article for us with some sage advice for aspiring college students. Is balancing schoolwork, a social life, and competing at horse shows possible? Rebecca was able to do it, and here she tells us how. Thanks to Rebecca for writing, and thank you for reading. If you have something to share with us, send it to [email protected].
Photo from The University of Findlay. The Findlay Equestrian Studies Program provides an opportunity for students to bring their horses to school and learn along with them.
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From Rebecca Barber:
Can You Do it All: Academics, College Life and Horses?
Fall 2012 – 16 credit course load at an academically rigorous institution, leadership positions in a variety of campus organizations, Greek life, a part time job, IHSA equestrian team … oh yes and competing relatively successfully at USEA events.
Yes, it is possible to do it all. It’s simply a matter of how badly you want it. You may have to sacrifice some sleep and at times your sanity. But it is feasible to have the “normal” college experience and to still compete. Two years ago, when I was exploring my college options, I never imagined that it might be possible for me have a horse while at school. Now, half way through my second year, I am planning on bringing a project horse to school, with the hopes of moving it up the levels over the next few years Some people know that they are going to show all four years while at school and as a result they choose their college or university based on the trainers and competition venues located in the vicinity, I did not. I chose my school based solely on the academic opportunities it offered me. Thus, my college choice landed me in the middle of eventing no-mans-land.
This past year I half-leased (which happily morphed into more of a three-fourths lease) a friend’s horse. An experienced event horse, he served as an amazing confidence booster for me, since previously I had spent most of my time on green beans or sale horses. In addition, he helped me prove to myself that I am competent enough in time management to ride while maintaining a solid GPA (although, to be honest, sleep is often an afterthought and caffeine has become one of my best friends). While at school I board at a barn, which besides two others and myself, is comprised solely of show hunter and equitation riders. I ship to an amazing dressage trainer in the area. But without traveling further there are very few jumper or event trainers available.
In some ways my situation has been a mixed blessing. Although at times unsettling, I have been forced to become more independent, since it is now impossible for me to be in a regimented program with my a professional. I now have an even greater appreciation for my riding lessons and the time spent with my miracle performing event-trainer, who always manages to work the impossible the night before a competition. Additionally, I have a stronger understanding of and appreciation for other disciplines. Working with hunter trainers has helped me to develop a quieter riding style and a softer seat. As a consequence my rides over fences have improved.
So my advice to those beginning their college searches:
Keep an open mind while at school. If it is important to you, chances are that you will always be able to find a horse to ride. Throughout your life you may always have a passion for horses or your sport but unless you are planning on going straight into and having a career in the horse industry, college is a time to focus on your academics.
Take advantage of new opportunities. Riding for my school’s IHSA team and working with hunter trainers has improved my riding tremendously (no longer do I ride like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, now I am more like a turtle… still not where I want to be but I am slowly getting better). I am extremely grateful for my new coaches and their expertise.
Enjoy the experience. It is easy to dwell on the fact that your trainer is not near by. But try to regard this as a positive. You are forced to become more independent in your riding and develop problem-solving skills. My horse just had that rail. Why did he hang his front leg? What kind of grid can I use to sharpen him up? Yes, it sometimes can take a little longer and be somewhat entertaining to those watching, but in the long run I do believe that it makes you a better all around rider.
Time management, time management. time management… self explanatory but vital for success. (Did I mention that I spent Halloween body clipping, finally leaving the barn around 1 AM?)
Have a strong support system. Now more than ever, you need people to have your back, both at school and at home. I have people in my hometown, including my current trainer and past bosses, who I know I can call or text with any question or even just to rant or rave. My trainer has definitely received slightly, well maybe not “slightly,” panicked phone calls from me the week before an event when I am convinced that I am incapable of putting in a decent dressage test. On the other hand, I know that my riding friends at school will always have my back (true friendship is double teaming body clipping on a holiday that college students love… see point number 4).
Good luck on your college search! Riding while in school is not for everyone, but if you want it badly enough you can make it work. Kick on!
Emily Dunn kindly sent us a flashback video, taken after the Olympic team selection at Barbury. You may remember another of Meg’s dance offs…the creepy dance party from The Fork 2012. Do you have a video to share? Send it to us at [email protected]!
Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City: The Paper or Plastic Edition
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for event season to start so that I can get back on a “normal” diet!!!
Congratulations, Eventing Nation! You’ve survived the first week of 2013! WOOHOO! For those of you who bothered to make New Year’s resolutions, this means enough time has passed for you to quietly ditch them…I promise I won’t tell…
Those of you who watched my Horse Cookie Baking Video probably gathered that I’m no Betty Crocker. Beyond baking horse cookies, my culinary skills are limited to using a fork to poke holes in the plastic film covering a frozen dinner. On a particularly ambitious day, I might use a can opener to open a can of soup, put it in a sauce pan and heat it on the stovetop (Note: such days are extremely rare).
All I can say is…thank goodness for takeout!
Anyway, seeing as I don’t cook, the only time I visit my neighborhood grocery store is when I need to procure treats for the horses, which leads me to this week’s tip:
Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #23:
Get used to the strange looks you’ll receive at the supermarket when the only contents in your cart are:
Three 5 lb. bags of carrots
Several pounds of multiple apple varieties
Two jars of molasses
The “Value” bucket of peppermints
Box of sugar cubes
The latest issue of Us Weekly (hey, it’s boring around here with no events!)
Most people won’t say anything, but if they feel the need to comment/ask about the contents of my cart, I usually like to make up some new “cleansing” program. One time, a woman actually wanted to take notes. City people are so gullible.
A few weeks ago, I introduced my latest project horse, a (now) 4-year-old OTTB formerly known as “Rich and Creamy.” After suggestions and a poll from EN readers, he is now named “Aero.” I promised some updates as we went along, so here’s a look at how he’s done in the last few weeks. Are you working on a retraining project? Tell us about it at [email protected].
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One of Aero's first rides
After about 3 weeks, Aero has slowly started on his journey to becoming an event horse. When I got him, he was in the midst of the post-racing “crash” that many OTTBs face– skinny, loss of muscle, and awful-looking topline. Not all racehorses suffer the crash, but many do. At the track, they eat a lot of rocket-fuel feed and as much high-quality hay as they want. They settle into a daily routine, and spend most of the time in their stall. The transition off the track takes a physical toll on many of them; some people blame drugs or steroid withdrawal, but truthfully that’s not the problem in most cases. Whatever the reason, most racehorses will go through an embarrassingly skinny, “hide ’em behind the barn” phase a few months after they leave the track, losing a lot of muscle and condition. Aero last raced in August, and was thrown out in a field in September. I have no idea what he was fed during that time, but he was in the midst of “the crash” when I bought him in December. Most horses don’t slip away quite as much as he did…but thankfully he’s turned the corner and is showing improvement. In such a case, it’s a good idea to check teeth, deworm with a PowerPak, and consider a course of omeprazole to be sure they’re utilizing feed properly.
Aero after he first arrived in December: an awful, awkward photo emphasizing his skinniness.
While Aero no longer resembles an anorexic greyhound, he’s still needs to keep gaining. He gets pretty much free-choice alfalfa mix (ah, the benefits of living on a hay farm!) and gobbles it up along with a high-fat, and for now, moderately-high protein concentrate. He lives outside with a buddy; the good news is that (for ONCE!!) the skinny horse is The Boss of the fatter one. Aero is stingy about sharing his food, and his 5-year-old pasture mate has learned to wait at a respectful distance after his own grain is finished. The bad news: Aero likes being outside with his friend so much that he can be difficult to catch. We’re working on that, and I have endless patience when it comes to walking down a horse, but a bucket of grain always helps. When he’s by himself, Aero hangs in my back pocket and follows me like a lost puppy; clearly he’s a bit insecure, and a human is a welcomed companion if a fellow equine is unavailable.
Despite his love of all things hay and grain, Aero does not believe in common horse treats, carrots or mints. My 5-year-old gelding will run across the field and mob me if he hears the slightest wrinkle of a peppermint wrapper; Aero prefers a rub on the forehead or a handful of pellets.
While I’m excited and eager to get Aero working and see what he can do, I’ve kept his workload very light, just 5-10 minutes of gentle hacking every two or three days. He enjoys going out and has an independent and curious nature. This early education is all about learning How Not To Be A Racehorse, and seeing the outside world at a walk on the buckle. Recently I introduced him to free-jumping, and while his first attempts were a bit awkward, his enthusiasm was encouraging– he showed a strong desire to get to the other side, despite not quite knowing what to do with his legs over the low cross-rails.
3 weeks later, January 4th: Aero looks less like an anorexic greyhound, though still has a ways to go, especially in the neck department.
In the coming weeks, hopefully the weather will cooperate and the ground will dry up a bit. I’d like to start a few minutes of flatwork, trotting some circles, developing contact, and establishing the concept of right lead/left lead. He is a very typical Thoroughbred: alert, eager to work, forward-going, but not “hot” off the leg. I’ll continue to do a lot of hacking, increasing our distance from the barn and asking him to step over random small logs along the way (he doesn’t seem to care). I’m a firm believer in getting my young horses out as much as possible– walking up and down hills, over uneven ground, through water, and seeing wildlife does wonders to build balance and confidence as they mature and grow.
You may never see the Spanish Riding School do a quadrille quite like this… turn out the lights, plug in the LEDs, and see dressage like you’ve never seen it before! Here’s a glow-in-the-dark quadrille as performed at the Royal Horse Show in 2008.
Need some guts? Watch this video of 10-year-old Briar Burnett-Grant riding Kabo Silver to win the pony 6 Bar at Taupo Christmas Classics 2010. Jumping 1.5M…that’s 4’11”. Wow!
Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City: The Back to Work Edition
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Happy New Year, Eventing Nation! I hope that none of you had to resort to a diet of saltine cracker mashes to recover from wild New Year’s Eve antics, but if you did…SEND VIDEO!!! Just kidding. Sort of. (Pictures would be fine, too).
Anyway, I spent my last day of freedom bonding with my furry birthday boys, reacquainting myself with the business side of my closet, and trying to remember what it is that I do when I’m not running an Equine Patisserie out of my itty-bitty apartment. While it will be “back to business,” I find that the first day back after the lengthy holiday break is a little different that coming back from your average old vacation, mainly because a) nearly everyone (except the “new guy” who hasn’t been there long enough to accrue any leave) has been gone for the same amount of time, so we’re equally out of practice, and b) it’s a new year, and everyone’s trying to turn over a new attitudinal leaf. While these two factors may seem individually innocuous, combined, they lead to an increased risk of…
Awkward office chit-chat.
See, I think my coworkers are awesome. They are super-smart, laugh at my jokes, and hey, we make clients happy. But as one of the few singletons in the company and my distinct lack of human children, I’m treading on thin ice. I mean, I can’t even talk about my equine holiday gift haul without sounding like I freelance in an S&M dungeon after hours (seriously…I challenge YOU to start talking about your new chaps, whip, spurs, and stud kit at lunch, and you’ll understand). Therefore I try to stick to neutral topics – random tales from my trip home to Ohio (this year’s tacky excursion was to the house from “A Christmas Story”, where I resisted the urge to purchase a pink bunny suit for future EN videos) and awesome post-Christmas sale deals on office apparel – rather than what I actually did (you know, make a video about baking birthday cakes and cookies for horses, watch a lot of cheesy reality TV, and spend hours upon hours upon hours freezing in the barn doting on my horses). In return, I hear a lot of stories about kids…actual genetic progeny, nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings, etc. Which is cool, because as an oversized child myself, I think kids rock. In fact, I spend a lot of my free time hanging with some of the coolest kids in the country through my involvement with the U.S. Pony Clubs. One piece of advice, though…
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Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City #22:
As much as it may seem like your horse is a legit dependent – especially considering all the time and money you invest in their housing, clothing, food, and education – when talking to non-horse people, it is CRITICAL that you remember that they are not actual children. It is also a waste of time to try and convince the IRS of your horse’s “dependent” status or apply for financial aid to pay for your horse’s “tuition” (trainer fees).
