Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Larry Ensor — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:09:13 GMT

Well, I am glad this blog picked up some interest. When I last was able to check back, Sunday there was not much going on. I guess everyone was at the beach or a Horse show. A lot or great responses. Grand Prix explained the economics well. Our TB ended up being 4th in his second event and this was not some 4-H pony show. If he was a warmblood he would have been sold by the end of the day for considerably more then what we are asking.

Here is a link to photos of what a nice TB looks like on course, no good ones of him jumping unfortunately , www.photoreflect.com/.../ThumbPage.aspx

Kay, I bought my wife's now fox hunter from a friend who used him only for trail riding. I also used to ride him in the Lexington KY 4th of July parade. Never really jumped before we took him. My wife has been hunting (fox and no we don't kill it) since childhood. She has had a number of fox hunters of different breeds over the years and this guy is the best she has ever had. He has won numerous blue's in the off season and been champion and reserve champion a number of times in jumper classes. And he only visits our ring from time to time. I paid $1,000 for him and we turned down an offer of $50,000. I know crazy. But good ones like him are far and few between. No matter what the breed.

I know this will be controversial but using ACE is one of the best training "aids" that one can use. I am not talking about making the horse legless just enough to take the edge off at the start of the day. There is a believe out there that the horse will not remember its lessons and get nothing out of the schooling. But there have been lots of studies on the proper use of ACE and all that I have read debunked this myth. Its good for the horse and good for the rider. Some may always need a bit and most will not. If I am allowed our farm is called Gum Tree Stables and we are located in southeastern Pennsylvania. Google will do the rest.

Its nice to see Rood & Riddle make the gesture/effort but some money would have been even better. After all they are one of the largest in Lexington if not the country and having sent a lot of checks to them over the years they surely must have a few dollars to to write off for a good cause.

I like Cris's idea of having jumper events at the race track. Dawn in MN it should not be as difficult as it is to locate and check out TBs retiring from the track. I have a hard time trying to locate suitable candidates and this is my business. When I do the trainer/owners want silly money for them some times. They are so afraid we might make money with them. Ya right hopefully, that is what we do for a living but hardly what they think. They all say; I'm sure he can jump and they are right and I say all horses can jump but most don't jump very good. They have no idea how much time and money it takes to find out. What I want to see is the race tracks have a dedicated person and web site that trainers/owners can go to to list their retired/retiring horses. The vast majority these days should be free other then a reasonable fee for the service. The race tracks need to see this as the cost of doing business and in the best interest of the horse and industry. I believe some are doing this. But I hope to get all.

Thanks to all that have gotten on to me. I do plan to get together with a couple and put a plan together that I can take to the powers that be.

Any body that has questions and or tips on working with ex-racers feel free to get in touch.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

moodygirl — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:14:43 GMT

New Vocations is a great organization. They have 2 locations in Ohio and one in Michigan, Kentucky, & Tennessee.

I have followed them for 3 years and they have extrordinary horses for just $300-$500 most of the time and sometimes free. Some of these horses sold for over $200,000 as yearlings and have pedigrees that make your mouth drool. You can trust them to be honest about their medical problems and limitations, if there are any! Some horses are already broke to ride. They take the horse back if for any reason you can't care for it. Where can you find a better deal than that? They have Standardbreds too. What great PR for the industry.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

pfunch — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:40:36 GMT

Thank you for this short article on "recycled" TBs. I have two - one is doing a fine job as our babysitter; the second one we've just had for a few months - she came in starving, all bones, poor hooves, ratty fungus coat, no vaccinations, no energy. But she's looking better now - don't know what we'll do with her in the long-run, but she's safe now. So, two of our six horses are rescues..and it feels really good to be able to help in our small way; you might try it!

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Diana — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:09:46 GMT

www.canterusa.org is a great place to find a new partner. I have two from there, one from Ohio, one from Illinois.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Melanie — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:27:16 GMT

I have read through a number of these comments and while I do agree that the views on TB needs to be changed at the top level, what I find most amazing is that the New Vocations horses for the most part are getting into the hands of everyday people like my daughter and her friends. These horses are amazing and beautiful and people notice them in the show ring. I can't say we've had the success that some of the others have had (we show locally in QH country) but Mazel (my daughters horse) has done his best and we look forward to more exposure in the future. We have adopted all 3 of our horses from NV, Hay Mazel our THB and 2 STB, Antique Collector and Silver Match. All are wonderful horses. I am so grateful to NV for giving us the chance of a life time to own such quality horses. I can't say enough good about them!

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

LisaT — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:50:07 GMT

For those of you that don't remember Touch of Class here is the skinny on that little (15.3) bay mare that was as graceful as a deer over fences.. She was amazing, beautiful and could jump the moon against the big warmbloods...she looked like a pony standing next to them. She was my hero.

en.wikipedia.org/.../Touch_of_Class_(horse)

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Fran Loszynski — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:08:07 GMT

I'm glad to see that these beautiful thoroughbreds have a safe haven to go to after retirement and many continue productive lives. After all animals of this magnitude can only depend on us. They need spacious areas, large amounts of food and care-when people take it into their hearts to help these gigantic creatures; it makes the world a little bit better of a place to live. I applaud everyone that cares so much for these horses. I'm sure in their hearts they know they have more in them than their racing days.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Dawn in MN — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:46:30 GMT

Thank you Esther for the opportunity to get the idea that Joan in MN offerred.

I appreciate reading all the testimonials and encouraging endorsements of the off-track Thoroughbred.

Thanks Joan, I like the idea of contacting the racing office at Canterbury Park. I bet you're right, they would be happy to refer a trainer who might be willing help a horse retire.

The Hooved Animal Rescue in Zimmerman has received my quarterly donations since at least January 2009, without ever so much as a thank you or an open house.

I continue to contribute, I'm sure they're very busy, and probably cash-strapped. When I called to volunteer I was told that they didn't need any more volunteers. Maybe I should volunteer to help them with donor solicitation and recognition.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Joan in MN — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:14:28 GMT

Dawn in MN,

There are several rescues in Minnesota, most of them private. There is the Hooved Animal Rescue in Zimmerman. I don't know if they have any thoroughbreds at this time. You also might try calling the racing office at Canterbury Park. They might know of some private rescues you might call. If you are ready to get one now, the racing office might also be able to get you in touch with trainers who are ready to retire horses, especially when the meet closes.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

MintHillFarm — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:55:07 GMT

My now deceased show horse was off the track. His race record was decent, 11 starts and 9 checks, breaking his maiden at Aqueduct, MSW, by a nose. He went on to show with me after a year's layup for a bowed tendon. We were very sucessful showing around the east coast with major wins at prestigious shows. Great horse; wonderful experience too in re-training him and enjoying all that he learned. I miss him!

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Lisa — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:52:28 GMT

I have followed Anna Ford's adoption for several years when I was looking for a TB broodmare for sporthorse. I am very impressed with her and her commitment to rehoming OTTB. I have been involved with TBs for a while. My stallion is a TB and he is the highest scoring TB ever in Dressage Sporthorse Breedng. Thanks to the North American TB Society for sponsoring classes and offering awards at year end Tonka has been recognized all over the SE. He scored an 80.9 at Conyers in 07 and Qualified for the Breeders Chanmpionships twice, beating some of the top WB stallions. He was also Reserve National Champion Silver Stirrup for Mature DSHB. He is race bred In Reality top side, even though he has not raced both of his parents did. If he can accomplish this , and I was a beginner in showing in this area, there are many more TB's with that ability and more. I have also sponsored classes to help promote the TB in Dressage, they are every bit as good as the WB, just not as popular. There are Individual Breed Classes at Sporthorse shows, but little incentive to go. I agree with Larry about a fund needing to be set up. The North American TB Society has pushed for TB to be recognized in a number of areas. Hellohorse.com is the website. People are out there trying, they just need to be recognized. TBs are a wonderful breed and I have bought many off the track and sold them for many different uses for pleasure to foxhunting to eventing and showing, and I did little more than just ride them while they were at my barn. I have been breeding sporthorses, and just love the TB.

TISPORTHORSE was started with Tonka being the center. He currently has 3 foals in Germany. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Larry Ensor — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:14:49 GMT

Thanks Esther. TBs were not only successful in the past but the present also. They just don't get the PR that warm bloods do. If you flip through the various farm and trainer adds in The Chronicle they all pretty much focus on warm bloods. My sister and brother in-law are pretty much at the top of their game as trainers of Jumpers. And though they prefer TBs with today's mind set towards warm bloods TBs are just hard to sell for proper money. Let me put it this way. We took another one of our TBs to an event yesterday at Fair Hill MD, his second but a much more competitive course and better horses. He jumped beautifully and clean in the stadium and cross country. He was good but moderate in the dressage but has the talent to pull that together with more schooling. We have not checked the results yet but he should be in the top 5 or there abouts. If he was a warm blood he would be sold very quickly for great money. We will get $15,000 for him but that hardly covers our time and expense. Which is all right because as breeders of TBs we feel it is our responsibility to re-school and place TBs. We would love to work with more but considering we look after and foal a lot of mares, I break and train around ten 2 year olds each year along with training steeplechase horses and at present have over 50 horses on the farm the days are not long enough. We do all of this with 1 full time employee, my wife and myself and one part time rider.

I feel strongly that the TB industry needs to get behind a PR campaign as outlined in my previous posts. Hopefully I will find the time and inclination to try and put this in motion. I have the contracts in the TB industry and the the show world. Unfortunately working with the TB industry is a bit like herding cats. Though with eight barn cats I have found that food works pretty good getting them to the gate. Feel free to get on to me any time you have my email address take out my name for our web site, happy to forward my numbers. If you are ever in the area please drop by the the farm.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Cris — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:04:44 GMT

With the beautiful infields of most tracks, why not have horse shows going on during race days. The classes could go on between races. The grandstand is already there for the asking and it would bring more families to the track.

In that way they could develope new fans that already love horses.

They could also develope younger new fans that come to the track and spend money on food and parking not just on betting. They could set aside two barns for show horses since some people live with their horses when traveling in shows. These barns could charge for the stalls on a day rate and this would also make the track money.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Horsemen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:35:36 GMT

Esther, I commend you for publishing these stories. Have worked with exracers my whole life and still say there is nothing as beautiful as a thoroughbred.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Anita Adamski — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:25:06 GMT

Larry, there alrady is some momentum going forward from 2009. This is interesting if you haven't already seen it www.roodandriddle.com/.../newawardtospotlightsuccessfulsecondcareerpotentialofthoroughbredhorses.html

I have the skills available, would love to develop a sponsorship package to make it easy for the businesses who make up the industry, just need more collaboration with solid ideas. Feel free to contact me at anita(at symbol)hellohorse.com

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Bellwether — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:49:14 GMT

ALL HORSE EVENTS... RACES...SHOWS...MUST HAVE CA$H PRIZE$...HATE TO SAY IT...BUT IT$ ALL ABOUT $$$ "THESES DAYS"...LONG LIVE THE HORSE!!!...ty...

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Carmel — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:01:57 GMT

I bought a retired TB mare last year and she is totally awesome! Excellent mind, graceful way of moving, incredibly athletic. Far superior in every way (including the mind) to a Quarter Horse I used to have.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

LeeAnne — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:49:49 GMT

Thoroughbreds were the original sport horses!

Though European Warmbloods often dominate international horse sports there have been plenty of top winning Thoroughbreds over the years and competing today. BTW Most Warmbloods are part to half Thoroughbred.

At lower or local levels of competition in all English disciplines Thoroughbreds still reign. Many of them are off the track. There are active Thoroughbred Exhibitors Associations all over in the US.

Show jumping legends Gem Twist, Touch of Class, For The Moment, Idle Dice and Snowbound were Thoroughbreds.

Famous Eventers Bally Cor, Tigger Too, Good Mixture and Custom Made were Thoroughbreds and most Three Day Event horses today are part or half TB if not fully TB.

The US Combined Training Associations "Horse of the Century" Biko is a Thoroughbred cross.

Gold medal winning in two Olympics New Zealand's Charisma was at least 3/4 TB and is often considered one of the all time best Three Day Eventers.

Famous ponies Stroller (Show Jumping) and Theodore O'Conner (Eventing) were half TB.

French TBs My Babu and Furioso were very influential sires of international sport horses.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

S.N. — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:29:32 GMT

You might want to confirm the name of Jules Mom with the owner - there is no horse by this name registered with the Jockey Club.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Kari — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:44:22 GMT

I love that Thoroughbreds are being recognized once again in the hunter/jumper ring. Now let's get some recognition for them in the dressage ring - it's not just for Warmbloods - as my 9 year old OTT mare Velvet can attest to.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Adele Maxon — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:38:47 GMT

As I've said so many times, years ago TBs were all we had to ride and show (also QHs) and we were proud to do so! If you were riding a TB you were envied and there's nothing more beautiful than a TB conformation hunter. It's only been since the influx of warmbloods in the last 15 yrs. or so that some people had been making the switch. Yes, some of these warmbloods are more tractible and "easier" to train (since they were not former racehorses). Some of them are more of a natural fit for dressage than TBs because of the way they're built and their movement, but at the lower levels TBs can be wonderful. They've always been my favorite to ride and I ride dressage. I've loved racing all my life and am a student of pedigrees. At least it seems there is more of an anwareness of the versitility of the Thoroughbred. However, having a warmblood nowadays is like it was having a TB years ago...

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Bonnie — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:20:08 GMT

Watch out for RED WILL....5 yr old tbred previously raced and now in a jumping home. ROLEX HERE WE COME!

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Tricia Zimmerman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:26:50 GMT

Don't know when the shift to warmbloods occured but I do know that thoroughbreds were in the majority of horses people showed in the hunter/jumper ring when I was a kid showing in the 70's. Can't imagine why there is astonishment that they should excel in this endeavor as they are, after all, the ultimate athlete. For me, they are still my preference.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Dawn in MN — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:19:41 GMT

Thanks Esther. This is is a great story. Love the photo. The story supports one of my fondest dreams. I have promised myself that someday I will own a Thoroughbred. My crazy plan is to contact one of the two bloodstock agents in my state, and ask that they check around at the local track. I dream that I'll ask the bloodstock agent to find a relatively sound claimer that has a reputation for having a sweet temperment. I would love to retire a thoroughbred to a life of trail rides, and love. This is the only dream so far on my bucket list. If anyone has any suggestions about how to find a deserving retiree, please pass them along, I can use all the guidance I can get. I don't know of any local New Vocations-type places here in Minnesota so I'll just have to wing it.

re: Thoroughbreds Rocked it Out at KY Horse Park Show

Kay — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:21:13 GMT

Here's a question for you Larry - can some of the Thoroughbreds make safe trail horses? Also, what is your farm name and where are you located, if you don't mind my asking?