OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

deb — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:47:55 GMT

hope to be able to see and read the book when it is done. what an amazing duo!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

greyghost — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 04:48:09 GMT

What an incredible feat! The stamina it took to withstand the landing without falling is nothing short of a miracle.

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Old Old Cat — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 20:33:57 GMT

I think this might be a second career for my filly. Last November, as a two year old still in training for a hoped for a non winners of two turf race to end the year, she was super fit, climbing the walls, ready to run again. When I got the official word from the racing secretary that the race would not be written I went to Fair Hill to let the Trombetta crew know she was done for the year. They were sweeping out broken glass from her stall. During the night she had gotten tired of her usual play toys, and jumped up pulling down the overhead light fixture and steel cage. Mike's custom designed barn has an extra row of blocks, making the ceiling and lights that much taller than normal. He could only laugh and say that no other horse had done that in all the years the barn was up.

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

PatsyK — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 18:51:47 GMT

Great story! So many other things could have happened to this incredible horse! Shouldn't this be at least a made for TV movie! Again, the truth is better than any script could be. And lets all try to always remember that sometimes we're just asking a horse to do something he really doesn't like. This is such a well written story I hope I will keep it in mind every time one of my horses is acting up a bit....maybe I'm just asking them to do the wrong thing!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

replay — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 04:42:44 GMT

This is absolutely wonderful. Interesting to note: I was told by an old school dressage teacher that most extraordinary horse pictures the expression on the horse and that of the rider are the same. Sure is here!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Jen Roytz — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 21:54:16 GMT

Such a cool story (they all are - each horse has a unique tale...and tail!). :)

Good job, Esther. You're so good at what you do!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Proud Acres — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 21:42:36 GMT

That was absolutely amazing! Who knew a horse would have the courage to even try that, let alone accomplish it! Thank you for sharing

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Karen in Indiana — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 21:00:01 GMT

Love it! Reminds me of McDynamo's story. Sometimes when a horse isn't being cooperative, they're trying to say 'That's not my thing'. And if we listen and try to find what that 'thing' is, they shine.

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Love 'em all — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:39:59 GMT

What a wonderful treat this has been, and thank you for sharing Paula Evan's interesting piece of equine history with us.

Found Faithful's pedigreequery site, which also has a small front view pic of his famous jump. Born in 1933.

www.pedigreequery.com/faithful11

What a horse!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Donut Jimmy — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 16:03:17 GMT

As a child I had this in my Guinness Book of World Records. So I was confused when American and European riders claimed this or that "world record" jumping mostly Puissance walls at significantly lower heights.

Note that the rails are tied in place. This makes the feat simultaneously a fraction easier (only a fraction, but he can brush over it) but also something modern riders would probably be loathe to try. It is impossible to tell in the video whether he bumped the top rail, and whether he did so hard enough to dislodge it from modern cups. Not that it really matters.

I would imagine tying the rail makes the jump both more dangerous in some ways (obviously if he hit the rail it would not knock down out of his way easily) but may also ultimately add safety (as a rail knocked down from that height could tangle in a horse's legs.) Modern puissance walls are made of relatively small wooden bricks which won't catch between a horses legs as dangerously, and are also much lighter than a 12 foot rail.

The slope of the top of Huaso's jump is probably a better shape for maximal effort as it more closely mimics a horse's normal bascule when jumping. If any modern horse is ever going to attempt to match this, it probably better not be over a puissance wall.

Remarkable also is his landing. He completely recovers in a stride and a half and appears perfectly happy with the jump.

It was truly a remarkable feat. Thanks for reminding us all.

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Jackie WV — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:45:03 GMT

WOW.....Unbelievable!!! Ester, thanks so much for posting this story. I practically grew up in the "hunter jumper" show ring and I always had a thoroughbred as my partner, but I never dreamed a jump of this magnitude was ever even attempted let alone accomplished. Goes to show you....Never under estimate the heart of a thoroughbred!!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

SallySlew — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:44:24 GMT

What a story! Thank you for hosting Paula. It's nice to hear stories of ex-racers who go on to greatness after a less than successful track career. As all of us thoroughbred fans know, thoroughbreds are loaded with brains and heart. Will Bloodhorse be publishing the book? I look forward to buying it.

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New York, NY — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:19:03 GMT

Incredible article!! I really enjoyed reading this.

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New York, NY — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:01:06 GMT

Wow, what am amazing story...and so wonderfully written! I want to read more!

re: OTTB Spotlight: Faithful

Fred and Joan — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 13:59:41 GMT

What an amazing account of horses ability to jump! We did not know ANY horse could jump 8'1". That would be as high as our barn stalls walls and Faithful could have easily cleared our 7' perimeter fences! We enjoyed the photos and video of him in action too. Our first farm stallion, Count Mein Too, we found out was also a good jumper. That's why we raised our perimeter fence to 7' high, but occasionally we have a yearling who surprises us by not being where we placed them the night before! Sadly, we lost Count to we believe to be cancer several years ago. Fortunately we have several of his sons and daughters who seem to have the same abilities and excellent temperament that he possessed.