Friday, September 25, 2009
Rocko's big adventure
Rocko (Two Gun Cowboy) is on his way to his new home in Delaware. He left last Thursday evening, and as of this morning is due to arrive tomorrow (Saturday). Two days longer than they estimated, so both the buyer and I are going crazy! But the shipper has been in touch and all seems well.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Really Good Day
Liz called me this morning to let me know that Easy had been ridden by a jockey (Tyler) today, and was finally asked to GO. And go he did! The jockey just tapped him once, very lightly, with the crop, and Easy dropped and head and took off! Liz said mud was flying about twenty feet behind him -- yes, he does have a hip. No more doubts about whether he has speed or not. Apparently his new nickname at the track is "Easy Money". Lots of folks are asking about him and Liz sounds like a proud mama when she talks about him.
It looks like there won't be a suitable race for him on opening weekend, but there is a perfect race the second weekend (June 21 or 22): it is a three-year-old maiden mixed breed (paints and appaloosas) 350 yard race. Now Liz thinks he may even win. They're starting to look for a longer race for him in the coming weeks, because everyone feels so sure he can handle more distance. Needless to say, we were very pleased to hear this great report! Liz even had to call me a second time this evening because she said he was so good today, it deserved a second call.
It looks like there won't be a suitable race for him on opening weekend, but there is a perfect race the second weekend (June 21 or 22): it is a three-year-old maiden mixed breed (paints and appaloosas) 350 yard race. Now Liz thinks he may even win. They're starting to look for a longer race for him in the coming weeks, because everyone feels so sure he can handle more distance. Needless to say, we were very pleased to hear this great report! Liz even had to call me a second time this evening because she said he was so good today, it deserved a second call.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Koko, Goldie and Kachina
Easy is not the only horse in training! Koko came home from Diamond P Ranch on April 29, after 2 1/2 months training. Rip has ridden her several times now, and she is a sweetheart! She is very well broke, and has offered no problems or resistance. He has even ridden her in two small riding clinics we had here at Painters Hideaway and she was pretty much the star pupil. Dixie, on the other hand, has proven quite contrary in these clinic situations (and on a recent trail ride) so is getting some remedial round pen work. She is still her sweet old self, but after the long lazy winter she just doesn't want to do anything resembling work!
The same day we picked up Koko at Diamond P, we dropped off Goldie. We will see her on June 3 on our way to Reno to pick up Rip's mom, Jeanette. Goldie is doing pretty well, although she doesn't seem to like the snaffle bit at all, so is being started in a side pull. A side pull is a lot like a halter, and the reins are connected to the rings on the side, near where the bit attachments would go if a bit was used. The trainer at Diamond P says Goldie is quite a bit hotter than Koko was, but has a really nice smooth gait. About what we expected all the way around! I can't wait to see her next Tuesday.
Yesterday, Kachina had her teeth floated and wolf teeth pulled. Tomorrow she is getting a full set of shoes on. This is all in preparation for her big day, Friday, when we plan to deliver her to Lazy L Ranch to begin 60 days training. Rather than try to get her ready for Fall racing, though, we are going to have her saddle broke and then bring her home and just keep her lightly ridden until next Spring when she will be 3 years old. I just can't quite bring myself to race a 2-year-old, even a 2-and-a-half-year-old. So if all goes well, we hope to have Kachina start at Grants Pass Downs in 2009.
As if that weren't enough, we finally got Eddie trailer trained (he had his own ideas about what would ever convince him to get into that claustrophobic deathtrap). He is now at Juniper Creek Ranch near us getting re-started under saddle. We had him riding in the roundpen last year, but I never got my nerve up to take him out of the roundpen, and then Rip broke his shoulder. So LeeAnn, who helped me start him originally, now has Eddie for 30-60 days. He just loves LeeAnn, and begs for his turn for a lesson every day!
The same day we picked up Koko at Diamond P, we dropped off Goldie. We will see her on June 3 on our way to Reno to pick up Rip's mom, Jeanette. Goldie is doing pretty well, although she doesn't seem to like the snaffle bit at all, so is being started in a side pull. A side pull is a lot like a halter, and the reins are connected to the rings on the side, near where the bit attachments would go if a bit was used. The trainer at Diamond P says Goldie is quite a bit hotter than Koko was, but has a really nice smooth gait. About what we expected all the way around! I can't wait to see her next Tuesday.
Yesterday, Kachina had her teeth floated and wolf teeth pulled. Tomorrow she is getting a full set of shoes on. This is all in preparation for her big day, Friday, when we plan to deliver her to Lazy L Ranch to begin 60 days training. Rather than try to get her ready for Fall racing, though, we are going to have her saddle broke and then bring her home and just keep her lightly ridden until next Spring when she will be 3 years old. I just can't quite bring myself to race a 2-year-old, even a 2-and-a-half-year-old. So if all goes well, we hope to have Kachina start at Grants Pass Downs in 2009.
As if that weren't enough, we finally got Eddie trailer trained (he had his own ideas about what would ever convince him to get into that claustrophobic deathtrap). He is now at Juniper Creek Ranch near us getting re-started under saddle. We had him riding in the roundpen last year, but I never got my nerve up to take him out of the roundpen, and then Rip broke his shoulder. So LeeAnn, who helped me start him originally, now has Eddie for 30-60 days. He just loves LeeAnn, and begs for his turn for a lesson every day!
What's next?
Finally, an update! We went to see Easy on Memorial Day at Grants Pass Downs. The race track and barns have gone from quiet and mostly empty to full and hectic! I was amazed at the difference, and they say on June 1 it will get significantly more busy yet. Trainers have begun arriving with their horses, families, exercise riders, trainers, RVs, horse trailers, dogs, and everything. The Josephine County Fairgrounds (where Grants Pass Downs race track is located) is charging board for horses on the grounds now, but as of June 1 there will be no charge as it is considered part of the race meet. So lots of folks are not coming in until then. We, on the other hand, with our trainers, have been here since it first opened which allowed us to get the best, most out of the way stalls with space for our own hot-walker. Thanks to Rod Lowe of Lazy L Ranch for getting all this organized, we couldn't have done it without him!
On to Easy. He is getting more fit and gorgeous by the day. He should get ridden by a jockey again today (Wednesday) for only the second time. On Monday, we got to see him ponied on the track. That means he is tacked up, has a rider on board, and then is led by another horse and rider around the track (backtracking) once at a trot, then the other rider lets him go and he is galloped around the track twice more alongside the pony horse. I'll put up a video in the next day or two and post the link here. He went quite well, and stayed nice and straight and listened to Liz (his rider). There was a moment when a jockey was coming up behind Easy at a full gallop when we all kind of held our breaths; Easy has spooked before when another horse rushes up behind him. He has even stopped (just what you DON'T want) a couple of times. This time, he only shied just slightly away, and looked briefly, but kept on his own track and pace. Big improvement!
Opening day is still almost three weeks away. The preliminary Condition Book was published, and there were no races for which Easy is eligible on opening weekend (June 14-15). The Condition Book is the schedule for the first two weekends' races. But we have heard that they are changing the Condition Book, so we will still have to see when he is racing. We are looking for a Maiden race (only for horses who have never won a race) for 3 year old mixed breeds (includes Paints and Appaloosas; sometimes Quarter Horses will also enter). There's no sense in running him his first time against previous race winners or much older, more experienced horses. Over the four week race meet, Easy will probably only race twice, as we don't want to injure him.
More updates coming soon, I promise!
On to Easy. He is getting more fit and gorgeous by the day. He should get ridden by a jockey again today (Wednesday) for only the second time. On Monday, we got to see him ponied on the track. That means he is tacked up, has a rider on board, and then is led by another horse and rider around the track (backtracking) once at a trot, then the other rider lets him go and he is galloped around the track twice more alongside the pony horse. I'll put up a video in the next day or two and post the link here. He went quite well, and stayed nice and straight and listened to Liz (his rider). There was a moment when a jockey was coming up behind Easy at a full gallop when we all kind of held our breaths; Easy has spooked before when another horse rushes up behind him. He has even stopped (just what you DON'T want) a couple of times. This time, he only shied just slightly away, and looked briefly, but kept on his own track and pace. Big improvement!
Opening day is still almost three weeks away. The preliminary Condition Book was published, and there were no races for which Easy is eligible on opening weekend (June 14-15). The Condition Book is the schedule for the first two weekends' races. But we have heard that they are changing the Condition Book, so we will still have to see when he is racing. We are looking for a Maiden race (only for horses who have never won a race) for 3 year old mixed breeds (includes Paints and Appaloosas; sometimes Quarter Horses will also enter). There's no sense in running him his first time against previous race winners or much older, more experienced horses. Over the four week race meet, Easy will probably only race twice, as we don't want to injure him.
More updates coming soon, I promise!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
See Easy Run
It seems I never mentioned the YouTube video of Easy on the track. Go check it out! It was taken on April 10, the second time he set foot on the track at Grants Pass Downs. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnYhBmY-klU
One of our friends asked, after viewing this video, about Easy's size. He commented that either the trainer is a big woman, or Easy seems to be a small horse. Actually, neither is the case. Liz, the trainer, is probably 5'6", a bit shorter than me. She was wearing a lot of clothing that day (it was cold out), so she looks pretty bulky. But Easy stands at least 16 hands high now, which is pretty good sized for a horse, and probably average for a race horse; certainly not short. (A hand is four inches, so 16 hands is 64 inches; that's measured at the withers, which is the top of the shoulder right in front of the saddle.) I think the comparison of Liz to Easy may be a bit misleading, because most people are used to seeing race horses with jockeys on them. These guys usually weigh about 100 lbs, and are more like 5' tall. So yeah, Liz looks big compared to a jockey; but no, Easy is not small.
One of our friends asked, after viewing this video, about Easy's size. He commented that either the trainer is a big woman, or Easy seems to be a small horse. Actually, neither is the case. Liz, the trainer, is probably 5'6", a bit shorter than me. She was wearing a lot of clothing that day (it was cold out), so she looks pretty bulky. But Easy stands at least 16 hands high now, which is pretty good sized for a horse, and probably average for a race horse; certainly not short. (A hand is four inches, so 16 hands is 64 inches; that's measured at the withers, which is the top of the shoulder right in front of the saddle.) I think the comparison of Liz to Easy may be a bit misleading, because most people are used to seeing race horses with jockeys on them. These guys usually weigh about 100 lbs, and are more like 5' tall. So yeah, Liz looks big compared to a jockey; but no, Easy is not small.
"Easy is officially a race horse"
Our trainer, Liz, called this morning to tell us "Easy is officially a race horse". Today he is running on the track, in flat saddle, with blinkers on, in the company of other horses, in the right direction! We have also submitted a DNA sample so he can have his parentage verified (required at the track). As soon as we get his registration papers back stamped "Parentage Verified", he'll be getting his lip tattoo (also required). Then we just wait for the race meet to begin on June 14.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Easy on Track
Easy was moved to the track at Grants Pass Downs on Monday, April 7. We went down to see him on Wednesday, April 9. He (and three of Rod's horses) are in the very back barn, away from most of the noise. Liz was backtracking Rod's two year old thoroughbred filly when we arrived. Next, she saddled up Easy and took him out on the track (just the second time he ever set foot on a race track!). She took him around twice in the wrong direction at the outside edge of the track (backtracking) at a lope, not a full-out gallop. He looked great, and behaved himself well. He went pretty straight, and only fussed once. We put a video up on youtube, search for paintershideaway, its the video called "Easy on Track". He's looking very handsome! Liz rode him that day in an Australian saddle (halfway between a fullsized western saddle and an English saddle), although she has worked him in a flat saddle already. A "flat saddle" is that little leather bandaid the jockeys ride on.
Liz called me on Monday, April 14 to let me know that he is ready to go in the right direction. He has been ponied around ("ponying" is where a horse and rider lead another horse, possibly with a rider on board as well; you see race horses being "ponied" to the gates all the time) and is going in the flat saddle. I hope we can get up there again to see him soon! He should have his first timed workout just after the first of May; we'll be there for that, I'm sure.
In the meantime, Koko is ready to come home from the trainer down South. We'll go pick her up next Wednesday, April 23, and drop off Goldie at that time. Koko should be ready to go trailriding when she comes home!
Liz called me on Monday, April 14 to let me know that he is ready to go in the right direction. He has been ponied around ("ponying" is where a horse and rider lead another horse, possibly with a rider on board as well; you see race horses being "ponied" to the gates all the time) and is going in the flat saddle. I hope we can get up there again to see him soon! He should have his first timed workout just after the first of May; we'll be there for that, I'm sure.
In the meantime, Koko is ready to come home from the trainer down South. We'll go pick her up next Wednesday, April 23, and drop off Goldie at that time. Koko should be ready to go trailriding when she comes home!
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