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.

"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.

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!