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!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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!
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