Business As Usual

[CoolMeadows]

I hate to sound like Parelli here (shudders), but if his horses keep saying, “Bob, you’re doing it wrong” then maybe he should listen to them!

Some of them aren’t going to be used to full weight and standing at a block but my god it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out that you don’t just do those things right off the bat. Maybe he should try speaking their language for the first few rides till they get to know each other and get a line of communication going, and then introduce the new concepts? Tons of people have no problem transitioning Ottbs, save for the rare special case, so the horses are notnotNOT the problem. Are you listening Bob?

[SwtVixen]

Kudos to you Hound and Judybigredpony for your letters to the editor…
I keep writing mine … and tossing it…and rewriting it… and well, tossing it… its not polite enough (yet). I do like the side reins idea for Bob.:lol:

Granted, there are those tbs a bit hot, high-strung, near melt-down levels from racing …but a little farm life changes them rather quickly…I think those first couple weeks are the most important transition time of all…and with care taken, they adjust very well and move on into new training quite eagerly.

  The retired tb needs all the good pr it can get.. the markets are looking in their direction again... and it may be my opinion, but I think they are the crown jewel of horses. I see more and more of them each day proving that too. I love the new promotions for Tb shows.. 

That article is just shameful.

[SwtVixen]

[QUOTE=judybigredpony;5030532]
I will see if I can get some feature space about virtues of OTTB since thats all I sell n re-train.QUOTE]

What about just This Months Featured Success Story?
You do have plenty of material to draw from !:yes:

[NMK]

For those that are interested, Steuart Pittman of Dodon Farm has done seminars on re-training race horses and is currently setting up a website: www.retiredracehorseretraining.org It will also have sources of those people who have successfully trained racehorses for other careers.

Steuart has information on his site: www.dodonfarm.com

As Fairweather noted (and spoke to at length at the Safety Summit in Keeneland) the most important part of transitioning any racehorse is soundness. The more sound they are, the more options they have, the more valuable they are, and the more valuable they will become.

CANTER Ohio has transitioned close to 600 CANTER owned horses. I have personally sat on at least half of them. Those with behavioral and training issues are few and far between. Most of them are simply misunderstood, and are easily corrected with time and patience. The toughest one we ever had never made it through his race training either, but was successfully placed.

I think Bob needs to spend a weekend with a good trainer. When I was an exercise rider, our two year olds were hacked on the grounds, taught lead changes, could stand, back, and walk patiently to and from the racetrack. They could gallop in company or alone, work in company or alone, stood in the gate, and were taught ground manners. I would have taken any of them home, and in fact threatened to do so on many occassions.

I vote to send Bob to one of Steuart’s seminars. I’m going to find the next one for him.

Nancy

[Jleegriffith]

NMK- those seminars are an excellent way to gain insight into the retraining process. CANTER took two horses- a 3 yr who was very lightly raced and a 12 yr who ran for 10yrs. Both horses went into a very packed indoor full of 200 people and showed just how smart these horses right off the track are.

The 12yr (Top Punch) acted like he had been horse showing for years. Absolutely nothing fazed him and he jumped around the jumps on a loose rein and was his typical quiet self.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11833417@N05/3982166118/in/set-72157622517075234/
jumping- http://www.flickr.com/photos/11833417@N05/3982175300/in/set-72157622517075234/

The 3yr (Escape by Sea) came in a bit looky but I put her to work and she was already showing that she understood contact, bending, moved off the leg and was very trusting in the rider.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11833417@N05/3982164352/in/set-72157622517075234/

She had only jumped a few times but went in there and jumped her first rolltop!

Mr. Woods is sorely mistaken if he thinks these horses aren’t trained. I find that most of them are so smart they figure out their new careers very quickly. Perhaps he is the one who needs more understanding.

[Hounds]

Kudos to Judybigredpony, too, for writing in, and I hope you all will send in your letters as well. What I find really peculiar is that Wood is in Pennsylvania, one of those places that historically has had, and still has, a good sense of the all-around virtues of the Thoroughbred and that has good horsemen who are excellent at transforming former Flat horses into steeplechasers, foxhunters, show horses, etc.

Sure, it would be NICE if every horse in the world got a liberal-arts education, but, like FairWeather said, why would anyone want or really need to do that? And if you train a yearling to stand while you’re breaking it, what makes Wood think that training won’t get erased by the conditioning at the racetrack, where they’re often mounted on the walk?

It just aggravates me that he seems to believe Thoroughbreds can’t easily learn and relearn at what he apparently considers the ancient age of, like, five. When his own activities as a re-trainer apparently repeatedly have shown him that they can.

It would be far, far better if people focus on reducing injuries and harmful practices so more of these horses might retire in useful sound condition.

I know we’re all saying the same thing here, but the mind just boggles.

[judybigredpony]

My letter is going to be in the next issue, I just recieved word from PA Eq this AM…

DoDon’s clinics are excellant, I’ve sold OTTB to his students and filled out the form to be in his directory.

[Hounds]

Great news, Judybigredpony! I assume might won’t be, as they haven’t contacted me, but I hope a few others will make it in, too! At least we know they’re hearing from all of us!

[Acertainsmile]

Well, I hope Bob is reading this :).

I also have taken many, many horses of the track (30 yrs experience here too) and succesfully restarted them and sold them on. My latest was a feisty big grey horse that did have his issues. He took a little more time than the average OTTB, but ended up succesfully showing 3’6 and was sold to an Event home.

As far as breaking babies… I did that 25 years ago, guess what? We taught them how to lunge, ground drive and carry themselves correctly. They were trail ridden, walked, trotted and cantered in a ring and then a big field before moving to the training track.

Oh, and by the way Bob… visit a racetrack near you… the horses do go in both directions while in training!

A few pics of the grey…

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r237/missoceana22/rockjump11.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r237/missoceana22/014.jpg

[FairWeather]

I just took an 11 year old stakes horse on his very first hack this morning. He hadn’t been sat on but 1x in over a year (recovering from a bowed tendon).
We have a training track right next door that we walk past to go out and when he came out and saw it he shook his head, squealed and did a few little happy bunny hops.
It made me laugh and laugh–he was SO HAPPY! He then in a very business-like manner marched down to the woods and took me and buddy on a beautiful ride through the pines, even cantering down a lovely sandy stretch with his ears flicking–happy to have a job, enjoying it even more than I was.
Did he stand perfectly to get on? Not yet
Did he steer the best? Nope, but it’ll get there
Did he have brakes? Plenty enough to pull up in a snaffle
Was he PERFECT? Totally.
and tomorrow he’ll stand better, and steer better, and stop better. That’s how you retrain, Mr. Woods.

[LOVE_THE_HORSES]

I have been following this thread for about a month or so. I signed up this am so I could respond to the so called difficulty of retraing the OTTB.
I probbaly have less training experience than most of you have in your little finger. I say that to say that I have an OTTB.We got him from a friend who is a trainer. He had been off about 6 mo. but was still at the track. We’ve had him about 9 mo now and what a wonderful fellow he is. He is, as they all are very intelligent. He had never been just turned out, or ridden for anything other than racing. However, he is calm, goes left AND right. I just ride him for pleasure and he is learning some little tricks.
I believe that all horses from the tracks deserve a second chance. They run their hearts out whether at the top or bottom levels. If I am able to help retrain an OTTB, then I am positive a more experienced person shouls also be able.

[judybigredpony]

Welcome “Love The Horses” Kudos to you and continues good luck with your OTTB…

[the_last_straw]

Oh No!!! Say it aint so!!! David Wells taken into custody by police. The ball is really rolling now folks. Between Darrel and Wells you would think that there are many lovely stories to tell. But I am sure that they will just face the music and risk jail time to protect the queen and her court of clowns. Right? As predicted, the hammer is dropping hard and fast. Who could be next? Could the cuffs of fury move to the racing office? A special owner? A scared, scrambling trainer? The only thing guarnteed is that more is on the way. It will be public, it will be humiliating and the lies and corruption will chopped apart one by one. Happy sleeping, criminals. You’ve been warned.

[Third_Glance]

[QUOTE=the last straw;5033505]
Oh No!!! Say it aint so!!! David Wells taken into custody by police. The ball is really rolling now folks. Between Darrel and Wells you would think that there are many lovely stories to tell. But I am sure that they will just face the music and risk jail time to protect the queen and her court of clowns. Right? As predicted, the hammer is dropping hard and fast. Who could be next? Could the cuffs of fury move to the racing office? A special owner? A scared, scrambling trainer? The only thing guarnteed is that more is on the way. It will be public, it will be humiliating and the lies and corruption will chopped apart one by one. Happy sleeping, criminals. You’ve been warned.[/QUOTE]

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/wells-charged-with-domestic-violence-against-penn-national-trainer-beattie/

[judybigredpony]

Ah nothing so bad as a cuckoled man.
Worse than a scorned woman.

Notice SB now 2nd in standings wonder how far she will slip w/o DW “assistance” in running her racing empire…

Also heard SB entries denied at CT until a “Fine” was paid???

[SwtVixen]

They always did have relationship problems… but did at least have good business between them… I think without the relationship, the business is finding its division as well…

DW had his job…SB had hers… and now the conflicts arise since the jobs aren’t defined as once were. SB is totally incapable of stepping into DW’s shoes.

it happens.

[system]

Oh my! oh my! oh my! Does anyone else hear the sound of birds chirping?? It is gonna get interesting around Penn. I see a reality show in the making!

[Profidia]

[QUOTE=the last straw;5033505]
Oh No!!! Say it aint so!!! David Wells taken into custody by police. The ball is really rolling now folks. Between Darrel and Wells you would think that there are many lovely stories to tell. But I am sure that they will just face the music and risk jail time to protect the queen and her court of clowns. Right? As predicted, the hammer is dropping hard and fast. Who could be next? Could the cuffs of fury move to the racing office? A special owner? A scared, scrambling trainer? The only thing guarnteed is that more is on the way. It will be public, it will be humiliating and the lies and corruption will chopped apart one by one. Happy sleeping, criminals. You’ve been warned.[/QUOTE]
Well…

A previous poster did say some time back that those folks had a bit of a dysfunctional relationship. When their well known history of domestic violence was brought up the mods around here went apoplectic over it and deleted most of what was posted.

Perhaps maybe now that an arrest was finally made over it they might be good to their word and allow this to be discussed?

Again racetrack scuttlebutt is proven to be correct and credible:winkgrin:

[system]

Smoke out the Queen

Well the Queen B of Penn National isn’t looking so mighty now is she…
DW and SB did have some relationship troubles, but the fight that DW was arrested for was a fight over her and her grooms doing stuff to the horses before they raced that he DID NOT approve of. Then ONE of her “lovers” jumped DW and SB was bumped in the process…of course SB tried to hang DW for it. She wants to make him look bad to take the heat off her, just watch this unfold ,the truth will come out in the end. SB’s smoke screens will come down and you will see what really “LIES” behind the curtain of the SB show…

[Asurebet1]

[QUOTE=thumper33;5033817]
Oh my! oh my! oh my! Does anyone else hear the sound of birds chirping?? It is gonna get interesting around Penn. I see a reality show in the making![/QUOTE]

Or a new Soap Opera named: How the Shedrow Turns or Who Really is the Trainer? or Who is With Who? or Was I Ever With You? or Do We Have Our Stories Straight Yet? :lol:

It could go on and on