Maryland Hunt Cup

[gumtree]

An article in the Baltimore Sun. Not surprising. No horse in memory has been a “paddock scratch” by the vet. IME if a horse is not “right” on the day it doesn’t ship, After getting to the receiving barn and things aren’t right I would get the vet and have it scratched. They don’t go “downhill” on the walk over. They will let you know long before, if you know your horse. That’s as much as I will say, both are friends of mine. But both deserve a spanking.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-sp-steeplechase-suspensions-20170503-story.html

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Gumtree -
Totally agree with spanking, but I bet the laying down horse had his girth pinching a rib, or could have been developing a bellyache/gas/whatever. I had a young horse in training randomly lay down with me on him once. I jumped off, stunned. He was just laying there, like a lamb so I kicked him (softly!) in the butt so he didn’t roll on my saddle tree. He jumped up. I un-did the girth and adjusted the tack.
Never did it again.
The punching the horse thing, too - I mean, heck, I whapped a young horse repeatedly, just today, who cowkicked at me when I pressed (softly!) in his ribs to move him off the wall to put on his yoke and grab strap. I didn’t harm him, just a repeated series of open handed bitch slaps to the shoulder and neck to make sure he understood.
I wasn’t at MHC. Both may have been more aggression than frustration.

[Madeline]

Yes, but. Looking at the first two fences on the race film, I think that Great Halo made a wise decision…

[gumtree]

@Madeline

Yes, but. Looking at the first two fences on the race film, I think that Great Halo made a wise decision…

Yup, IMO it wasn’t the horse’s fault at the 3rd. The jock IMO didn’t exactly “ride” him to the fence. Not trying to throw anybody under the bus but I know the horse. He’s is not a Hunt Cup horse.

[gumtree]

Don’t take any pleasure in posting this. But I think it is important for the Sports transparency.

http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/May-3-2017.pdf

[gumtree]

@Hunter's Rest

Gumtree -
Totally agree with spanking, but I bet the laying down horse had his girth pinching a rib, or could have been developing a bellyache/gas/whatever. I had a young horse in training randomly lay down with me on him once. I jumped off, stunned. He was just laying there, like a lamb so I kicked him (softly!) in the butt so he didn’t roll on my saddle tree. He jumped up. I un-did the girth and adjusted the tack.
Never did it again.
The punching the horse thing, too - I mean, heck, I whapped a young horse repeatedly, just today, who cowkicked at me when I pressed (softly!) in his ribs to move him off the wall to put on his yoke and grab strap. I didn’t harm him, just a repeated series of open handed bitch slaps to the shoulder and neck to make sure he understood.
I wasn’t at MHC. Both may have been more aggression than frustration.

I hear/understand what you are saying and know what you mean. Had the same thing happen with a 2 year old. Another one went down to his bell. I stayed in the saddle “kicked” until he got up. Had nothing to do with tack he was being jerk.

I wasn’t in the receiving barn but according to some that were the horse wasn’t acting right, laying down, etc. Which begs the question why did the trainer bring the horse to the paddock to begin with. I’ve never seen a horse lay down in the paddock. I’ve scratched my horse out of a race when “showing” a LOT less.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Totally agreed.

[Glimmerglass]

@gumtree

Don’t take any pleasure in posting this. But I think it is important for the Sports transparency.

http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/…May-3-2017.pdf

A complete black eye - which is most deserving for said person and his behavior. Unacceptable.

[Xctrygirl]

@Glimmerglass

A complete black eye - which is most deserving for said person and his behavior. Unacceptable.

Said persons, two incidents in that… and twin brothers.

Emily

[pologirl27]

Yeah seems like if a very experienced older racehorse requires kicking to keep him from lying down, he shouldn’t even have a rider up. Glad they didn’t run him, not clear to me how much authority the race vet had to act with.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Oh I think the stewards or patrol judges or course vet could have scratched the lying down horse at any point. I bet they scratched him the moment they witnessed the behavior with their own eyes.

[charismaryllis]

@gumtree

Don’t take any pleasure in posting this. But I think it is important for the Sports transparency.

http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/May-3-2017.pdf

:eek:

[gumtree]

@pologirl27

Yeah seems like if a very experienced older racehorse requires kicking to keep him from lying down, he shouldn’t even have a rider up. Glad they didn’t run him, not clear to me how much authority the race vet had to act with.

As H-R said. Rachel rather Dr. Westerlund is a very good vet and a very fair vet. Can’t say the same for a certain Vet in Virginia who over saw the Gold Cup and Middleburg races I had runners in. A prima-dona butt head.

The Race Meets “presiding Vet” has total say if the horse runs or not. The trainer/owner can appeal to the Stewards if they feel the Vet’s “call” is unfounded. Though the Vet’s decision/opinion is rarely overturned.