Okay, the ladies at COTH are incredible. Mollie Bailey emailed back and forth with me. It was an article Molly Sorge had written about Way Cool’s win at Devon. Kimberly Loushin looked through the article archives and found it. They sent it to me in PDF copy. I will type up the relevant tidbits now. I was right that it was post-Devon but I was wrong about the year-- it was published June 18, 2012 (reflecting on the events of 2011). I was right about natural horsemanship but got the wrong guru (Roberts not Parelli) and as noted previously I mixed up Tosh and Collucci. But I was not hallucinating that the article existed nor wrong about the general thrust (the horse seemed only able to perform under the “team’s” management-- no one else) and hang tight for the text…
From the article “Young Entry” published in COTH on 6/18/12
<<Parker admits that she’d given up on Way Cool last year. She bought the chestnut Hanoverian (Embassy—Fabienne) from Scott in June 2010, and he’d had a spectacular Devon that year, earning tricolors in the juniors with Colvin and the second year green hunter title with Scott.
Way Cool finished 2010 with them both riding but then went home to Parker’s Middleburg, Va., farm. Parker’s staff, including in-house trainer Rob Coluccio, couldn’t find the key to “Coolio.” “He was a horse that would rear and spin,” Parker said. Coolio had always had the tendency for this trick, but its frequency intensified. “They gave him the nickname ‘Win Or Spin.’ It became a joke around the barn, but it was true,” she continued.
When Coluccio became ill last spring, Parker was left without anyone to ride Coolio. “Everyone got so tired of him rearing for no particular cause and frightening everyone who rode him that all the people who were involved in his training got very discouraged and down on him. It was one of those problems with a horse that you use everything you can think of to solve the problem, and then it doesn’t work,” she said.
Parker even consulted natural horsemanship trainer Monty Roberts and was ready to send him the horse, but the arrangements fell through.
“I made the decision rather quickly that perhaps Tori Colvin could have a project. [Tori’s mother] Brigid and Tori were over the moon to get the horse back. It’s really a love story, because this horse adores Tori. In the barn, he looks down the aisle for her,” Parker said.
Coolio hadn’t shown since February, but by the fall, Tori had him back to his winning ways, and they claimed championships at the Hampton Classic (N.Y.), Capital Challenge (Md.) and the Pennsylvania National. In February, Tori and Way Cool won the $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Spectacular (Fla.). “She gives him a confidence in himself that he doesn’t have other¬wise,” Parker said. “Tori has incredible patience and knows how to wait on a horse. So he performs for her. He still does [his antics] some, but she’s able, through friendly persuasion, to convince him to be the very best athlete he can be. I think the main ingredient was that this child believed in him. I really do think that the upshot, what I learned from this, is to never, ever give up on a horse.”
Way Cool took two blues and a third place over fences on his way to the Devon tricolor. He also won the Angelo Award, an honor bestowed on the horse that the judges—James Clapperton and Shane George determine “best exemplifies the classic hunter horse in movement, jumping style and presence.”>>
Emphasis mine.
Huh.
[QUOTE=Blinky;8388087]
I don’t know BP or TC or SS but this thread has turned into a witch hunt. Does it really matter as to why the horses are being retired? The owner (any owner for that matter!) can determine to do what they wish without having to share a reason or ask the public for permission.
I don’t see anyone jumping up and down about American Pharoah retiring at a perfectly healthy age of 3. Yes its go to stud…again… a decision by his owners.[/QUOTE]
The difference is that retiring at that age is COMMONPLACE for race horses. Many go on to different jobs, but not the ones worth enough to be a well sought after stud horse or a broodmare. These junior hunters are none of those things. When you allow a horse’s career to be so public, people are going to ask questions when they retire so young for seemingly no extreme reason. If these horses were 4 years older (especially in the case of a 10 year old, but maybe only 1-2 years older in the other cases) it would be completely understandible. But at 10 years old, my question is just is there a reason why or is it just because she can.
Thank you COTH for redeeming my sanity!
vxf111 for the win!
I really felt like I was losing it for a bit there!!! 
[QUOTE=Blinky;8388087]
I don’t know BP or TC or SS but this thread has turned into a witch hunt. Does it really matter as to why the horses are being retired? The owner (any owner for that matter!) can determine to do what they wish without having to share a reason or ask the public for permission.
I don’t see anyone jumping up and down about American Pharoah retiring at a perfectly healthy age of 3. Yes its go to stud…again… a decision by his owners.[/QUOTE]
In normal circumstances? No. But there is a context here - the positive drug tests on one of these horses and the details that emerged when the transcripts from the USEF hearing were filed. Sorry, but in my view, it is fair for the repercussions of drugging to be further reaching than a small fine and a suspension. Think of it as a sort of deference for other would-be rule breakers.
[QUOTE=vxf111;8388417]
Okay, the ladies at COTH are incredible. Mollie Bailey emailed back and forth with me. It was an article Molly Sorge had written about Way Cool’s win at Devon. Kimberly Loushin looked through the article archives and found it. They sent it to me in PDF copy. I will type up the relevant tidbits now. I was right that it was post-Devon but I was wrong about the year-- it was published June 18, 2012 (reflecting on the events of 2011). I was right about natural horsemanship but got the wrong guru (Roberts not Parelli) and as noted previously I mixed up Tosh and Collucci. But I was not hallucinating that the article existed nor wrong about the general thrust (the horse seemed only able to perform under the “team’s” management-- no one else) and hang tight for the text…[/QUOTE]
I knew they would, the COTH people are great at this kind of stuff. Yay!
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;8388434]
But at 10 years old, my question is just is there a reason why or is it just because she can.[/QUOTE]
How is it the business of anyone but the owner?
Most horses would love to live a life of leisure, eating grass all day. I hope they’re very happy in their new relaxed lifestyle.
vxf111 - now, just because they found the article doesn’t mean you’re sane:D
[QUOTE=sockmonkey;8388666]
vxf111 - now, just because they found the article doesn’t mean you’re sane:D[/QUOTE]
Fair enough 
That pony that was being retired there, did show the first day at Harrisburg, but due to the rule being known by someone, it was scratched the 2nd day and ribbons and points were re-distributed. Then it went through with the retirement ceremony.
Mandarin HAD to show — he was doing puddle jumpers at 27… He died six months after he had to retire due to his hind pasterns dropping… I agree some horses live for their jobs.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;8388434]
The difference is that retiring at that age is COMMONPLACE for race horses. Many go on to different jobs, but not the ones worth enough to be a well sought after stud horse or a broodmare. These junior hunters are none of those things. When you allow a horse’s career to be so public, people are going to ask questions when they retire so young for seemingly no extreme reason. If these horses were 4 years older (especially in the case of a 10 year old, but maybe only 1-2 years older in the other cases) it would be completely understandible. But at 10 years old, my question is just is there a reason why or is it just because she can.[/QUOTE]
FWIW: I’m pretty sure it’s not out of the ordinary for top hunters to retire quite young in the grand scheme of things.
[QUOTE=BAB;8388844]
That pony that was being retired there, did show the first day at Harrisburg, but due to the rule being known by someone, it was scratched the 2nd day and ribbons and points were re-distributed. Then it went through with the retirement ceremony.[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
[QUOTE=MHM;8388549]
How is it the business of anyone but the owner?
Most horses would love to live a life of leisure, eating grass all day. I hope they’re very happy in their new relaxed lifestyle.[/QUOTE]
Oh, stop making sense…
I think it is great for these horses they get to retire, they worked hard and you can’t convince me any horse would choose a life on the road, although they can become accustomed to it.
That being said, this discussion illustrates the problem of being associated with cheating. It will color people’s perspective on everything you do, even things that are unrelated or innocuous. I honestly think it is positive if people remain vigilant about drugging. It is a significant horse welfare issue.
[QUOTE=Darkwave;8387079]
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that someone broke a rule that they weren’t aware of or didn’t quite understand (see, e.g. the amateur rules).[/QUOTE]
Sorry a little late responding with this, work has been most inconvenient lately.
Unaware? Not a snowballs chance in hell. That was a long time very high profile Ammy active as rider as well as owner right up to FEI and International levels, in several disciplines and racing IIRC.
Formal retirement can obviously be rescinded under certain circumstances which allowed this horse to come back from retirement. Albeit in a lower and less prestigious division. Still came back.
Slightly off topic, but I noticed in the beginning of the thread that Way Cool had been mentioned as a very difficult ride, and Canadian Blue as well. I did read the article about Way Cool and his rearing, bad behavior, and in the end he only goes well for Tori…etc. Every video I’ve seen of Tori riding them they look effortless but I haven’t really done much Googling. And I know Tori could probably get on any tough horse and make it go well.
Anyone have any videos of them looking difficult to ride, maybe with someone else riding? I’m just curious as sort of an H/J noob. I do know that with my own horse he can be very difficult and hot though it doesn’t always show to the casual observer (fake it til you make it )
