I will preface this story with the advisement I love Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred Horse Racing. At the age of six I discovered the Kentucky Derby and the subsequent US Triple Crown Races, then the Canadian Queen’s Plate and our own Triple Crown series. This year will mark the 56th Derby I’ve watched. I will also express my undying gratitude to the CBC broadcasts of…

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If you’ve ever set foot on a property dedicated to housing and training Thoroughbred racehorses, you quickly realized that the facilities are very different from those of your typical horse barn. Thoroughbred barns need to fulfill a unique set of demands in order to develop top racehorses. Let’s take a look at what makes Thoroughbred facilities, like the Kentucky-based …

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Just outside of historic Midway, Kentucky, lies a very unique Thoroughbred racehorse facility. Margaux Farm, an expansive 640-acre farm, focuses on Thoroughbred starting and training, rehabilitation, layup, and boarding. With eight barns spread across the property and two more in development, this impressive facility houses approximately 115…

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I believe I said I would do a write up on the Trakehner a while back. Well, here it is. Allow me to introduce you to the Trakehner, an elegant and fine breed of horse. 

In the 13th century in what was once East Prussia a horse, the Trakehner, originated. The base stock for this breed was descended from the Tarpan(another write up for another time), however in 1732 King Frederich Wilhelm I founded a stud at Trakehner to develop coach horses and later a calvary(using…

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On January 23, 1994, jockey Pat Day achieved a major milestone in his impressive racing career: While riding Miss Popsnorkle at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Day won his 6,000^th race. In doing so, Day became the 10^th Thoroughbred jockey to win 6,000 races during his career. Day went on to win two additional races that same…

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At the heart of passion for horses can often be found a Thoroughbred Racehorse.  Vivid recollection of  horse races viewed myopically on a television screen weave their way through equine pursuits as we claim equine partners and pursue dreams of athletic achievement.  The majesty, beauty and determination of every single horse straining his entire being to claim the finish line is a blueprint for the dream of a rider.  Ask any horse lover if they have a favourite race horse and immediately a…

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Thanks to Natalie Keller Reinert and her wonderful blog Retired Racehorse I stumbled upon these wonderful saddle pads!  You can proudly display your horse is an OTTB every time you ride!  I ordered the white one and can't wait to get it!  I am hoping that they do other colors and keep adding to the collection.  They also will donate $5 to an OTTB charity.  Be sure to check them out!…

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I hope everyone had a wonderful and merry Christmas!  Taylor definitely was a good boy as Santa left him a stocking full of treats and not coal!  (I guess he forgave the couple of times he's tried to kick me recently-ha!).  I have spent a lot of time bonding with Taylor...a LOT.  Before I started his training, I spent my time grooming him and sitting with him.  I still love it when we have the chance to just hang out together.  With that said, he can read me.  Somehow he just knows when I…

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I brought Taylor to his new home at the end of June.  I am boarding him at a stable that has rolling hills, a nearby lake, and a pasture in a valley.  It's a beautiful place! 

Let's just say Taylor was not impressed in the beginning.  In fact, he was mad at me.  This summer has been brutally hot, and Taylor is not one that really enjoys the heat.  He is the horse you will always find in the shade, if he can find a patch.  Unfortunately, his transition pen at his new home didn't have…

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Taylor had been at Race Horse Reclaim Thoroughbred Rescue for a little over six months when I decided he was the one.  I had been volunteering for a few months so I was getting to know the horses and like any normal horse lover I loved them all.  However, my heart belonged to Taylor for he picked me as much as I picked him.  The first day I was there volunteering I was standing next to his pen watching…

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There is nothing in this world like a horse excited to see you.

 

Nothing.

 

Those two ears pricked forward right at you.  A soft nicker of greeting.  A velvet muzzle thrust into your hands.  For me, these small actions just make my heart swell with joy and love.  I love to walk toward my OTTB (off-track Thoroughbred) and watch those ears prick forward and his head raise.  I'm sure he knows there will be a treat involved at some point but I'm going to say it's all…

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This is a former post on my blog:  Hoofbeats Return

 

Sorry I have been bad about blogging recently, but I have had a lot going on.  The most important of which was my recent adoption of an exracehorse named Taylor.  Talk about falling in love!  It may really have been a classic example of love at first sight.  I volunteer at an exracehorse rescue…

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I recently received an email from a friend that contained some "rules" her horse has enforced. I enjoyed reading these so much I decided to share them. I know each horse has their own personality and may come up with their own rules for us, but there are some that will be the same across the board. These may fall into that category. I hope you enjoy them and feel free to post some of yours in the comments section!

 

Rules Horses Teach Us (According to Grace):

-Don’t come…

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September 14, 1968 – New Zealand-bred Cardigan Bay became the first harness racer to ever reach one million dollars in career earnings. He was twelve years old at the time, and he won his last race at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, surpassing the million dollar earning mark. Cardigan Bay, a Standardbred, outpaced three-time horse of the year Bret Hanover in the ‘Pace of the Century’ in 1966. Cardigan Bay was retired after surpassing the million dollar mark and went on to live to the age… Continue