The proper alternative for me to take BOTH of my RRP hopefuls offered itself in Could on the New Vocations’ 21st Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Present. This present would give me the possibility to work out particulars with my packing listing, present lengthy distance trailering expertise, give extra present expertise for the 2 horses and put together me for the Thoroughbred Makeover with two horses. It’s at all times been behind my thoughts: can I actually compete two horses directly? How am I going to do that?!?! Am I loopy??
Very first thing was to resolve what lessons to point out in. This three-day horse present had lessons starting from in-hand, jumpers, dressage, and western to achieve all disciplines of driving for any Thoroughbred! Drafted has already been competing in some native exhibits so he has extra expertise. However, Widget simply obtained over a foul abscess and has had only a few rides on him. So, I made a decision this present was largely for Widget to expertise as he has had little touring or present setting expertise since he stayed at one monitor most of his profession. I entered Widget within the in-hand lessons solely and drafted within the in-hand, dressage, and pleasure lessons.
Packing for any sort of journey might be irritating and exhausting, however I’ve had loads of expertise with my endurance driving and in a single day horse exhibits. This time round, although, I used to be packing for 2 horses! The drive right down to Aiken, S.C. is about 9 hours every approach, so to make sure I didn’t overlook something I purchased two rolling storage bins to have for every horse to attempt to make my life a bit of simpler and it did assist. My husband had the obligation of serving to load all of it within the trailer – he is excellent at becoming all the things into its place and nonetheless having room for extra! This journey he gave me some appears of, “Why am I packing a lot,” however you simply by no means know what chances are you’ll want away from house. I used to be capable of load up the trailer a couple of days previous to the present, which makes it rather less irritating understanding all the things is packed, and it gave me a while to recollect something I could have forgotten.
The day earlier than and day of our journey, I gave the horses some electrolytes and ulcer meds understanding that it was going to be an extended sizzling drive to South Carolina. Each loaded up easily and we headed south. I like to provide the horses breaks each three to 4 hours to allow them to relaxation their muscular tissues. One cease that’s my husband’s favourite (and possibly was a perk to persuade my husband to come back with me) is to Buc-ees! When you have by no means been to 1 earlier than, I extremely advocate going. I can solely describe it as a gasoline station blended with a Walmart and Costco, and with the most effective BBQ!
Most each cease we take, I let the home windows right down to let the horses stick their heads out, and the most effective a part of that is the folks watching them. I’m big advocate for Thoroughbreds, and when folks come over to take a look at the horses I at all times inform them every horse’s tales! You possibly can see the smile on their faces, and understanding that you just supplied extra information and should have modified somebody’s opinions of a Thoroughbred is priceless.
We arrived on the present grounds Thursday afternoon, obtained our stall assignments, and obtained the horses out to their new house for the weekend. On Friday morning, Widget’s legs had been a bit of swollen from stocking up, so I scratched him from his morning in-hand class however was capable of ice them and get the swelling down for his afternoon class, “Contemporary Off the Monitor.”
This was Widget’s first in a single day and largest present expertise, so I wasn’t certain what to anticipate. He was not spooky with the setting, however was just a bit fidgety standing in line and ready to guage in hand – he has the endurance of a bit of child! He survived his firstclass and positioned second within the “Contemporary Off the Monitor” class! We additionally entered within the in-hand Gelding class which was a big class of 15. We didn’t place however he behaved, and had a optimistic expertise.
For Drafted, I’ve confirmed him at native smaller exhibits, and this is able to be his first giant present. There have been a couple of class time adjustments which made our schedule a bit of hectic with back-to-back lessons. Within the morning, we confirmed within the struggle horse in-hand and positioned eight, and in adopted in-hand we positioned eighth as nicely! We then entered three dressage intro lessons and positioned second, fourth, and sixth!
Because the day went on and the present obtained extra crowded, I seen Drafted was not performing his regular laid-back self. I noticed that with the bigger crowds the extra amped up he obtained, and I assumed this reminded him of his racing days as a result of again then, as extra folks got here the extra excited he obtained. I hoped because the day handed he would turn into extra relaxed, however on Saturday I confirmed in my firstclass and he was nonetheless not himself. He was not the horse I schooled at house or confirmed on the native exhibits, and I used to be a bit of dissatisfied. I completed my first Saturday class within the stroll/trot pleasure class putting ninth nevertheless it was not a optimistic expertise for each of us. I made a decision to scratch the remainder of Saturday’s lessons as I didn’t need to have mores dangerous experiences in these.
On Sunday, the present obtained rather less crowded and I wished to strive once more with Drafted. He appeared to be in a greater place when education him earlier than the category, so we went into the W/T struggle horse class. My horse was again! Drafted was his cool collected self once more and positioned ninth within the giant class. Drafted additionally obtained the particular award of the highest-earning Thoroughbred on the present with $1,171,593!
With solely 10 months to re-train OTTBs for the makeover, you be taught one thing new about them every single day. The New Vocations horse present was the proper alternative for me to check the waters of a giant present just like the Makeover early of their coaching. I attempt to make each alternative a optimistic expertise – even when which means not displaying. I at all times put the horse first irrespective of how lengthy I traveled, how a lot I paid, or how a lot it means to me. The New Vocations charity present raised over $180,000 to help the group’s mission to rehab, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses, and I couldn’t be extra proud to have introduced my two RRP makeover hopefuls to the present!
