Since the farm's lone equine professional (that would be my wife) is currently on bed rest due to being 8 months pregnant, it will fall to me to attempt to halter break Julian and Marcus. By halter breaking it is simply meant that the foal will accept a halter being put on its head and follow you without fighting when you put a lead rope on the halter.
They had a couple of lessons thus far, but due to unforeseen circumstances they have not had consistent training. Each of those foals has their little quirks. Foals are no different than human children in many ways: they are curious, they want to learn, but they also want to play and are not always sure whats going on. The big differences of course is that a foal is naturally a creature of flight (i.e. run first, ask questions later) and weight 10 times more.
Will see what happens.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Lasix Study, Breeder's Fund, and a Noisy Morning
Our neighbors across the street have a flock of chickens, among them are two young roosters. They have started to feel their oats with their vocal chords recently crowing at the top of their lungs at 6:30 a.m (I was already up, thank you...) But that started a whole chain of events like you see in a children's story. First the neighbor's horse (a beautiful paint horse) neighed, which made our horses neigh, which set off the dogs a few doors down, which set off the quails in the fields, which set off the woodpeckers. This went on for about ten minutes and then...silence. Quite cool I must say.
On another positive note, we got an unexpected check from the Virginia Racing Commission. Apparently, someone found money (Federal stimulus money?) to hand out the Virginia thoroughbred breeders for the 2008 racing season. I will admit the check was a lot bigger than thought...like 10times bigger ($400 vs. $40). But whom I am to turn down money? I have a feed bill from Tidewater Farm and Garden Supply of Windsor, Virginia and a credit card to pay.
There have been a series of articles about drugs and horses. One was about how great lasix is (I am in agreement with Glenn at Fuge for Tinhorns, lets not strike up the band people and party over this). The more outrageous statement comes from the medical advisor to the Louisiana Horse who claimed that a zero tolerance for drugs is giving racing a bad name. In other words, because we are busting so many people, people think we are crooks.
No doctor, sir, they think we are crooks because we DONT test. Because there are trainers out there giving drugs to their horses who have no idea what the drug is for. *Sigh* Look, this is the deal. If the public were to ever think that giving oats to a horse is cheating, then by golly, ban oats. Because perception and public trust is everything in sports, especially when gambling is involved. Without the betting public, we are doomed.
On another positive note, we got an unexpected check from the Virginia Racing Commission. Apparently, someone found money (Federal stimulus money?) to hand out the Virginia thoroughbred breeders for the 2008 racing season. I will admit the check was a lot bigger than thought...like 10times bigger ($400 vs. $40). But whom I am to turn down money? I have a feed bill from Tidewater Farm and Garden Supply of Windsor, Virginia and a credit card to pay.
There have been a series of articles about drugs and horses. One was about how great lasix is (I am in agreement with Glenn at Fuge for Tinhorns, lets not strike up the band people and party over this). The more outrageous statement comes from the medical advisor to the Louisiana Horse who claimed that a zero tolerance for drugs is giving racing a bad name. In other words, because we are busting so many people, people think we are crooks.
No doctor, sir, they think we are crooks because we DONT test. Because there are trainers out there giving drugs to their horses who have no idea what the drug is for. *Sigh* Look, this is the deal. If the public were to ever think that giving oats to a horse is cheating, then by golly, ban oats. Because perception and public trust is everything in sports, especially when gambling is involved. Without the betting public, we are doomed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Colonial Turf Cup Day 2009
The first picture is our baby Perfect Pet who raced in the 1st race who was supposed to be ridden by Julian Lepreaux. However, as you can see...thats not Julian. Apparently Julian only rode one horse during the day he was suppose to. Perfect Pet finished a respectable third bringing her record to one win, six seconds, one third out of 14 attempts for a total of $51,500 in earnings.
Nice picture of the pony horses and riders right before the Colonial Turf Cup.
Battle of Hastings, the eventual winner of the Colonial Turf Cup
And...Kent Desormeaux looking annoyed or maybe he was wondering "who is that fool taking my picture?"
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Shots Fired at Phildelphia Park
I was just about to post good news about Perfect Pet's entry into race #1 this Saturday at Colonial, the fact that she will have Julian Leparoux as her jockey, and the fact she is the morning line favorite at 5/2 when I saw on Glenn's blog the story about someone using a firearm to euthanized an mortally injured horse at Philadelphia.
I am speechless.
Wait, no I am not.....WHAT....EEEK.....WERE YOU THINKING!?! A FIREARM???? AT A RACETRACK?!?!?! WHAT IS THIS??? THE 1920s?!?!?!?
There is an accepted protocol for putting down a horse and does not involve a 9mm or .38 bullet. For those of you who will say that using a gun is more humane, unless you know what you are doing, which many people with guns don't, you are going to miss the target area and have to shoot the horse multiple times. Real humane. At one point in racing history it was also considered to be more "humane" to use a sledgehammer too.
Now consider the public relations damage done. Less you think people forget, I have talked to many people of the WWII generation who remember the day and the sound of a gunshot when they were at the track in the 1930s and 40s. It still sends shivers down their spine.
I am speechless.
Wait, no I am not.....WHAT....EEEK.....WERE YOU THINKING!?! A FIREARM???? AT A RACETRACK?!?!?! WHAT IS THIS??? THE 1920s?!?!?!?
There is an accepted protocol for putting down a horse and does not involve a 9mm or .38 bullet. For those of you who will say that using a gun is more humane, unless you know what you are doing, which many people with guns don't, you are going to miss the target area and have to shoot the horse multiple times. Real humane. At one point in racing history it was also considered to be more "humane" to use a sledgehammer too.
Now consider the public relations damage done. Less you think people forget, I have talked to many people of the WWII generation who remember the day and the sound of a gunshot when they were at the track in the 1930s and 40s. It still sends shivers down their spine.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Horse Slaughter/PETA "exposing" Japan
The wonderful blog Equispace brought to my attention an ESPN interview with the founder of Old Friends (a thoroughbred rescuse group that specializes in saving high profile race horses) and PETA. At issue is whether PETA's "investiagtions" of Japanese slaughter houses just distrubted Old Friends' attempts to bring home horses such was War Emblem and Charasmatic. Curiously Silver Charm was not mentioned. He was a better race horse, is older than both of them and also is in Japan thanks to his former owner (Bob Lewis) who alledgedly loved him more than anything.
On their blog, PETA doesn't call out slaughter industry, they call out the horse racing industry for being cold and cruel. The founder of Old Friends correctly points out that PETA has never personally saved one animal while groups like Old Friends are doing something about it.
It must be pointed out that racing thoroughbreds only make a small fraction of the horses sent to slaughter. Far more show horses are sent to the plants than racing ones. The thoroughbred racing industry has actually done more to save its breed from slaughter than any other horse organization. So, lets stop with the "cold and cruel" industry comments.
I am somewhat perplexed why PETA went to Japan to "expose" them, when it has been known to those of us who care for sometime that Japan sends horses to slaughter (most infamously the sweet Ferdinand). PETA usually is off the mark in their views, but in the case they really missed the boat as some Western states in America are thinking about firing up the slaughter mills.
At the same time, I will say that the finger does need to be turned on us, the owners, when it comes to horse welfare. When you buy a horse, I passionately believe you have a responsibility to take care of it, even when it is no longer financially useful.
On their blog, PETA doesn't call out slaughter industry, they call out the horse racing industry for being cold and cruel. The founder of Old Friends correctly points out that PETA has never personally saved one animal while groups like Old Friends are doing something about it.
It must be pointed out that racing thoroughbreds only make a small fraction of the horses sent to slaughter. Far more show horses are sent to the plants than racing ones. The thoroughbred racing industry has actually done more to save its breed from slaughter than any other horse organization. So, lets stop with the "cold and cruel" industry comments.
I am somewhat perplexed why PETA went to Japan to "expose" them, when it has been known to those of us who care for sometime that Japan sends horses to slaughter (most infamously the sweet Ferdinand). PETA usually is off the mark in their views, but in the case they really missed the boat as some Western states in America are thinking about firing up the slaughter mills.
At the same time, I will say that the finger does need to be turned on us, the owners, when it comes to horse welfare. When you buy a horse, I passionately believe you have a responsibility to take care of it, even when it is no longer financially useful.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Web Site Update and Perfect Pet Raced
The farm website (http://www.perfectpeacefarm.com) has finally been updated, though I am still working on it.
The team that owns and trains Perfect Pet (a stakes-placed daughter of Marquetry that we bred) has been doing some odd things of late. First, they enter her in an allowance at Pimlico and scratched her. Then they put her in a $4,000(!) claiming race at Charles Town...and scratched her. Then they put her in a $5,000 claiming race at Colonial. Which, she was not scratched and actually raced. She finished second (AGAIN, as a Michigan State football radio critic is now famous for saying), losing 1 1/4 length in 5 1/2 furlong race. The winning time was 1:06.6. We thought maybe was something wrong with her physically because of the major drop in class. But apparently not.
Here is the perplexing part. On the day before, Colonial Downs ran the Oakley Stakes, which was a 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and restricted to Virginia-bred fillies 3 and 4 years old. The winning time was 1:06.3 Perfect Pet was not even nominated, even though she as already placed 2nd in a stakes race at Colonial. *sigh* Such is the life of a breeder. You depend on the kindness of strangers.
Still, we are happy nothing is wrong with Perfect Pet and hope to keep seeing her race. Her earnings are now above $50,000. Marcus, her full brother and better looking, has an act to follow.
The team that owns and trains Perfect Pet (a stakes-placed daughter of Marquetry that we bred) has been doing some odd things of late. First, they enter her in an allowance at Pimlico and scratched her. Then they put her in a $4,000(!) claiming race at Charles Town...and scratched her. Then they put her in a $5,000 claiming race at Colonial. Which, she was not scratched and actually raced. She finished second (AGAIN, as a Michigan State football radio critic is now famous for saying), losing 1 1/4 length in 5 1/2 furlong race. The winning time was 1:06.6. We thought maybe was something wrong with her physically because of the major drop in class. But apparently not.
Here is the perplexing part. On the day before, Colonial Downs ran the Oakley Stakes, which was a 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and restricted to Virginia-bred fillies 3 and 4 years old. The winning time was 1:06.3 Perfect Pet was not even nominated, even though she as already placed 2nd in a stakes race at Colonial. *sigh* Such is the life of a breeder. You depend on the kindness of strangers.
Still, we are happy nothing is wrong with Perfect Pet and hope to keep seeing her race. Her earnings are now above $50,000. Marcus, her full brother and better looking, has an act to follow.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Pony Update
I have talked entirely too much about the thoroughbred side of the business and forgotten completely about the Welsh pony side of the business. First the bad news, Bella Seriphaina, our Anglo-Arabian mare lost her foal. She probably lost it about two months ago. It was always difficult to tell whether or not she was still in foal because she is well..a little fat (despite efforts). She was not "bagging up" the way an expecting broodmare is supposed to. The vet confirmed our suspicions on Tuesday.
The good news is that Perfect Peace Whata Blessing (Land's End The Colonel's Fox (WP) x Street Dasher (AA)) did outstanding at the WPCA Spring Fling. She won three pleasures classes including the Half Welsh Conformation Hunter Stake Jr/Adult Over Fences, Half Welsh Conformation Hunter Under Saddle Jr/Adult, was champion over fences, and earned high score for the day. Now we just need to get another "Colonel baby!"
The good news is that Perfect Peace Whata Blessing (Land's End The Colonel's Fox (WP) x Street Dasher (AA)) did outstanding at the WPCA Spring Fling. She won three pleasures classes including the Half Welsh Conformation Hunter Stake Jr/Adult Over Fences, Half Welsh Conformation Hunter Under Saddle Jr/Adult, was champion over fences, and earned high score for the day. Now we just need to get another "Colonel baby!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
