When the Hoof Prints Align: Along Came AJ

Just a few weeks ago I was driving an older, well to do woman to Columbia airport. An accomplished horsewoman who had trained to the upper levels in dressage, Ms Peggy was always fun for me to talk to. She had had many warmbloods and Iberian breeds to work with over the years and was telling me that I should look into getting one one day. I laughed and said, "oh Ms. Peggy, I don't think I will ever be able to afford one of those, there is a reason I have a barn full of OTTBs." (also because I love them) She went on to tell me I'd be surprised, on gal she knew was given a fancy warmblood and all his tack because the owner simply decided he/she didn't want to do it anymore. Again I laughed and told  Ms Peggy, those kinds of things don't happen to me! That is until...

January 15th I took my 2019 Retired Racehorse Project mount, Fiver/GQ, over to Stable View for a lesson with Nuno Santos. This was Fiver's first real "off property" experience since beginning his retraining off the track. Unfortunately that didn't go as well as I had hoped. I didn't expect much but I was hoping it was going to go better than it had. As I was walking around the covered arena cooling him out, Therese Evans was riding what I figured was just one of her many lovely training horses. I met Therese last year at Stable View as she comes down with her string of dressage and eventing horses from Ohio each year. She and Nuno started talking a min and then they both look at me. "Hey Jordan...this one needs a home." I look around, surely they aren't talking to me? 

Then I answered, "Why does it need a home and why are you telling me?!" Knowing full well that I have no money and certainly not enough money for a horse of that quality. Therese explains that she took the horse on as a bit of a charity case so to speak and that he had been the wrong hands before. That she would love to get a little something for him but that finding him his person and the perfect match was her main priority and asked if I maybe interested or knew of anyone who might be. I explained that I had just lost Bandit and when it came to funds, I had none. Then she said "well you wanna get on him?" Did I want to get on him? Who are we kidding, of course I wanted to get on him! So on I got, walk/trot/canter. He was lovely, a gentleman. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him as he seemed so accepting of me and very well trained. 

I rode him 3 more times that week before I was ready to approach Therese. After that 4th ride, I brought him back to the barn, thanked her for her time and went for a walk to find Nuno. 

That morning as I drove into my barn, I looked over to Bandit's burial and told him that the decision was up to him. If he said it was a yes I'd do it. If he told me it was a no, I'd walk away. Our 4th ride was a hack followed by some jumping. Therese had only taken him for a hack once a few days prior and he hadn't been jumped since he arrived in Aiken the first week of January, but we clicked. Just like we did the first time I sat on him, we just clicked. After a quick chat with Nuno I went back to the barn and ultimately told Therese that while I did not have any money to offer her, I would like to offer Angelo (registered name) a home with me as my personal horse. A horse for me to progress myself on. A horse for me to spoil and cuddle with. Not a resale project. She told me that was exactly what she hoped to hear. That more importantly he had found HIS PERSON in me and a person that will have time and patience for him that he so deserved.

It was a seriously emotional week for me. Things I thought would never happen to me, happened. More specifically things I wasn't expecting happened. All truly wonderful things but emotional none the less. All because Therese's groom. Brie, has followed my progress with my thoroughbreds and suggested to Therese that I may be a good match for Angelo. All I can say to those girls/women out there working their asses off to be successful and make a name for themselves, don't ever give up. Good things come to those who persevere, the best things happen when we least expect them!

Angelo, angel, Bandit is my angel and I truly believe he sent this horse to me. Angelo will show under the name Awesome Journey (AJ) because that is what this will be, an awesome journey, TOGETHER. I have wholeheartedly made this decision to progress myself as a rider, trainer and horsewoman. Cheers to the future, I hope you all will follow along in the journey.

It Takes A Village

Well ya'll the 2017 Retired Racehorse Project has come and gone in what feels like the blink of an eye! Bandit and I left last Monday for Kentucky and returned back home Sunday evening after an extremely exciting week. To be in the top 10 of a division 3 years in a row is an incredible feeling but to be in the top 3 two out of those three years is even more exciting. Every year this event gets bigger and better. With that the horses and trainers do the same, horses get nicer and competition gets stiffer. Not only that but I find that those of us doing this year after year better ourselves not just in riding or training but horsemanship in general. And with so much success 3 years in a row I need to take some time to thank those who make such a big commitment possible...

First off my parents. For 3 years now they have made the trek from Upstate New York to Lexington Kentucky to watch me compete! Their support is instrumental in my success not only in riding but in life in general. My dad takes incredible photos and helps foot the bill when I need more hay and shavings. My mother who does scoring for international rowing events, was super woman when it came to keeping track of EVERYONES placing throughout the event. She was so into it that she volunteered herself to be in charge of the live scoring for next year...thanks mom! Oh and that beautiful blue jacket I was sporting all weekend, that was my early Christmas present from both of them. I should also ad that my mother is deathly allergic to horses but has been to nearly every show I've competed in since I started this nearly 20 years ago. And dad, don't think your friendly reminders to breathe and sit tall go unnoticed. I think my favorite line from you all week was before the finale while I was warming up: 'Now, here's what I would do in there..." (HAHA) priceless. Thank you both for being so selfless and supporting this wild dream, I love you.

Now, a few months ago I was ready to throw in the towel and decide not to compete this year due to a number of things but the main one being that I wouldn't have a coach. My main Maestro Nuno Santos was not competing and Kate Hutchings, my main dressage coach in Aiken was unable to go because her daughter is competing at Fair Hill just after the makeover. It wasn't that I thought I couldn't do it on my own but more so the fact that I wanted to be able to give this horse the BEST ride possible and the only way to do that would be to have someone on the ground for when my nerves would get the best of me. Before I knew it Kate had called fellow trainer Richard Lamb who also happened to be assigned to judging the show jumper division and he was more than happy to help me in the few days before we competed. We even got several lessons in with him before actually going to Kentucky as well. Richard gave us an amazing school on Wednesday morning before we were to hit centerline on Thursday. But as Bandit was getting braided Wednesday night I found myself feeling like I just wanted and needed that little bit extra in his warm up the next day. I have followed Emily Curtis of Miramonte Equine since seeing her compete in the 2015 RRP. Being an exceptional rider and what appeared to be just as good a trainer, I knew if I could get her help that would be exactly what we needed! What was I waiting for? The worst she could say was no but the best she could say was yes. So the night before competition day I messaged Emily on Facebook asking for her help and there she was the next morning 20 minutes or so before my ride leading us to our best score to date! Fast forward to the finale where I was lucky enough to have both of them working together to warm us up leading us to our top 3 finish out of nearly 80 horses total. Thank you both so much for going out of your way to make sure Bandit and I had the most success we were capable of!

Then there was the day before we were supposed to leave for Kentucky with fellow competitor Julie Robbins and her horse Party Barn. I received a text message just hours before she was supposed to pick us up that Sunday saying that she had broken her collar bone and would no longer be going to the makeover. Instead of freaking out I thought well, I will call a few people but perhaps this just isn't my year to go. Thank the goodness I didn't actually go with the later because it certainly was my year to go. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, amen to that! Within a few hours and a few phone calls I was not only hooked up with a trailer to take Bandit in but a dear friend to come along for the ride. Thank you Merance Adams for your generosity in allowing and trusting me with taking your trailer. And thank you Hector Garza for keeping me calm and being one step ahead of helping me all week long! I feel very blessed to have shared this experience with you. 

Now lets not forget where this whole journey started which was actually acquiring Bandit City. Opened up my news feed just before getting on to head to the show ring Thursday morning and up pops this. You can only imagine the emotions and tears that filled my eyes. The Conway's are Bandit's former racing connections and they have done nothing but support our journey. Talk about a race trainer that loves and cares about his horses, Dan Conway, you are the man! And Katie, we haven't ever actually met but there hasn't been a time that you haven't been there for me and this horse. Thank you and your family times a million!

Last but certainly not least, our sponsors, Accuhorsemat North America and EnviroEquine and Pet. Bandit's body was able to remain pain free and supple throughout a week of being stalled and some intense riding thanks to our Accuhorsemat. I also received a ton of compliments on how good he looked in everything from his weight to his coat. If you have not tried EnviroEquine's supplements or grooming products, you are really missing out. I mean look at that shine and beefy-ness! I have had the support of these sponsors for two years now and could not be more grateful to be apart of their team and them apart of mine. Thank you and we look forward to continuing our partnerships!

This year and this journey has been full of many ups as well as many downs. But with a 3rd successful Retired Racehorse Project in the books, I am happy to say that I see big things in the future as a rider, trainer and business owner. I have already been approached about many new sponsorships for next year and I was also able to look at a few new Godolphin prospects for next year as well. Great things are happening so please stay tuned! 

The Final Count Down

In just 4 days Bandit and I will be on our way to Kentucky for the 2017 Retired Racehorse Project. In exactly one week from today we will be trotting down centerline to show off all that we have worked on over the last 10 months. Ten months, we have spent 10 months transforming each other. Him from a racehorse to a dressage horse and me from good rider and horsewoman to better rider and horsewoman. So many things have happened and many changes have been made in the last 10 months but one thing has remained consistent, Bandit. I have now owned this fiery red head over a year and he's been with me through some of my lowest of lows and highest of highs. He heads out for a ride ready to work, ready to improve and he makes me BETTER. 

As many of you know this will be my third consecutive year competing in the Retired Racehorse Project. For 3 straight years I have set out to retrain these horses, show them off and then move them on. But this year is a little different. This year I have a horse who has the potential to take me places I have never been. I didn't necessarily think this was possible considering all that Stellar and I accomplished however this horse has IT. What exactly is "IT" you ask? Bandit has a presence that demands attention when he enters a ring. He has fire. He is a challenge. He is fun. He's athletic and I'll be damned if he isn't a bit of a prick. But he's my prick and even when he decides to show that side of him, he still makes me smile! 

I guess what I am trying to get at is this...

I recently spent some time worrying about not having the regular group present that I normally share this event with and also not having my regular instructor there as my coach. I worried that I hadn't done enough with Bandit in preparation for such a large event. I worried that I wouldn't ride him well enough to show off all of his potential. But I came to the conclusion that none of that is worth worrying about. My family along with Stellar's mom will be present. Richard Lamb who is judging the show jumping division has agreed to coach me prior to show day. He has also taken it upon himself to find someone local to coach me the day we show because he will be judging(That's going above and beyond!). We just finished up a clinic with Olympic dressage rider Christine Traurig in which Nuno Santos called to tell me thats the best he's seen me ride and if I ride like that at RRP I will be golden.

 This year my focus has been less on showing and more on learning. By learning I mean lessons and clinics. I know Bandit can put in a nice dressage test. But as his rider I needed to learn how to ride him more effectively. One simply cannot get better as a rider or trainer without taking lessons and finding good clinicians to ride with. Now instead of feeling under prepared I am feeling so determined to give him the best ride possible and I am ready to let the score speak for itself. No matter the outcome, so long as I come out of the ring knowing I gave him the best possible ride, we come home winners! Here's to making you all proud! Thank you to our sponsors EnviroEquine and Accuhorsemat North America and thank you friends, family, fans. None of this would be possible without your support. 

A very special thank you to the Conway's for giving me this incredible horse. 

Be on the look out on my Facebook page and the Dynasty Sport Horse page for live videos and constant updates. I will also try to blog when possible. Cheers y'all! #gobanditgo

Horsemanship First

^from today's long line session

This past week I was signed up to participate in another Stephen Hayes clinic. I had learned so much from him in the one day I rode with him back in April that I couldn't wait to show him all that we had improved over the last two months! But Bandit had other plans…

After winning both his classes and the high point Thoroughbred award at his last show, Bandit became impatient in the trailer resulting in a pretty scary accident. He had reared up, pulled back and sat on the divider of the slant load trailer someone had kindly let me borrow. He broke the metal divider into pieces and when he spun around in the trailer he cut his hip where the divider had been attached to the trailer wall (sharp!). Luckily his injuries have proven to be superficial although the one on his hip did require stitches, the injuries were not my main concern. His brain was. He had stood quietly on the trailer the other times we had shown here and even stood quietly on the trailer when we got there that day while I watched a few others ride. I assumed that he was just done for the day and decided that since we weren't heading home right when he wanted that he would throw a temper tantrum. I guess he's also preparing me for the one day I decide to have children…

^ The Accuhorsemat helps Bandit relax but also helps with recovery

Two days after the incident I was off to Maryland for a 4 day weekend while he was able to enjoy some time off just turned out with friends. But of course when I returned he had pulled yet another shoe (4th one in 4 weeks), only making my decision to try glue ons that much easier. But when we had to lip twitch him for my farrier to safely put glue on shoes on I knew something with him just 

wasn't right. He's never been great for the farrier but never that bad. This time my farrier spoke up after I told him about the trailer accident…”he's herd bound”, he said. He was absolutely right. It's summer, he's out with a ton of mares (few geldings too) and they are all coming into season. He's never been bad though for me to bring in and ride, the riding had been going so well! But his manners had definitely worsened on the ground and the trailer accident day he acted naughty when he first got on, just pissed really. So now what?

Ones first idea would be to separate him from the herd right? Well unfortunately it's not that easy in my situation. I could separate him to the barn and a very small paddock but he would be the only horse. Horses are herd animals and while I hate attachment issues I do feel these issues are workable without making him crazy being completely alone. Also this is the farm I live and work on so just switching boarding situations is also not the answer. 

So first thing I did was withdraw from the clinic. It would not only be unsafe to trailer him after his recent accident but it also wouldn't be fair. I could have been selfish and got him to the clinic just because I had already entered and really wanted to participate but what good would that do? This horse means a lot to me and getting his brain back is far more important, there will always be more clinics. For the last week and a half we have taken a few steps back in our training and made an adjustment to his turnout schedule. He now goes out with the herd at night and comes in a small pen next to another horse during the day (also helping moderate his love for the pond and keeping shoes on). Thankfully I have access to a great round pen which has become our new best friend. We literally have gone back to square one. Ground tying, personal space, giving to pressure, etc. Once I felt like I had his attention better on the ground I decided to reintroduce the trailer. Starting with my boss’s large polo stock trailer. The first day he spent 20 minutes going backwards saying NO, but after putting a friend on for him he finally obliged. Day 2, walked right on the trailer with out any issue(or friend). Day 3…SELF loaded himself on to the trailer! You can imagine my excitement, serious proud mom moment. 

^He sure does love a nice hack on the buckle, who doesn't? 

Fast forward to today. Bandit had the best ground work session, the lightest and most responsive he’s been with everything from backing up to just bending his neck around to each side. Everything I had been working on for the last week or so he was fully processing. I decided to try loading him on the same trailer he had the accident on. He walked right on, but I knew he nervous so we just went on and off several times and will do so everyday until I can see the nervousness dissipate. After, I went on with my plan to start him back longlining today. He was absolutely brilliant. I ended today’s session with him thinking about the blood, sweat, tears and stress he had caused me over the last few weeks and how each brilliant moment he had today made it all worth it. Are we done? Of course not but today I was able to reassure he and myself that we are back on the right track. I have made the decision to make July the month we spend continuing to work on the ground with regular round pen sessions, longlining and a couple trail rides a week. Call it a break from “regular” training. The riding is there and there is no question he is my dressage horse but I want to prolong what I have with him. The Retired Racehorse Project is still 4 months away, we have plenty of time and when I think about my future with this horse, it will all be worth it. Please stay tuned to the Dynasty Sport horse Facebook page as I hope get videos of us working on all of the above! 

Remember that while yes we are teaching these horses, they are also teaching us. Listen to them. Let them humble you. The greatest reward is not in what we give them but in what they give us.

 ^from his last show

From Wanna Be Racehorse to Dressage Stardom

Bandit is heading into his 6th month of retraining and although I try to share regular updates of how he is progressing I figured I would let you all in on how I am creating this progress with him. As of right now this horse has everything to be a top notch dressage horse and it is our plan to show everyone just that come October at the 2017 Retired Racehorse Project. 

I'll be honest, when I first got Bandit I had planned on putting some training on him and selling him while waiting to see what the rules would be for this years makeover competition. I was actually in Tryon competing my last years makeover horse, Coordinate, when I saw Bandit posted for sale. That was in August of 2016 and it was the last week of August that he shipped from New York down to me. I gave him the rest he needed, competed Coordinate at the 2016 Retired Racehorse Project and by that time Bandit was cleared to begin work again. It only took 6 rides for me to realize this horse was special and I needed to take him to Kentucky to compete this year. So I gave him a few more intermittent hacks and waited for the 2017 RRP entries to open…

Here we are now 6 months into dressage training and while I had entered two horses this year he will be the only one I take. Call it fate, call it a coincidence, call it what you want but I am ready for the ground to shake like it did when Stellar and I entered at A in Kentucky October 2015! That's how cool this horse is. 

Bandit lives out 24/7 in a herd of 12 or so horses on great pasture. (I'm lucky to have a boss whose husband is a fertilizing expert!) While turnout 24/7 can be hard on their feet and coat I truly believe it's the best thing for them. Maybe it's the grass or his girlfriends (HA!) but he's the happiest horse in the world  and I can still easily take him out to ride whether it be on the farm or off the property. Trust me, this life doesn't come easily to all of them but with a little patience and perseverance, it 

will benefit everyone in the long run if they can learn to love this kind of life. When the grass isn't as 

great we feed alfalfa twice a day (5lb per horse per feeding) and yes because he's my “special show 

horse" he also comes in to eat his grain twice a day. By come in I mean ties to the tie line, eats his breakfast/dinner, gets turned back out. In all honesty he is a dressage pony living the polo pony life style! Someone asked specifically what I was feeding and to be honest it quite simple; 2lbs of Triple Crown Senior, 1lb of Triple Crown Low starch and 2 scoops of EnviroEquine’s Electrobalance all twice a day. He is probably one of the easiest keepers I have had however I have definitely noticed with an increased work load he needs to be supplemented as such. 

Now for the fun stuff….his training! To start I do not usually give down time unless it is completely 

necessary, i.e. Injury, weight gain etc. Why? Because I have galloped and broke yearlings at the track 

and I know that from an early age these horses have had a job. Therefore most of the time that's what 

they seek so unless they are needing that down time I get them in a schedule. In the beginning a lot of times that schedule is only a few days a week and a mixture of lunging, longlining and hacks. While I do appreciate the importance of ground work and lunging/longlining, my primary focus from the start is can they hack? By hack I mean can I take them on a walk on a loose rein on, off and around the farm? Because let's be honest the majority of the clients I will get to look at horses will not be Olympic riders. They will be Adult Amateurs or Young Riders  who 9 times out the of 10 will ask if they will hack out alone or in a group and how they are. Not to mention the wonders it does for ANY horse’s brain. From there I determine whether more work from the ground is needed or if we can take riding to the next step, but first and foremost my horses must be able to hack. Lunging and hacking came very quickly to Bandit and actually one of his favorite things to do is hack, well that is until he learned to Dressage! 

I bought Bandit off a still picture and a walk video so although my gut said the trot and canter would be nice, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However it has now become pretty evident that this horse has a 

trot to die for and well…a canter that is improving everyday! When Bandit first started his flatwork training it was obvious he had a knack for holding his head pretty but in an ineffective way. By that I mean he naturally has a rounded neck which allows him to look like he is “on the bit”. It may have looked pretty however it was a completely false frame and he was not using his body to get there. How did we establish true engagement? Forward. But you must remember that you cannot send them forward to a sloppy rein. You must send them forward to something. Not a rein with slack, not a rein pulling back but a rein that is simply THERE. From forward you find inside leg to outside hand connection, from connection you find bend. Then from there you can achieve true inside hind leg engagement and full suppleness throughout their body. Don't go getting on expecting to have bend, you won't.  Don’t go getting on expecting to hold them in a frame, you can't. You MUST go FORWARD first. 

From the beginning this horse’s canter has been quick, unbalanced and on the forehand. I attribute all of this to strength. Though he may have a nice round apple bottom for a butt, he had never been asked to sit on it. This is again where your hacking skills come into play especially if you have access to hills. Use them. Hill work on a loose rein at the walk will build more muscle and top line than any 

silly supplement someone on the OTTB connect thread suggested. I promise. And if you do not have access to hills a good 40 minute hack at a forward walk on a loose rein will do the same! It might sound boring but I am telling you, it's worth it. Once realizing Bandit’s strength in the trot and weakness in the canter, it became evident that more hacking and hill work was needed. So that's what we did, 3-4 days of hacking/hill work with 2 or so days of flat work. 

It has not been until the last month or so that I now get on this horse knowing that he is truly ready for more. He's always had a good work ethic but now that he is physically stronger, he's more mentally ready to take on what is being asked of him and I really believe he thrives off of it. Now we hack maybe twice a week and flat 3-4. Because I know where his strengths and weaknesses are I am better able to access what we are going to work on on a day to day basis. His canter is still the weakest link, however this mornings canter was the BEST. I tend not to work the walk, the trot and the canter equally from day to day. Instead I choose a gait in which to focus on. For example today was canter. Sure we walked out to the field and yes we trotted to get loosened up but majority of this morning’s ride was spend doing canter transitions, canter spiral ins and spiral outs, cantering straight and cantering shallow loops. Yesterday, we hacked and tomorrow we lesson to go through our tests in preparation for next weeks show. Try not to get stuck in a day to day basis trying to conquer the same things. Pick something to focus on, work it and then end it on the best possible note. 

Bandit City: The Closet Worrier

^the picture that had me sold!

Flash back to August of last year (some of you have probably been doing this if you live in the northeast because it's cold as you know what), August 22, 2016 is when I received a ridiculously handsome chestnut off the track thoroughbred from Finger Lakes. Bandit City, an unraced, 2012 ridgling by Congaree out of Carson City Girl. The, at the time, 4 year old “stud” quietly walked off the trailer into his new home with me at friends place where he would be turned out for a few months to heal and until I could afford his castration surgery.

Bandit belonged to a Facebook friend of mine, Katie Conway, who’s dad trains a string of race horses at Finger Lakes Race Track and Casino in upstate New York. Katie shared Bandit’s ad from the Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbred adoption page to her own Facebook page, which I saw while in Tryon competing my last years RRP horse. The moment I saw his picture something said “you need this horse”. Meanwhile I was still preparing my current mount for the 2016 Retired Racehorse Project and knew that I would likely acquire another  Darley/Godolphin horse for the 2017 makeover. But there was something about him that made me inquire to Katie and eventually talk to her dad. Bandit needed 2-3 months of rest turned out for a small non-displaced fracture right front cannon bone. Dan Conway provided me with his vet’s x-rays which I forwarded to my vet, who said the horse would heal just fine after a few months of quiet turnout. And just like that the decision was made, Bandit would become part of Dynasty Sport Horses…

^How could you not want to kiss this face?

But when Bandit arrived and turnout started, I realized he was a little depressed. He would stand in

his run in shed, head hanging or graze occasionally but still mopey. It became apparent to me that he 

really just missed having a job and unfortunately he needed to stay on this quiet turn out until healed. A friend of mine had a yearling colt that I ended up turning out with Bandit so he could have a friend which seemed to help. But I knew he was happier the day I threw a saddle on his back and the reins over his head. He dove into the bridle as I held it in front of him to put on and I couldn't help but smile. My first ride on him couldn't have went any better, we started in the round pen at a walk and he was so good I figured why not trot around the large paddock. I'll be honest, I forgot my helmet that day (sorry mom) but I just felt that confident with him that I did it anyway. From seeing his picture to having him in my possession I knew we shared something and a few retraining rides in proved just that. His third off the track ride, he hacked down a dirt road by himself like he had done it all his life. And after less than 15 rides before December I decided he would be my second entry for the 2017 Retired Racehorse Project. I say second because I was offered and agreed to take on Good Response to represent Darley/Godolphin prior to deciding to take Bandit too.

^his happy place..

Alas this is where the title “Closet Worrier” comes into play. In reading everything above and seeing pictures, it may seem to you that Bandit is quite a confident horse. I mean he hacks out alone, he's turned out in a large herd but comes in without question, he walks quietly on the buckle and after a handful of  retraining rides he hauled off property for the first time like a champ. But yesterday when I decided to take him for a hack down a dirt road less than half a mile from our barn for the first time it became clear that he is not confident, in fact quite the contrary. We turned right out of the driveway where we had to walk along a slightly busy main road before getting to the dirt road. He saw a group of 4 mail boxes and immediately went to turn for home. I caught him before he actually got all the way around but he was refusing to go forward, sideways…yes, backwards…yes. Forward? No. 4 years ago I would have gotten frustrated and taken it out on him (we have all been there). After a few thumps on his sides with my legs with no success I was going to get off and hand walk him past until he decided they weren't going to eat him. But in that moment I think we both realized something. He realized I was not going to beat him but I also wasn't going to give up. I realized how far I had come in my patience level over the years. And in that moment it was as if he said “ok mom, I can do this!” and past the mail boxes he went. We continued our walk along the main road, cars going 50+ mph past, walked a few miles down the dirt road, turned around and came home. All on a loose rein. It was THAT ride that I realized just how much this horse trusts me. The confidence he may give off to others while I ride him comes purely from my confidence on him. This is a horse who I won't actually start “working” until he lets his big breathes out. You know the big sighs of relief they give sometimes? Well he needs to give them to me before we do anything besides walk because that's when I know he's actually relaxed. But even prior to those sighs, he walks and he walks on a loose contact. He's a closet worrier. But none the less I look forward improving his confidence in himself and his relationship with me. 

Stay tuned...

^Fancy pants

Retired Racehorse Project 411

(Stellar aka Fullback, feeling the love at our first makeover (2015) Photo credit; Denise Valdez)

Dynasty Sport Horse's  top reasons to Compete in the Retired Racehorse Project

1. For the love of the OTTB (Off Track Thoroughbred)

If you are considering this competition for any other reason other than the love and support of the OTTB, PLEASE reconsider your priorities ... and this competition. 

2. To prove the versatility and durability of the Thoroughbred.

As trainers and riders we are aware of the abilities this breed possesses, it's now in our hands to deliver the full package in every discipline to show the world why we love these horses. 

3. You want to join the cult. 

If you've followed the journey of one or more trainers and their horses from previous years of the RRP competition from start to finish, and support what the organization represents and promotes, you qualify to join our cult of OTTB lovers, now you need a fresh OTTB to sign up and begin the process of retraining to compete. 

4. The retraining process.

The thoroughbred is one of the most (if not THE most) retrainable, and versatile breed. Those who claim themselves "trainers" (quotations only used for those who simply don't qualify as trainers, but not intended for all) soon learn that the horse may be teaching them more than they are teaching the horse itself. The process of taking a Thoroughbred from a racehorse to a new discipline is enlightening, educational, and inspiring. There is so much to learn and so many bloopers to be logged in your memory. 

5. Experience and Community

Joking aside, there's nothing better than the experience of retraining and then showing off the bond and progress you have accomplished with your horse. The experience is great but the community is even better. You gain supporters and a little publicity here and there but most importantly you can gain friendships from all over. As a competitor there's a connection you make with people you have never met until you recognize them walking past them around the show grounds. It's uplifting to encourage each other and cheer each other on in competition. Bonds are formed with mere strangers over the love of horses getting a second chance in life. 

(Coordinate giving a supporter a simulation ride as a jockey after our Freestyle routine)

The Do's and Don't's of RRP 

Do support RRP.

Do Not bad mouth RRP, especially on social media.

Do be patient.

Do Not constantly ask when trainer applications are coming out. THEY ARE COMING.

Do take your time in selecting your next (or first) RRP partner.

Do Not fall in love with the first horse you see. (unless its really that AMAZING)

Do ask for others opinions on experiences.

Do Not try to create a false experience from what you have "supposedly" heard. 

Do try to continue to better yourself as a horseman/horsewoman and advocate of the OTTB.

Do Not think you know all or that you are better than someone else. Everyone of us has something to learn, professional or not. 

Do go for the amazing experience.

Do Not go because you think you are going to win $10,000. I can promise that if you go thinking that, you won't. 

Do follow the rules.

Do Not cheat. No one wins by cheating. So if you think you think you are winning by putting more than 15 rides in prior to January 15th (or whatever the qualifications end up being) without anyone knowing. I advise you to rethink that... Remember that girl named ... Karma?

Do be uplifting and encouraging to others who are competing - whether you win or not! Be respectful of others in their training process and help when you can in a kind and caring manner. 

Do Not degrade others and criticize. No one likes a sore loser, a Negative Nancy, or bully!

(Nuno Santos, a fellow competitor, "maestro", mentor and friend at the RRP afterparty)