Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: ‘Pop Pop’s’ Love for Speed Inspires His Horse Training

Aftercare
Oliver “Pop Pop” Keithly, part of the training team for Shanghaied in the Thoroughbred Makeover competition, is a former motorcycle racer. (Sheelah Weekes)

Competition comes naturally to my teammate and father-in-law Oliver “Pop Pop” Keithly and he is not shy when it comes to speed. Pop Pop has over 15 years of motorcycle racing experience; his top speed was 165 MPH. He has raced his Buell 1200 and Suzuki 750 at Daytona International Speedway, Pocono Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NJ Motorsport Park and Summit Park. Pop Pop is “retired” from motorcycle racing now and has transitioned his passion for speed and excitement to horse racing and horse training! He loves the racing and retraining because it is something new to do and to learn.

Pop Pop is hands-on at St. Patrick’s Racing Stable: he manages the trackside logistics which includes making sure our silks are where they need to be on race day.

'Pop Pop’ Keithly, Shanghaied, and Oliver H. Keithly III. (Sheelah Weekes)

The first time Pop Pop handled Shanghaied was at the transfer of ownership in the detention barn at Penn National right after his race the night we claimed him. Pop Pop said he was big, and he looked like a good horse. Shanghaied’s record was favorable with 21 races and 10 wins. Little did we know then that we would be re-training Shanghaied for the Retired Racehorse Project’s 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover. Pop Pop was right: he is a GREAT horse!

Pop Pop visited him weekly at the track while he was in training, grooming Shanghaied and feeding him too many carrots. Last fall before we were accepted in to the Makeover, I rode Shanghaied to make sure he was sound after his time off, and would be a candidate for the Makeover. Pop Pop said he wanted to come to Maine and ride him too… so we made it happen: I had the third ride on him and Pop Pop had the fourth.

That was when we decided to compete as a team in 2019. We could not do it without the love and support of my husband Oliver H. Keithly III – as the Director of Equine Operations at St. Patrick’s Racing Stable, he is responsible for finding us Shanghaied!! We are truly grateful.

Our training is underway, the snow is finally gone and the mud and black flies are here! Pop Pop is taking riding lessons near his home in Pennsylvania and will be visiting us in Maine later this month to ride Shanghaied.

In April, I took Shanghaied off property to Trio Farm in New Gloucester, Maine, for #FieldTripFriday (Makeover trainers are tagging their off-property excursions with this hashtag). Shanghaied loaded and traveled like a champ, and acclimated to the new farm and indoor arena. My intentions were to work him in-hand for the first session, but he was so unfazed that I tacked him up and rode him around while a lesson was underway. It was a good outing.

I had scheduled a full lesson with my trainer Karen Folan for the following week but we never made it. Shanghaied decided to “forget how to load” – three hours later we were at a standstill. We worked for the next week on trailer loading, and riding in between the raindrops.

This past weekend, Shanghaied and I participated in a two-day horsemanship clinic with Tik Maynard at Durgin Farm in Standish, Maine. Earlier that morning I arrived at our farm to bathe and prep Shanghaied for the clinic. As I was getting his hay bag ready I heard clip, clop, clop, clippity... then the sound of a cartoon character taking off very fast. He escaped from his stall guard and took off like a racehorse out the barn doors and up to the top field galloping. I swore a few times and then did what I tell everyone: Don’t panic, turn around, and get a lead rope and a bucket of grain.

I called his name and he came running, I am sure he hit 22 seconds at the 1/4 pole. Yes, legs and belly covered in mud! But when my husband Oliver arrived, we loaded him on the trailer without fail and arrived right on time for our session with Tik.

We had a shared lesson with my good friend Alicia and her OTTB Menifee Six. Both geldings were very well behaved and did not have issue with the auditors, arena mirrors, the food table, or obstacles.

However, Shanghaied was very reactive to any sudden motions on his right side or in his right eye with the long line or carrot stick. So one of our takeaway homework assignments is to work 40% on the left side and 60% on the right to help build trust and confidence. He was very quick to respond and to relax within the hour.

On the second day, we stared our horsemanship session in hand, reinforcing the trust exercises from the previous day, and finished our session under saddle! It was a great experience for all. Pop Pop would be happy, I gave Shanghaied a bunch of carrots in the trailer and at home.

Every time I work with Shanghaied I am excited and encouraged and love him even more. As our training continues I am working daily on the groundwork over tarps and waterways, and my husband is building us a bridge. Under saddle we are working on transitions and relaxing into contact. We look forward to more field trips and a two-day dressage clinic later this month!

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