At Thoroughbred Placement Resources, we specialize in bringing out the best in each horse. We do not choose the horses that come here; instead, they are sent to us, usually sight unseen. We evaluate them, design a rehab and training program, re-evaluate as they develop, and when they’re ready we rehome them.

Quick Chaos with Kimberly Godwin Clark (Courtesy of Kimberly Godwin Clark)

Quick Chaos is a New York-bred, foaled March 22, 2020. He is by Unified, out of Rubicon, who is by Mineshaft. Bred by Cheryl Prudhomme & Dr. Michael Gallivan, he sold for $170,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred yearling sale in 2021 to Joe Hardoon for Gold Square, LLC. Quick Chaos raced four times in maiden special weight company in New York, ending his career with one win, one second and two thirds, while earning $72,060. In his win at Aqueduct on Jan. 6, 2023, he ran a game race but was injured.

A newly castrated gelding, Quick Chaos arrived at Leighton Farm, the home of Thoroughbred Placement Resources, on April 15, 2023. We gave him the barn name Scout. He was on stall rest until Nov. 1, 2023. This can be challenging but Scout was a perfect patient, making his recovery a success.

Scout began hand walking in November, building gradually to half an hour. He then was transitioned to turn out, first in a round pen and eventually to a field with the horse that kept him company while he was on stall rest. Scout’s shoes had been removed and his feet needed to grow out before we could get shoes on, so we put him in Easyboots. They kept him comfortable and gave his feet time to grow.

From a distance, Scout is very pretty, with a Fabio forelock, a short, refined nose and happy, engaging eyes. He is a level-headed horse; however, he does need some work on his manners. Whenever anyone approaches him when he’s in his stall, he flattens his ears threatening to bite as he increases his scowl the closer you come to him. Lots of colts at the track exhibit this behavior. Racehorse trainers and handlers rarely correct aggressive behavior unless it’s dangerous, because most often an aggressive racehorse is a competitive racehorse. It’s clear from Scout’s race record that he was an aggressive competitor.

My background is from the racetrack, so I am from the school of thought that if a horse bites you, it’s your fault. I realize this is not acceptable for the world he is about to enter, so retraining this behavior is a priority. In simple terms, this behavior is his reaction to a human approaching his stall. By now, it’s very likely he’s been doing it for years and has no idea it’s wrong. My job is to change his reaction to something acceptable.

Some people would close him in his stall to prevent the behavior but that won’t fix it. He has to be in a position to do it, if I’m going to retrain him. We use two vinyl stall chains instead of closing his gate. He is free to stand in the doorway with his head out. He is in a high traffic area, right beside the grooming stall where I tack all of my horses. This puts him where I can work with him throughout the day. I will note that I have almost complete control over what goes on in my barn, so I don’t have to worry about someone getting bit or worse taking a swipe at him for doing something he has no idea is wrong. I want him to have the opportunity to scowl and bite around me, because I want to recondition his response to a person on the outside of his stall.

A cute face that earns a treat. (Courtesy of Kimberly Godwin Clark)

While I’m not a big treat person, I do give treats and sometimes use them in my training. After I untack each horse, I give them a treat before putting them away. Scout is very aware of this routine so he curls head around the corner with the cutest expression as I reach for the treat jar. Yes, he gets one as a reward for this beautiful facial expression. When I pass by his stall and he puts his head out to scowl, I stop and put my hand across his nose so he can’t bite me. At the same time, I rub his face and his eyes. More and more, he’s enjoying these face rubs. I can see his expression change back and forth from scowl to happy and back again until he gives in and begins rubbing his head on my hands. He is starting to expect a nice face rub when I head toward him and he is gradually becoming friendlier toward passersby.

Scout will receive training in basic dressage like every horse that enters our program. We believe horses should be given the time to develop both physically and mentally. I do not yet know what discipline Scout will be best suited for. Consequently, since the training he will receive in the next year is basic dressage, that will be our competitive discipline for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover.

This time of year, we miss some training because of the weather. We can’t work as consistently as I would like, but it’s only a matter of time before the weather breaks and we get into a rhythm. For now, Scout is hacking around the farm, up and down hills, building muscle and topline.

We work in the arena on days when the footing isn’t acceptable but not more than twice per week. He isn’t ready for too many circles, transitions, or lateral work. That will come in the next few months as his fitness builds and his ability to focus on the rider expands. My primary goal with Scout, and all of the horses I train, is to achieve relaxation first and throughout the entire training process. His ability to relax is what will dictate the pace of his training.

The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.