I can’t believe it’s June already – it feels like just yesterday I was updating everyone on the April progress of the dynamic duo. But alas, there are 18 weeks and 2 days until Oct. 8 – the official start of the Thoroughbred Makeover - but who’s counting?

May flew by in the blink of an eye, with the best boys making strides in training every day! Henry (Imposing Ruler) and Gray (Gray Magician) are really starting to find their stride and I am enjoying getting to know both of them as individuals. Even with the Makeover fast approaching, I am doing my best to stay focused on creating a solid foundation to build upon and letting the boys tell me in their own time what they want their next career to be. With a deadline looming, it can be easy to cut corners or skip steps to try to get to the finish line quicker. I am a firm believer in slow and steady development, so our updates may not be flashy and fun just yet – but we will get there!

Imposing Ruler, aka “Henry” (Courtesy of Lindsay Gilbert )

After venturing off-property for the first time in April, Henry got to go on his first solo field trip to a lesson with my eventing trainer. He loaded up well for the 10-minute drive to the neighboring farm, but quickly realized he was alone in the trailer – which he had no problem telling me he did not agree to! After working through some big emotions before getting on, I figured the lesson would end up being no more than a lesson in being by himself.

Much to my surprise, Henry worked through his anxieties and the distractions of a new place and new friends quickly. With some pole work to keep his mind engaged, Henry settled in and showed my trainer some really lovely moments. We pointed him at a few small fences, again with expectations of just showing him a new place and some new jumps. He again surprised me when he bravely jumped all of the new fill without batting an eye! My trainer echoed what I had known all along: this horse was going to be something special.

Gray Magician has also been steadily improving in his training. Unlike Henry, who is quite young and inexperienced, Gray has a level of maturity about him from his lengthy racing career. Unfazed by most things, I have not put as much pressure on him to get off property and experience life – his passport has already been stamped several times!

Gorgeous Gray Magician. (Courtesy of Lindsay Gilbert )

Gray’s May training has been more focused on strength and physical fitness. Even though he is already a proven athlete, whatever job he picks for his next career will require the use of different muscles than those he developed on the track. His program has included lots of flatwork to rebuild his topline, introduce more lateral suppleness and bending. While he may not want to be a dressage horse in the future, these basics have helped tremendously and allowed the over fences work to feel quite easy!

Gray really enjoys a varied routine and seems to live for the days I let him pop around whatever exercise is set up in the ring. Whether it be simple trot poles, small bounces or full courses of fences, he is eager and willing to try anything I ask of him. Keeping the exercises small allows us to build him up slowly both physically and mentally. Now that I know how brave, scopey and smart he is, my job is to nurture those qualities by not over-facing him.

On the agenda for June is a low-key jumper show for both Henry and Gray, so we can check the “first show” box! From there, we will continue on the training path with the figurative blinders on as much as possible. The steady and methodical production of these two incredible athletes is my utmost priority: trotting down centerline or cantering over a course of fences in 18 weeks will just be icing on the cake. And for now, I’m trying hard not to count!

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.