all in Aftercare

Scout is working in the arena more often now, usually three to four times per week. We first hack around the farm at the walk, warming him up with a goal of relaxation, both mentally and physically, before each session in the arena. One or two times per week we trot up and down the hills on the farm rather than work in the arena. The undulating ground loosens his body as he builds muscle on his topline. It also requires him to focus on keeping his balance.

The first time Marisa Isbell rode Jonny Be Bueno at Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Paso Robles, Calif., she could feel that he was a special horse. Even from the walk, she could tell that he was attempting to communicate with her and understand her with every leg aid that she applied.

Jonny seemed eager to converse with Marisa through the only way they could: body language. He was an incredibly sensitive horse, so he always responded right away, eager to figure out what Marisa asked.

Well, ’tis the season where it’s hard to fit everything into a day. Being at the track almost full time plus slogging through tax season definitely does not leave time for consistent riding on one special bay gelding. 

In the past, when I get this busy and don’t have a seasoned horse, I end up forgoing riding completely. When I’m too busy to keep them going regularly, I also lack the energy for that “pre-ride” lunge.

When Tara Webster made the decision to retire her older gelding, she began to ponder getting her next horse. Ready to explore adoption prospects, she turned to her friend at Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART), Amanda Wilson, who was eager to introduce Tara to the horse Seven Thirty. Soon after concluding the conversation with Amanda, Tara traveled to HART to meet the exciting new prospect.

West Point Thoroughbreds will be represented by not one, but two graded stakes winners at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover: Cavalry Charge and Decorated Invader! Their Thoroughbred Makeover trainers, Erin Knehr and Mary Termer, will be telling the stories of these two winners in a joint blog entry each month.

Erin Knehr:

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