Horse Country

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Thoroughbred Makeover, diary, Lindsay Gilbert, Gray Magician, Imposing Ruler, OTTB, aftercare, show, competition, ex-racehorse, hunter, jumper, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Foundational Work Pays Off With First-Show Success

June was a big month for the dynamic duo that is Gray Magician and Imposing Ruler. Both boys tackled their first horse show last month, which also happened to be Gray’s first time off property in my program. While taking things slow is a key component of my program for Thoroughbreds coming off the track, it can be hard to put on the metaphorical blinders and focus only on my mounts. After watching others tackle first shows earlier on in the year, I’ve been fighting thoughts of feeling behind.

Salesman, OTTB, retired racehorse, aftercare, Thoroughbred Makeover, hunter jumper, horse show, canter, flatwork, jumping, fence, riding, training, Texas, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Salesman ‘Calm, Cool and Collected’ in Training

It’s three and a half months until the Makeover, but who’s counting, right? Ha! But in all seriousness, this year of preparation and training with Salesman has just flown by. And writing these monthly updates just keeps sneaking up on me, making the months feel even shorter.

OTTB, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Noni, Gucci, Leslie Arcuri, retirement, racehorse, aftercare, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Virginia, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Noni’s Journey to Love and Safety

When Leslie and Anthony Arcuri lost their beloved horse Ghazi in October, the grief was intense. Ghazi had been part of their family for 30 years and had been through life’s highest highs and lowest lows with the couple.

Gucci, a 30-year-old Thoroughbred that the Arcuris adopted in 2004 from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) in Montpelier, Va., was grieving, too. Ghazi had been Gucci’s best friend for two decades. It quickly became clear that Gucci needed a new friend. Gucci was TRF’s first successful adoption from their Montpelier location.

Galerio, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, retirement, OTTB, racehorse, aftercare, Remember Me Rescue, travel, trailer, Texas, Maryland, Facebook, equine, horse racing, ABR

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Success Story: Home at Last for Galerio

“Galerio is a very special horse to me,” Ashley Nelson said. “I galloped and groomed him as a coming 2-year-old.” Nelson groomed and rode him until he was claimed during a race in November of 2019. She had had a special bond with the horse and one day hoped to retire him.

OTTB, Thoroughbred Makeover, Valobra, Maverick, Jordan Sigmon, ex-racehorse, retired racehorse, training, eventing, Masterson Station, equestrian, aftercare, horse show, cross country, ABR

Thoroughbred Makeover Diary: Back to the Basics and Building Confidence

In my experience with young horses it seems like when they have a first show experience as good as the one Maverick and I had, it really helps some light bulbs go on for them. Maverick has definitely followed suit in the weeks since my last update here.

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