Today's Training

Quick post while finishing the "warm up" posts. Yes, we are heading to the track, presumably next week. Last Sunday one of the oldsters was galloped a little too fast. And then, the next day, I pulled a Carl Nafzger(Street Sense trotting 14 hrs after the Derby--very questionable imo.), and, instead of resting the horse I used him as a companion for Art's riderless gallop. The horse showed a little muscle tightness or soreness, and so on Tues. I declined the Eureka trip to breeze just one horse.

But, the itinerary is set. The replacement "trailer helper" arrived today, should we have a flat tire. The broken window on the trailer front is patched up with duct tape, tires inflated, oil changed on the '79 F-350, insurance purchased, health certificates and coggins have arrived. And, let's see, what else. Checking the bank account. omg. And, I'll have to e-mail Eureka and get ship in permission, and then, on their dark day on Tuesday hopefully the first trip. It's really come down to now or never for the Eureka meet which ends July 4, and then it's on to Anthony Downs (near Wichita) first two weeks in July with plans to break the maiden of my unraced, albeit very talented six year old. By mid July then, if all goes well, we should have some conditioned horses and a developing Art for the coming meets. This is the plan of the moment.

Once we get to Eureka the preference would be just to stay there, presuming help could be found to take care of the horses. We'll see on this as staying depends on a lot of factors such as stall availability, help, riders, and also avoiding anything that might hinder Art's development.

Today's Training:
5/14/07 Mon. Day 1 Burch: 2 x 8 riderless gallop at about 2:10/mi. speed. 10 min. walk under tack.
5/15/07 Tues. Day 2 Burch. Off. Rain.
5/16/07: Wed. Day 2 Burch: our "trainer" forgot we were in Day 3. Thinking it was Day 2: Continuous riderless gallop for about 12 minutes. A little more than planned. But, slow with the older horses and for 2f at a crack, then a little rest and 2f more back and forth, opposite directions. The horse looked tired. Lack of sleep suspected. An older horse bothers him when he tries to lay down, which is a problem. 8 min walking under tack without any horses present around the outside of the paddock. We'll be trotting in a few days. Unable to recall a youngster I've had less trouble with in the breaking process. Day 3 tonight.