On to "Performance"

Our (Arch) horse is over his hoof bruising. Weather willing recommence gallop tonight. Out of 3.5 months into the year we've had about 1.5 mo. training, 1.5 mo. off due to weather, and just finished 10 days off due to the hoof bruises.

That's the way it goes. Any given time 50% of the backstretch is disabled with some sort of injury. Slight exaggeration maybe, but I doubt it. What's more discouraging in horse racing than having the laid up horse? As performance goes we'll always have to be mindful of the injury component. But now on this blog the method and manner of getting 'em ready for race day.
Complicated subject as experienced trainers will relate.

Given the length of time the RR stable has been awol from a race track there's a little rust. The plan is to get Rollin' Rodney ready even as his window of opportunity to get to the races grows geometrically smaller now with ever day that passes. We hope to take our own horse through this thing, relate the experience etc.

That's the optimistic forecast. Reality impinges on this differently than in times past. We're 200 miles from the nearest track, there are fewer race meets, weather ever looms around here, we have a problematic, dangerous to ride animal, and trip to the track for us now days will probably cost in the $200 neighborhood compared to $100 in the old days. Also we have severe truck/horse trailer engineering problems that I keep putting off.

But, onward. This is what we do. Thoughts on performance will be extemporized as we here in KC go.
Training:
Last week: Two short fast pasture romps on the bruised hoofs.
Sun 4/17: Rod chased the old horse full speed riderless for short 40-60 yd bursts in deep muddy paddock followed by stallion displays each time he headed the oldster. Fast twitch work that we needed.