#148

#148--Tee Pee Minister pictured Friday 11/30/13 ready to go to work.  Left click on the image to enlarge and see the wound on the left front just above the hoof.  This is now officially scabbed over, and Tee Pee's training therefore recommenced this date.  Below is Tee Pee on Sept. 5, 2012 just after purchase in Opelousas, La.

Tee Pee has grown a little.  16' 1" hands on 9/5/12 and 17'1" in racing plates measured today.  He's big. (may the good lord please keep Tee Pee from getting any taller, although Zenyatta measured 17'2" hands.)

And--who is to get on this monster for our stable except yours truly pictured below on my Goovin' wind:
It was hardly, at the Louisiana Sale, that I was expecting to buy a 17'1" horse to be galloping around in open pasture.  And now, this is what we have, and hence the subject of how to safely fall off a horse of this height.  The "you will fall" intro I had to horse racing back in 1985, next post.

Training:Well--that's the good news with #148.  Had his first pasture run since last Sat. and continues to look impressively athletic.  #17 has been regularly tacked, and believe we'll be reporting commencement of serious training in the next couple of weeks with him. For my friend from Oregon who emailed yesterday--our current plans are to have the horses ready to race in Des Moines by early May 2014.

How To Fall (And Survive)

Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgjVORA9LIE

Accidente en Carreras De Callabos

I'd prefer these Mexican horse abusers break their sorry drunken necks although it looks like the fellow below may have survived his fall.  Slow mo the link and take a look at technique as this rider hits the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHq-dTlhBXQ

This fellow may have been less fortunate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMZKnbuBHkc

Training:
2d day on #17 after a break in riding due to weather.  The young fellow today at the trot was trying to buck me off in the crisp weather.  As my thought process was that he might well win, decided to back off, continue the walk and live until tomorrow.  This is going slow.  I think they'll be a sharp jump to serious training soon. Good news is decent weather through end of year.  #148 was tacked and did ground work on the long lines.  Want to give his wound couple of two three days more healing before getting on.

Fourth Intro

Turfway Park Workout Accident.

Full screen slow mow this and see right foot of rider slide completely through the irons, and then on falling somehow gets her foot out. This fall might have been avoided in several ways. U never know when u get out of bed in the morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q0aqxizjFI

Training:  Continual weather related problems this week have prevented tack work.  We did get 4 nice pasture romps and #148 is back instigating things which speeds everyone up.  Should be back up this eve. A riding course is set up. Decent week to get #17 back in condition since he refuses to run fast without his buddy along side.

Third Intro To Subject

The real "amazing race".  Take a look full screen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNfmmaTZlWU

Bad Week

First the weather blew away our training both Saturday and Sunday, and then again Tuesday when I arrived and there was something going on on the highway that was scaring the bejesus out of the horses.  That lasted about 30 min. but they were on guard for next two hours.  Combined with wind, crispy day and boogey man out, no way I could safely get on.  Got two nice riderless runs from #17 on Mon. and Tues.

Good news:  On boogey day #148 ran on his own. I was waiting for that.  A beaut of a horse at this point, fast and athletic, beautiful ground flicking stride.  Will try to get this on vid except, wait--i left my cam corder in the field yest. and, of course, contrary to forcast it rained buckets.  Will see if it's still alive.

Back to "subject" next post.

Second Intro To Subject

First time I got on #148 after his hock operation was 10/25/13.   This was preceded by 3 or 4 days of bellying.  Listen to my impromptu reaction after getting up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXf5ygZg94w

Intro To The Subject

Dicey decribes the going with #17 to date in open pasture. Looking around for trouble instead of into his work. Bit of a break through last night as the horse seemed to be enjoying the extended trot. #148 training recommenced last eve.

Pictured--Mary of Burgundy with whom Blogger has a sudden affinity.  Mary was born February 13, 1457 and died 3/27/1482.  Part I is Mary died on the day I was born, March 27.

Mary was Duchess and ruler of Burgundy in France 1477 to the date of her death at age 25.  She was  married to the historically important Maximilian I, Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor when that title meant something.

Part II  comes from the "Death and Legacy" section of her Wikepedia page:

"Five years later, the 25-year-old Duchess died due to a fall from her horse on 27 March 1482 near Wijnendale Castle.  She loved riding, and was falconing with Maximilian when her horse tripped, threw her, and then landed on top of her, breaking her back.  She died several days later, having made a detailed will. She is buried in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges."

Killed while riding on the same day as my birthday with world at her feet and only 25 years old. A personal historical lesson perhaps to be careful when I get on my horses. Consider in next posts how to be done. Mary's Wikepedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_Burgundy

New Subject

#148 heel bulb injury is scabbing over nicely. Back on him hopefully next week.  #17 had a day off due to weather, a nice fairly fast riderless gallop yesterday, and back on today for a long walk under tack.  Will commence serious tack work with #17 tomorrow.

The prospect of riding a 17'1" two year old--#148 has caused some concerning thoughts for the young rider, the foremost being I am unable to figure out a safe way or manner to fall off a horse at this height.  I've been exploring this subject and have come up with some interesting things to post on over the next few days.

Training 11/11/13

Ladies Month

Forgot on last post that Criquette Head just won the Arc.  Something in the air.  Good grief!

Optimistic day yesterday at RR Ranch.  #17, though still problematic by himself in open pasture did better over a much larger course, and #148 walking much better.

Ladies Week

Ritvo and Waterhouse.  The ladies must be smiling.  Ross Staaden's book Winning Trainers intro'd the USA to Tommy Smith, legendary Aussie trainer and father of Gai Waterhouse.  I wonder if her training is similar to her father's?  Times change.

Will post some vids of #148 injury.  It looks healable although still limping for the moment.  Horrible weather for an injury like this.  Blogger becoming bandaging expert.  #7 Working intermittently under tack through bad weather.

BC Thoughts

Blogger was out bandaging a leg during the Saturday BC.  1.5 mile walk through thick grass to find 'em, and they were at the far reaches of the field, of course.  Bandage. walk back and watch the replays. 

I saw a vid of Mucho Macho Man being walked off the track.  Reminded me of being on #148.  You are so far up there.  As a rider of a 17 hand horse it's another dimension.  I'll post on that more if #148 makes it back.

I'll quit thinking Palice Malice is a good horse.  What happened to Pletcher and his new training/warm ups btw.

I'd like to know exact training of Mucho Macho.   In handicapping--note to myself--trust  instincts.  Mucho looked like a monster in that last prior race. Rarely seen a horse stride that powerfully down stretch, and it shows again in BC Classic.

Tribute to Kathy Ritvo.

Will Take Charge bumped 5 wide loses by nose???  Blog will take full credit for identifying this horse's nice stride while he was still at Oaklawn.

Beholder by Henny Hughes- lest we forget Henny Hughes was a nice runner before injury-- Fair Grounds and Pletcher, am recalling???

Did She's A Tiger (Juvenile Fillies) run strongest race of day? 1:-09.3 and accelerated at finish?  Dam by Cahill Road.  The good ones surface eventually. Tale of Cat best sire no one ever heard of?

Juvenile Fillies won by $9,000 yearling.   Renee's Got Zip for $3500.00.

My main impression watching these races--what a large number of good/well trained horses!  Instead of the whole field dying in the stretch per most races especially on east coast, whole fields kept coming despite lightening fractions.  Training is improving?

Are these times faster than in days of old?  Seems so.  Unknown.

Trying to figure race of day-- lot of great races--my two were Classic and Turf Mile.  I give it to Wise Dan.  What a performance!