August 29th, 2009Building A Horse Name
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While reworking my ex-racehorse, I recently had the opportunity to watch her train in the arena with a few local Warmbloods. I was still nursing a knee injury and had asked my young cousin to take Lady for a spin for me. My cousin had just graduated and was schooling fourth level dressage movements while on the college equestrian team, so I figured she’d enjoy getting on something more rough around the edges.
When my cousin describes the types of horses she rode at school, I sometimes feel I should apologize that I’ve asked her to ride Lady. It’s then that I usually recall enduring a horrendous dressage clinic instructed by an Olympic equestrian who truly made the day an ordeal. I was somewhat embarrassed then to be riding my green Thoroughbred in the same arena as Warmbloods imported from Germany. The fact was that I had Lady because I could afford an off-the-track Thoroughbred, and I couldn’t afford the well-bred Warmblood, imported or domestic. But there seemed to be an unfortunate stigma attached to any breed of horse other than Warmblood being trained for dressage. Sure, there have been famous breed ambassadors to dressage like the formerly wild mustang JB Andrew who competed to Intermediare 2; Rugged Lark, the American Quarter Horse Super Horse who performed bridleless dressage; and Seldom Seen, the 14.2 hand Connemara/Thoroughbred pony cross Olympian Lendon Gray rode to United States Dressage Federation Horse of the Year from third level through Grand Prix. And the Thoroughbreds have made it there too. Chief Speaker came off the track with two suspensory injuries and was purchased by Christie Stillwaugh who rode him to Intermediare I and Grand Prix. Kriter, now retired, competed to Region 8 Championship in Grand Prix. Still, dominating the field even at low levels were the big Warmbloods.
Watching my own horse go is not an opportunity I often get, and I always find it very enlightening. My cousin had her going very well, but Lady is one of those horses who is both easy and difficult to ride at the same time. She’s very forward and has a work ethic to die for. She’ll do whatever you want until her legs fall off without much more than a snort of protest. She tracks up well behind and uses herself, but she’s an ex-racehorse who is built level with a naturally low head set and wants to carry her weight in her shoulders. She’s also long all over—long backed and long legged and with a long swan-like neck—which makes for an elegant look but some difficulty compacting without restricting.
I reminded my cousin that the horse was very sensitive after she must have applied both calves to Lady’s sides for the trot, and Lady shot out like a watermelon pit squeezed between fingers. “Just think trot and use your seat to extend and collect, and she’ll respond,” I said. What makes her easy is that you don’t need a whip or spurs to get her to move out. She just does it naturally.
While watching my cousin and Lady, I took note of how sound the horse looked, how forward and round she was, using her back and belly quite well, overtracking behind and showing some real animation in her movement. She was the picture of grace and athleticism. And she looked expressive, relaxed and happy, like she usually does. Then I turned to the two Warmbloods. They had natural extension and suspension, I’d give them that. But both put on the brakes every now and then, pinned their ears and kicked out at the wall for some reason. I’d hear a whip crack every now and then (just the sound sends Lady more forward again…a little too sensitive!) Back to the Warmbloods: One had little crest development and was almost ewe-necked and traveled very hollow through the back. He looked quite stiff. The other struck me as having a really short neck that looked thick and somewhat unpliable, and I wondered how he would ever be able to really flex at the poll or come round through his back. I knew both horses were bought for more than 10 times Lady’s price, and that was low-balling the estimate.
But in watching the three horses in the arena, I came the realization that just because these two Warmbloods cost a lot of money and had famous Warmblood sires, didn’t mean that they were any better made or built than my Thoroughbred. And, hey, I reminded myself, her ancestry is nothing to sneeze at—Man O’ War, War Admiral, Swaps and Native Dancer make a pretty impressive lot. And based on movement and attitude, if I were objectively judging the three, I’d have chosen the Thoroughbred.
Later, I commented to my cousin how nice it was to be able to watch Lady in comparison to the other two Warmbloods and to see just how nicely she moved. We talked about how price and breeding mean nothing without conformation and attitude. Then it finally dawned on me that even if the day came when I could afford an expensive Warmblood, I’d still be more inclined to get another Thoroughbred off the track if I could find one like Lady. My cousin looked surprised. And I said, “I really like the idea of getting ex-racehorses and giving them new jobs. It’s so inspiring to see what they are capable of and how willing they are to learn.” Plus, the last Warmblood I got on took a lot of leg to get moving, and Lady just takes a thought and a nudge of my seat. When her energy gets channeled correctly (instead of channeled toward spooking or doing silly happy bucks), she just requires the slightest of aids.
“You know,” I said. “I’d take that racehorse any day over those Warmbloods.” Make sure to stop on by horsechitchat and visit! Have a great ride today!
Ron
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