Blog – Page 22 – My Ex Racers

06Apr 2012 by myexracer

Saddles, Saddles, Everywhere

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Saddles and tack

[caption id="attachment_154" align="alignleft" width="239" caption="Im sure this one wont fit either"][/caption] I like all job titles with the word "master" in them. Master Of Whiskey being my favorite, though this time my brush with a "master" title, was a master saddler. When my saddler asked me "what is the plan" I told him we were starting from scratch. So we started off with him examining my filly and yes shes got a couple of sore spots. Shes more developed on the left (hello racehorse), a longer back, high withers and it seems as if she will need a medium tree. I should have long flaps and a 18 inch seat because lets face it I'm a tall, leggy girl. He then took a look at my Lovatts and Rickkets saddle…

02Apr 2012 by myexracer

Tough Day

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training

Its started out good and went well for a while, when it took the bad turn it was a landslide. Defeated is the word id use to describe how I feel today and I've only felt this way with my pretty pony when I was dealing with the hoof abscess after the time she kicked me. With out getting into too much detail, I'm sure it was all my fault but I need to regroup, my happy go lucky training attitude needs to be adjusted and I need to be tougher, more consistent and find a new way inside to Jezebel that works for us both. I cant be someone im not and I cant expect her to be the horse she isnt, in fact the horse she is is…

29Mar 2012 by myexracer

Happy Trails

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_131" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A good day for a ride"][/caption] It was a beautiful day even though a thunder storm was predicted, it wasn't expect for quite some time and the sun was bright and shinny. I thought it would be a good day to introduce Miss Jezebel to the trail. She loves to look out towards the trail and the tree line whenever we walk by the entrance, its almost as if shes trying to get me to take her there. Mentally willing me to take her out and explore the trail. I thought better of it until I knew she had brakes. The day was beautiful and I thought what the hell, it's as good a day as any I'll just go out for 5 or 10 minutes…

21Mar 2012 by myexracer

Saddle Sore

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Saddles and tack

[caption id="attachment_122" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="My saddle looks something like this only more wear,lots more"][/caption] I own a rather nice saddle. It's a Lovatt and Ricketts close contact. I used it on my previous horse for years. I bought it off a women who had barely used it, she was focusing on dressage and didn't need it. She was also going though a divorce and looking to make some fast cash before her husband made her account for her assets. I bought it from the trunk of her car for under 100 bucks. I was lucky, it fit my horse like a glove. I never had any issues with saddle fit. Once I no longer had a horse I put my saddle in storage with my parents. When I was in…

20Mar 2012 by myexracer

Mud Hole

Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_113" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Pretty!"][/caption] I've been told by After The Races the rescue and rehabilitation group I got Jezebel Though that she was a very clean horse, that she pretty much never rolled and all the months she was with them, they never saw her dirty. She continued this for quite some time ... until the other day. As I was driving up the road toward the horse farm past the back field I could see happy horses grazing in the sun. Shinny and pretty except for one. Mine. Who was caked in mud. As I was getting my grooming supplies out of my tack room, ladies at the barn were asking me "is that your horse all covered with mud out in the back field?" Yes, yes it…

18Mar 2012 by myexracer

Halt who goes there

Life with Jezebel, OTTB, Training

[caption id="attachment_106" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Treats?.. Yes please"][/caption] I've been starting slow with riding my ex racer. I spent the first couple weeks just getting to know her and letting her get to know me. Of course I had the hoof abscess to help me along with that. My adorable filly's manners were some what lacking. I chalked that up to a few things. 1. Shes only just barley 4 years old 2. She's a racehorse and sometimes acts like one 3. I'm a walking treat factory I am compliant in her sometimes bad manners or rather sometimes no manners. She's improving and I'm working on trying to have her earn her treats instead of just giving them out like the treat factory I am. I admit it I spoil her,…

16Mar 2012 by myexracer

No not the wash stall!

Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_97" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="I can haz hose pleze?"][/caption] Oh the wash stall. No anything but the wash stall! Its really not that bad but hey it ain't that good. At my barn the wash stall is the hub of activity. It's used for vet visits, farrier visits, tacking up and it kinda feels like the kitchen at a dinner party, the place where everyone ends up and congregates. It also has a strange echo to it. Horses cant tell where the nosies are coming from and there is no real eye line to any other horses while they are standing in the wash stall. Some do well in it, others... do not. My filly is none to fond of the wash stall. She will go in, but shes fidgety…

15Mar 2012 by myexracer

HBO Shuts down Luck

OTTB

I'm not anti horse racing. I go the the track once in a while, I watch racing on TV more then most people, I love thoroughbreds. Their speed, heart and power and never thought I'd own one of my own. I am however happy as all hell that HBO finally shut down their production of "Luck" A drama series that is filmed at the Santa Anita Race Track, which was the track I went to when I lived in LA. The deaths of Three thoroughbreds caused the cancellation and shut down of the series. Two deaths happened during the shooting of the pilot and third happened just two days ago during an episode for the second season. The second season was ordered just after the pilot aired and rushed to…

14Mar 2012 by myexracer

First time farrier

Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_85" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="curouisty and the racehorse "][/caption] I was nervous as hell, it was time for the first farrier visit for my lovely filly. I was told she stood for the farrier but knowing how fidgety she is and how agitated she gets in the wash stall I was sure she was going to be a handful and as a result I was nervous. I had picked out a farrier I liked. I liked her website, her philosophy but most of all I liked how she worked. I had watched her work on another horse and she was skillful and happy enough to talk to me about he life as a farrier. Plus it's always a bonus for me when I can support women in non traditional roles…

13Mar 2012 by myexracer

New Friends

Barn tales, Life with Jezebel, OTTB

[caption id="attachment_80" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Best Friends Forever "][/caption] Things are so different here then in California. For example, turn out. It's not something that's done in the heart of Los Angeles. There its pretty much stall boarding only. I did for some time have my previous mare in an "in and out". A stall with a little extra out door area attached but that's as close to turn out as it got. Here in Maryland turnout is the norm. Horses spend half to more then half of their time out in a filed with other horses. In the winter then come in at night, in the summer when its hot they come in during the day and when the weather permits ( spring and fall) they are out 24/7 at…