It was a little bit of a risk I suppose to be the first to put on such an event for OTTB's, but I was willing to take the plunge, to either be the laughing stock in the industry both in thoroughbred land and barrel racing land, or perhaps it be a success and ultimately do what I wanted, to help more horses find homes, to prevent more horses from ending up in places horses should never end up. I remember the New York Post even writing that taking a Thoroughbred and using it for barrels, was like taking a figure skater and putting them in the ice hockey arena! So, seemingly, we were catching some heat...but we kept plugging away!
I am happy to say as I write this post, that there is a new organization in the works because of the event that caught so much heat, because there are so many OTTB's competing in the barrel racing arenas already! The Thoroughbred Barrel Racing Association! http://www.tbbarrelracing.com/
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| Some Logo Concepts |
So let me introduce you to the beauties I looked at these last few weeks, and ultimately to the one I chose. First, I must tell you that it is a good idea to have knowledgeable people helping you to locate your perfect OTTB. CANTER is a great place to start! I had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with a CANTER volunteer when I first started this journey with the Event, Jen Ruberto. With her assistance and knowledge, she kept her eyes open for anything that would suit my needs. But, of course, wherever you are located there are many OTTB placement organizations that you can turn to that have knowledgeable folks to steer you in the proper direction. Of course, always, if you do not know the individual you are acquiring your horse from, get a vet check as well, to make sure there are no underlying issues.
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| Blue Soldier |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJtz4MD8zAE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUX-jFKMluE29-mJDlSd-8w
He was certainly a beauty! My only draw back to studly was that he wasn't a donation, and I also had to get him gelded. With all the money we are going to have to come up with to produce this TV Show, I need to be very wary of what is spent. I had two other horses that were being offered to me for free for the good of the cause and the Ultimate X Showdown! But he is certainly well worth the money that is being asked for him, and a very sweet boy! If I knew I wouldn't be putting a pile of money into this whole project, and just simply looking for a next prospect, I would have certainly snatched up this very handsome boy! If you are interested you can contact Rachel Lyon at 3308533077.
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| Tempestuous One |
I LOVED Mr. T and fell straight in love with him! However, I knew I had to look at more than just two horses. My rule of thumb with everything, from getting quotes at work, or anything, is get a good comparison and look at three. But, I certainly could have loaded him up and taken him right home!
Patrick King also fell in love with Mr. T, and was ready to bring him back to his farm to start training. However, I had one more I was told to look at by Jen. Pookie's Princess, that was perfect build for barrels, and worth a look. So, I knew I better look before making my decision. Although, I hated to leave this handsome boy! But in my mind, I was ready to take him home (or rather to send him to Patrick, and start this whole X Project).
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| Pookie's Princess |
Pookie's Princess, the only mare I looked at! (Mare, another mare! I wasn't even too thrilled to look at a another mare! I've had to put up with Sis for 10 years! I felt I needed a break from that! Even though I know that Sis has been my most gritty of all barrel horses, with the most try and heart that I've ever owned).
Pookie is owned by Dave Treharne, out of American Tribute and Pookie by Wild Again. She had 16 starts with a lifetime earnings of $17,928.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KE0S9b6q4
When I had called Dave to go out and look at her this past Monday, I had heard that the girls at the ranch rod her to and from the swim area in a halter and bareback. I wanted to get that on film for documentation. Dave said we couldn't that day, as he had her in a race that night at Mountaineer. So, I decided to do things a little differently. We went to the track to check her out instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdMBNfUZxAo
And her across the finish line..she was in the middle of the pack in orange! (course you can't really see..but she held her own!..a little quicker for the first stretch..hmmmm..quick for the short distance.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMaqOd7Cu2M
So, now, I had narrowed the choices down between the two. A mare and a gelding. Both very sweet personalities. Both great looking horses that certainly fit the "Poster Child" look! But, for me, not only am I not a trainer, I am not one to even choose a Quarter Horse for a barrel prospect for myself. That, I have only ever done through my best friend Jeanie Bowersock. But, I decided to hit all my experts in the field up with my two choices. I already knew Patrick loved Mr. T. But, as Patrick told me, he's not a barrel racer, and told me to get opinions of those who trained for the sport. So that is what I did. Again, I went with THREE of my "experts in the field". I already knew Jen's opinion, who I consider my OTTB expert. I always love to hear Heather Benson's background on bloodlines on each horse I was looking at, as she really knew her stuff on what horses produced polo horses, sprint lines, jumpers, dressage horses, etc. (Heather is from Back Forty Media & Marketing which is one of my sponsors for Dreaming of Three and she also works with Gate to Greats, another great OTTB retraining facility!) She felt that the mare was more built for barrels, and the gelding a perfect prospect for jumping. So, I shot the videos, and names (so the folks could check them on Equibase, see races, bloodlines, etc.) to my three people who had biased opinions on the two. (I of course respect Laura's opinion, Pat's opinion, but wanted an open mind looking at both. I knew Jen's opinion already)
Mr. T - Gelding:
Slew lines are hard workers and generally fairly sound.
However, I am told he looks a little more forward moving, downhill, as in a dressage horse. That he looks thicker, and is only 4. He has also been off the track for two months. Still sound.
Pookie - Mare
Mr. Prospector bloodlines are a fantastic sprint line. Although she didn't do much on the track she ran short and had a lot of speed.Wild Again is a top sire of polo and sporthorses, known for their good minds and great physique!
Mare has just raced last night. No time off.
So, out of the three people I showed the two horses to, not sharing my preference (even though I had already kinda fallen in love with Mr. T), all three of my barrel trainers came back to me with the mare was better suited. I am not saying I didn't love Pookie, but, Mr. T was that first horse that liked me! So of course I fell in love! But, I knew, I had to take the advice, and do what was best for this project, what was best for the Ultimate X Showdown, and ultimately for the whole thing, and go with what my experts were telling me. The mare, Pookie, was the one I choose.
Mr. T, of course can still make a barrel horse! OR, even a jumper! If you are interested you can contact Laura at laura@win-seekperformancehorses.com or 330-638-2255 You will fall in love to the moment you meet him!!!
To know that I actually watched her last race after I finally decided, was so cool! I watched her cross the finish line for the last time. So literally, she is truly Off The Track.. just racing on November 11, 2013.
I have known Dave Treharne for a long time, and trusted his opinion on her soundness with no known issues. I didn't feel I needed a vet check. Dave and Simmons Equestrian Center is also a sponsor of the Ultimate X Showdown as the facility in which we hold the Event. They donate the facility! So how cool is that! Dave is also an excellent horseman! Every horse I've seen that he starts on barrels succeeds! And he assures me that we will get Pookie a good start when she is ready and done at Patrick's! If you need something started, trained, or need a great facility for a horse event, contact Dave at 330-720-1832 or ropentrade@aol.com
So, once the decision was made. My anxiety started to happen! This was all a first for me! A Thoroughbred!??? Not a Quarter Horse! I know I believed in the whole thing through watching the Extreme Retired Racehorse Barrel Race. But, me owning one! I certainly didn't need another horse, that is for sure. But, just felt the need to do this in order to make the Event better. To be more knowledgeable. So, again, I am diving in, to the great unknown! Just as I did with the Event this year! I'll figure things out as we go I suppose!
Patrick King wants to do an online TV Show, The X Project! To show folks how to go about acquiring their next prospect for barrels in an OTTB. To help us promote the Ultimate X Showdown, to help people know how to go about this all, (for basically unknowing barrel racers like myself, only used to quarter horses!). He is donating his time to this project and taking on the cause full force for the good of the OTTB's! We will need sponsors to cover production costs, and all costs associated with promoting this show. So, hopefully, we can get some support on this. (Again, some of my anxiety coming from this thought! But I am hopeful we can pull all this off! These horses deserve this!!! Deserve to be highlighted in this way!)
We compete against OTTB's all the time in the barrel racing arena and don't know it. Only those few people out there know they can go to that source for a prospect. If we can show more people how to go about this, how many more horses will get placed!?? Will less OTTB's show up at auction houses? I sure hope so! That is my WISH and desire from all this effort!
Yesterday was the day! To go pick Pookie up and take her to start her next chapter in her life! I was nervous. I bought her a new halter, black and gold of course, DO3 colors, in hopes that she'll some day earn me money to give back to the charities through TEAM DO3. Then, with barrel racers on it, to perhaps make her believe too, she is a barrel racer!
Then out to get her! As you can see in my face, just a total anxiety and nervousness! (I think anyway, not so sure anybody else can tell!) I'm putting a Thoroughbred in this halter, NOT a Quarter Horse! Totally new to me! I've never owned anything other than a Quarter Horse!
She loaded like a dream! And we were on our journey!
She unloaded like a dream! Dave did such a great job with making sure his horses behaved! As my husband Sean describes my mare Sis and me getting her off the trailer, it's like diffusing a bomb! I peek in slowly, unlatch the butt bar and hurry to open the door as she flies off full speed. I keep meaning to take her to Pat to fix that..just haven't figured out a way to get that time to do it! As it's a danger! And drives me nutso! Anyway, Pookie unloaded wonderful!
Pat worked her for a while on the ground. I was amazed at how well she did. Tarps, no problem. Right over them. Tarps over her head. No problem. She wore it like a ghost Halloween costume without hesitation. In Pat's words " She is a pretty phenomenal filly, for sure! What a pleasure it was to work with her.... she has some big things in her future, for sure."
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| Patrick King, Pookie & Me |
We will save the footage for our first episode! I can't wait for you to see! I want to thank our first sponsor, Lubrisyn Equine for making sure that Pookie has what she needs for her joints! I know she will no doubt excel having what she needs, as all my horses have done so!
If you would help us make this into a success for all OTTB's, to give them yet another outlet after their careers on the track are over, please consider becoming a sponsor or making a small donation to this project. You can find all the information on our Ultimate X Project tab on www.dreamingofthree.org. Once we get our first episode up, it will also be linked onto the website as well. Stay tuned!
