The Standardbred ^ Connection ^
The Standardbred Connection November 2018 - Table of Contents
Standardbred Transition Alliance Board Announced by USTA Communications Department
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Panzo Two & GTO by Wendy Flowers
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Welcome to the Zoo! by KJ Haak
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Youth Literary Derby Crowns Winners by Bill Galvin
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Fair Week by Riley Ruelle
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Ontario Standardbred Show Series Winners
Page 10
OTStandardbred Incentive Program Winner
Page 11
HHYF Announces 2018 Scholarship Recipients
Page 11
USTA Registration Committee Approves Microchipping
Page 12
The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s Operation Chip
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Rider Has Experience Riding In France by Michelle Miller
Page 13
Britany Parsons and Tonibow Bring Home the Ribbons
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Midwest Distance Driving Association 2018 End of Year Standings
Page 16
I Wasn’t Looking for Him by Amy Allmond
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A Rummy Good Time
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Standardbred Horse Assoc. of Australia Resuts
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Cover Image: Hoopie and Cheyenne Christman represtenting Washington County, PA 4-H at Districts. The pair competed at the Washington County Fair where they qualified for Districts. At Districts they won the Senior Rider Cutback Class and also made it to States in Keyhole. Hoopie, a 14 year old trotter with over $480,000 in earnings, finished 12th out of 28 in Keyhole at States.
Standardbred Transition Alliance Board Announced
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group of 13 people, representing a variety of sectors in the industry, has been assembled to lead the development of the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA).
The STA will accredit programs serving Standardbreds seeking placement outside traditional commercial uses and also serve as a conduit for partial funding to those groups. The group has filed articles of incorporation and is registered as a charity with the state of Ohio; documents have also been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file as a 501(c)(3)charitable entity. The STA will operate independently of the United States Trotting Association, though the USTA will provide operational support and will have an ex officio spot on the board.
by USTA Communications Department
November. The USTA Executive Committee is expected to consider and vote on actions to provide some funding for them at their November meeting. For questions and comments about the STA, email STA@ ustrotting.com. The members of the STA Board are: Bill Abdelnour, horse owner and president of the New England Amateur Drivers Association Elizabeth Caldwell, owner and manager of Cane Run Farm, Kentucky Michelle Crawford, breeder and owner of Crawford Farm, New York Moira Fanning, chief operating officer of the Hambletonian Society
The USTA Board of Directors in March directed Chief Executive Officer Mike Tanner, with assistance from a steering committee comprised of Directors Don Marean, Jacqueline Ingrassia and Fred Nichols, to form the group. The STA will not directly care for horses, but will accredit and provide some funding for groups that meet accreditation standards. It will be modeled after the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which provides financial assistance to about 60 groups annually.
Dr. Donna Franchetti, horse owner and veterinarian
“It is past time that we have a pervasive and proportional system to provide some support to groups helping our horses when they are no longer viable on the racetrack or as bloodstock,” said USTA President Russell Williams. “We have many horse owners that provide for their horses for all of their lives, but that is not an option for every person or every horse. We owe the horses that provide our living and enjoyment a coordinated effort to give them a secure future off the track. The STA will support that goal.”
Rick Moore, vice president and general manager of racing at Hoosier Park
The STA Board will convene for the first time in early
Kevin Greenfield, breeder and president of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Dr. Patricia Hogan, horse owner, breeder and veterinarian Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, horse owner and veterinarian, manager of Hanover Shoe Farm
David Reid, owner of Preferred Equine Marketing Mitchel Skolnick, breeder and partner in Bluestone Farm Kelly Young, executive director of the New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund •
Panzo Two & GOT Winter is coming.
by Wendy Flowers
A familiar warning uttered by House Stark for the avid Game of Thrones fan, warning of years of winter and the fight between humanity and the White Walkers. Fans will have to wait until 2019, two long years after the last season, to watch the conclusion of the award-winning HBO series. In the meantime, this fan prepared for winter by fashioning a head-to-tail dragon costume for my OTSTB Panzo Two. A black fly mask covered with soft black foam, red duct tape for spikes, metal embellishments, and spiraled paper towel tubes for horns completed the head piece. Sparkling dragon-red fabric covered the dragon with ominous foam spikes down his back, topped off with layers of serrated pleather for the chest piece. The tail was inspired by Pinterest. And the wings‌ well, the wings are still growing and we expect them to be much more grand by this time next year. The Daenerys costume was constructed using a free pattern from Mood, which you can find here. Dragon and Daenerys were unveiled at the 25th annual World of Horses on 9/29, an exhibition presented by SPHO of Maine and sponsored by the Cumberland Farmers Club at the Cumberland Fair in Maine. The GOT appearance would not be complete without the Hand to Daenerys, and Jack the miniature horse filled the role to perfection. •
Welcome to the Zoo!
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tandardbreds are often though of as the ‘Plain Janes’ of the horse world but on Saturday, September 15, 2018 JB, Stinky and Dino let their strips, feathers and spots show for the 7th Annual Open Space Pace, hosted by Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey. Jambalayabar Man ( JB) was ridden by Helene Gregory and mascaraded as a zebra. The base of his costume was made with a full-body slinky. Rob Pennington decked out Stinky (Slide Into Glide) in a blue slinky and a six foot wide peacock “tail” attached to the saddle.
Dino or Slippery Slope, was ridden by Shannon Wilson and sported giraffe spots. The festival kicked off with a parade of horses walking through downtown Freehold starting at Monmouth City Hall of Records and ending at Freehold Raceway. The zoo keepers of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey won best dressed group against a very competitive field. All three horses sported National Championship ribbons from the National SPHO Show. • Photo above provided by Bonnie Erin Drake. Photos to the right provided by Helene Gregory.
Youth Literary Derby Crowns Winners
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Press Release by Bill Galvin
ctober 6 was ‘graduation day’ for a quartet of young Ontario students, as they stepped up to the podium at Woodbine Mohawk Park to receive accolades and prizes for their literary accomplishments in the $2,000 Youth Literary Derby, sponsored by St. Catharines, Ont. horseman and construction magnate Tom Rankin. The Youth Literary Derby – a province-wide, juried, horse-themed contest designed to encourage literacy skills – challenged students’ abilities to capture in prose, or verse, their impressions and perceptions of their up-close encounters with some of the 1,400 young Standardbred foals born in Ontario in 2018.
The program offered categories for both poems and essays, with prizes divided among the top three finishers in each category. The same amounts are donated to the entrant’s school, or library if the student is home schooled. The Youth Literary Derby attracted submissions from 46 Ontario communities. October 6 proved to be a day to remember for the enthusiastic and talented 12-year-old wordsmiths that were introduced to big time horse racing and the people who make it all happen at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Following a tour of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Woodbine Racetrack, where they learned
Tom Rankin, pictured with the winners of the 2018 Youth Literary Derby
of the 250-year history of the sport and racing’s greats that are enthroned there, the students posed for photos with some of Canada’s outstanding female riders. One of the highlights of the afternoon included time with Hall of Famer Sandy Hawley, who gave each of the four winners – each of which are female – personal instructions on how to correctly ride a horse. This was done on an equicisor in the jockeys’ room. The quartet also spent meaningful time with the announcer, with the stewards, and viewed the horses up close and personal in Woodbine’s paddock. The evening festivities for the students got underway in a private suite overlooking the track and paddock at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the four students were introduced to key representatives of the University of Guelph, Standardbred Canada, Ontario Equestrian Federation and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The award presentations, by Rankin, then followed. “The contest is great for education in terms of encouraging literacy and the arts,” Rankin stated. “Giving kids the chance to be creative – and, who knows, there might be a budding poet or writer.” As for the harness racing industry, Rankin believes that the Youth Literary Derby is an ideal way for introducing the sport to a wider audience. The derby award winners received a hefty bonus with free donated tuition for Horse Behaviour and Safety from the University of Guelph. Maria Achilleos, a 12-year-old student at St. John Catholic French Immersion School in London, Ont., carried off first prize in the Poetry Category. Twelveyear-old Kyla Civiero, a grade seven student at Our Lady of Mount Pleasant in Carlisle, Ont., earned second prize, and Marilyn Schmidt, a 12-year-old student at the Amish Parochial School in Elmwood, Ont., took home third prize. First prize in the Essay Category went to Andrew Kuepfer, a 12-year-old student that attends the Amish Parochial School in Elmwood, Ont. Avery Kirkpatrick, an 11-year-old student at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Bowmanville, Ont., took home second prize, while Allie Kucman, a student at the Peace
Bridge Public School in Fort Erie, Ont., walked away with third prize. Both Andrew Kuepfer and Marilyn Schmidt, both award winners from the Amish community, did not attend the festivities. The evening then followed with the fourth race named in their honour; interviews aired on the in-house television broadcast; visits to the announcer’s booth and judges’ stand, and cheering for their designated choices down close to the finish line. Unfortunately, the students could not visit the horses and drivers in the paddock itself, as youth under 16 years of age are not permitted in the paddock at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Young Avery Kirkpatrick, who was the runner up in the Essay Category, summed up her thoughts on a day she will long remember. “I went to the races and met so many wonderful people who will inspire me for the rest of my life. Learning so much history of Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing was so much fun thanks to Ms. Rainey and the Hall of Fame. “Spending time behind the scenes with female jockeys and Sandy Hawley, hanging out with Robert Geller and seeing the horses was absolutely phenomenal. Meeting people who love and care about this industry was special. This was an opportunity of a lifetime to share my passion of horses and writing with other kids of my age.” “My favourite part of the day was watching the Standardbred racing at Mohawk and taking a picture with the winner,” said Kyla Civiero. •
Fair Week
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by Riley Ruelle
o start off, my name is Riley and I have a 19 year old OTTSTB named Jett. I’m 17 years old and I’ve been riding horses for about 11 years. Jett and I have been a team for about 2 years and recently we had our second fair together. This year however we tried Versatility for the first time. Versatility is a class that challenges the rider and horse in both disciplines. So this year for versatility class, the classes consisted of (in order) jumping, equitation, western horsemanship, barrel racing, and trail. In between the two disciplines we had 4 minutes to change our tack. So this was a long class. It took about two hours.
close enough and she was jumpy and a little upset so I calmly talked to her. I ended up dropping the rope to the gate because I knew she was upset and we just went on about our pattern. She did really well on the 360, but got nervous and started to step on the poles in the small square. I just kept talking to her and telling her it was okay and she calmed down a bit. After that came the L. She backed the
first part good then stepped out of the box, so I turned her back around and walked into it again and backed the second part and then turned and walked over the bridge with no issues. I know that’s not a pattern a lot of others would be proud of, but dangit, I couldn’t have been more proud of my girl in that moment. I knew she tried her best and I know that next year we’ll come back and kick some serious butt! We ended up placing 8th which I was pretty happy about considering our versatility run.
As for the rest of the week we got 5th on Monday, which was halter class, out of eight. Wednesday was our big jumping day. We ended up placing 3rd overall in We did okay in our English classes, because well, she’s our division! That was awesome because last year we got an English horse, then came the western classes. Let me 4th overall. Then in the Medals we got 2nd place! The tell ya. That was quite interesting. She reared up on me last class we did on Wednesday was jumpers and that’s in the horsemanship class and we ended up leaving the the class I was looking forward to the most. arena for the western flat class. It turned out that her western bridle was too tight, which was 100% my fault. We ended up winning Grand Champion in the Advanced Jumper class with the times of 45.68 and 18.08! Once we figured out the problem it was already too late However, in the jump off round she stumbled and aland they had moved onto the gaming class, which Jett most face planted. My Mom almost had a heart attack, and I had looked forward to doing the most. We ended but Jett’s pretty good at recovering. The trophy we won up with a really good run and got 3rd place in that part! meant a lot to me because it’s called the “Bob Egan Trophy.” I started out at Egan Farms so that was really The final class was trail and Jett and I have never really cool! On Friday we ended up with a 1st in our Dressage worked on trail so I knew this was going to be a wee bit Equitation Class and a 5th in our pattern. I’d say that of a mess, but I didn’t care. We walked in and started at we had a great fair week and I was so proud of my girl. the gate. The first part was good but she wouldn’t scoot •
Double Agent Trail Champion The Painted Pony Over Fences Champion
Crimson Jiffy English Dressage Champion Hugo Games Champion
Double Agent Reserve Driving Champion
Double A Victory Reserve Lead Line Champion
Colourful Gourmet Reserve Youth English Champion
Just Jate Western Performance Champion
Iona Success Lead Line Champion
Leonardo da Lindy In Hand Champion- Western
Congratulations!
OTStandardbred Incentive Program Winner
HHYF Announces 2018 Scholarship Recipients
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he Harness Horse Youth Foundation is pleased to announce that Hanna Darrow of Dublin, Ohio and Katie Eick of Farmingdale, New Jersey have been awarded the 2018 Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship and the Sweet Karen Scholarship respectively.
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aples Stable and Ontario Xtreme Cowboy are proud to sponsor the Off Track Standardbred Incentive Program designed to help support the market for Standardbreds at the end of their racing career. The Incentive Program will hopefully encourage people to consider purchasing retired racehorses for participation in Ontario Xtreme Cowboy events. Ontario Xtreme Cowboy is an event that challenges both horse and rider to maneuver through a series of trail and farm-based obstacles demonstrating both horsemanship and speed. At the end of the season, any money earned by the owner of a registered Standardbred participating in the sanctioned events will be matched by the sponsor of the OTStandardbred Program, Waples Stable. Also, a High Point Award for the registered Standardbred competitor earning the highest points will be awarded at the end of the season as well as a Reserve Award winner. Congratulations to the 2018 OXC High Point Standardbred award winners - Tracy Coomber and Hugo, a 16 year-old trotting bred gelding. This is their second time winning the award. •
The $2500 Curt Greene Scholarship honors an individual who has demonstrated a passion for harness racing and strives to achieve great things within the industry. Hanna Darrow, the daughter of J. Robert Darrow and Kelly Darrow, demonstrates that passion with her goal of becoming an equine veterinarian. Hanna is entering her third year at the University of Kentucky where she is pursuing degrees in Pre-Vet and Equine Science and Management. While attending school, Hanna works as a Veterinary Assistant at Woodland Run Equine Veterinary Facility as well as shadowing 1,500 hours with the clinic’s staff of veterinarians. “Knowing his legacy, I am honored to receive the Curt Greene Memorial Scholarship, thank you to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation!” exclaimed Hanna when she heard of her selection. Katie Eick, the daughter of Floyd and Jennifer Eick, has been attending, volunteering and interning at HHYF camps since 2012 which cemented her selection as the 2018 Sweet Karen Scholarship. The $1500 Sweet Karen Scholarship is awarded to students who have attended previous HHYF camps and who look to further harness racing involvement as they move forward with their education. Katie looks to pursue a degree in Equine Science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick where she would ultimately like to become and equine sports and rehabilitation therapist.
“Hanna and Katie exemplify the qualities the committee looks for in the selection process. They are hard-working, dedicated, and intelligent young women and HHYF is delighted to be able to assist them with their academic goals,” said Executive Director Ellen Taylor. The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people's lives since 1976; its programs include interactive learning experiences with racehorses as well as offering scholarships and creating and distributing educational materials relating to harness racing. •
the horse’s temperature,” said TC Lane, USTA Director of Registry and Member Services. “However, that number could then be tied to software that could display pertinent medical records, vaccination records, or even eligibility data.” Microchips will replace freeze brands and lip tattoos as means of Standardbred identification. USTA ID technicians will be trained to implant the microchips for members. During the same visit, they will also collect a DNA sample from the horse for testing. In the proposal approved by the committee, all racehorses would be required to have a microchip implanted by 2021. •
For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.
USTA Registration Committee Approves Microchipping
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--- Columbus, OH he USTA Registration Committee approved a proposal that will require all Standardbreds, starting with foals born in 2019, to be implanted with a microchip for identification during the USTA Board of Directors meeting Sunday (March 11) at the Hilton-Easton. The microchips, which are manufactured by Merck/ HomeAgain, will be implanted in the horse’s nuchal ligament, which is high on the neck between the poll and the withers. When scanned with a special reader, the reader will display a number which will correspond to the horse’s USTA identification number. The reader will also display the horse’s body temperature. “The chips are ‘passive,’ which means that when scanned, they give us the identification number and
The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s Operation Chip
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he Unwanted Horse Coalition's Operation Chip has expanded. Registered 501(c)3 rescues can now apply for up to 20 free microchips and registrations for the horses in their care. Additionally, you can receive a scanner for only $25. Apply for the chips/registrations and scanners at this link: http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-Operation-Chip-Application.pdf •
(Photo Credits: Geri Schwarz ) The start of the racing under saddle final at Monticello Raceway.
Rider Has Experience Riding In France
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by Michelle Miller
taying flat was the main strategy for the win- Hall (PP1) was third crossing the finish in 2:07.1. The ning rider of the 2018 RUS New York Fair winner set the following fractions (30.3 1:01.3 1:32.1 Series Final. 2:02.4) and had total command of the race.
Not only was that goal met, but Sophie Engerran and her horse Funny Photo took the lead and stayed there until the very end- winning by 18 lengths. The duo’s winning time of 2:02.4 surpassed a 2:05.4 racing under saddle track record at Monticello Raceway previously held by Glorious Winner.
Engerran, who began racing under saddle in France in 2004 had 10 year’s experience under her belt before coming to live in the United States.
“I was an amateur rider over there,” she said. “The largest field of horses I’ve ridden with is 20. The average race usually had about 14 total. It was a lot different “I let him go his own speed and he raced very well, I am racing there compared to here. I had to slow down and very happy with him,” said Engerran after the race. not go full speed the entire time because of the lengths and different styles of races.” A full field of seven stepped on the track to compete in what marked the fifth year of the series. This was the Owner and trainer of Funny Photo, Engerran recentlargest entry in recent history. ly relocated to New York from Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. Although she lives closer The final was held in conjunction with the New York to Saratoga, she keeps Funny Photo at Vernon Downs County Fair Harness Racing Finals September 6. Va- and races there because he performs better on the larger nessa Karlewicz and Flowing James (PP3) went into track. She said it is a tricky balance keeping up with the race undefeated at the fairs and finished second in racing Funny in harness and getting to under saddle a time of 2:06.2. Cathy Carpenter Gearwar's Armbro events.
muscle. He really seemed to enjoy that.” Engerran went back to her home country last year so did not participate in the fair series. However, she said she was excited for her and Funny Photo to be back and able to compete. “We really need more consistent racing under saddle events to be truly successful,” she said. The RUS fair series, which included eight races at seven fairs across the state, is sponsored by the New York (Photo Credits: Geri Schwarz ) Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo Sire Stakes and Agricultural and New York Breeding Development “I believe my work with him under saddle has improved Fund via a $5,000 grant. Monticello Raceway and The him in the bike,” Engerran said. “I have been working Monticello Harness Horseman’s Association donated for the last few months with him to not pull as hard and $2,500 towards the $3,500 final purse. get around the turns smoother. The work seemed to pay off because we have raced here in Monticello before and Event organizer Michelle Miller, who also raced and placed fourth, said she was proud of all the girls who were not able to stay flat in the turns.” participated throughout the year. This was not the first record the pair have broken. In 2015, Engerran piloted Funny Photo for trainer Andy “It consists of a lot of traveling, hard work and dediGardner and co-owners Mo Coo Inc. and Jonathan cation,” she said. “It takes a lot of planning and hard Klee Racing to a North American seven-eighths-mile work to pull the event off each year. It is great seeing the interest of fans and watching the quality of the ridtrack standard of 1:59.0. ers continue to improve. We have been very fortunate It wasn’t much before this the dynamic team was in- to have partnered with Monticello Raceway who have troduced. According to Engerran, she got on and broke been extremely gracious to our event since its incepthe chestnut to ride about a half hour before placing tion.” him into a qualifier. Racing could not continue without the generosity of “I was eventually asked if I would be interested in pur- sponsors because RUS is yet to become a wagering or chasing Funny. I really liked him and he was good un- self sufficient event. To see all all sponsors or learn more about RUS visit RUS New York's website, rus-newyork. der saddle so I said yes,” she said. com.The High Point Rider Award was presented to VaThe next step was taking Funny Photo to Canada where nessa Karlewicz for earning the most points throughout there is wagering races offered. However, Engerran said the series. This year’s prize was donated by Carharts this was not a smart decision as he did not like it there Harness Shop and the Feed and Pet Supply in Vernon NY. • and the track surfaces were not meant for him. “He did very poorly there” explained Engerran. “So we brought him home and started over. We stopped racing him all together for a while to focus on his well being. He was being used for jumping and dressage to gain
Britany Parsons and Tonibow Bring Home the Ribbons
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ritany Parsons and Tonibow began their partnership two years ago. Britany was 15 and inexperienced with Standardbreds and Tonibow was a 6 year old who was just started under saddle. They worked hard the last two years. They compete in speed pacing classes as well as pleasure classes.
They won Grand Champion Bareback, Pacing and Gymkahna horse at the 2018 Jackson County Jr Fair as well as overall English High Point Champion. The pair showed at the 2018 WV State Show in Danville, West Virginia and won Reserve Champion in mares and geldings speed pacing (against 6 adults) and Reserve in juvenile speed pacing. They were also Grand Champion High Point Amateur speed pacing horse and rider in 2017 for the Jackson County Horse Club. Britany is an active member of FFA which she shows Tonibow in at the fair. She won Reserve Grand Champion at the West Virginia State show in mares and geldings pacing as well as juvenile pacing. •
Midwest Distance Driving Association 2018 End of Year Standings
Midwest Distance Driving Association is the sanctioning organization for competitive distance driving in the Upper Midwest, United States. Distance driving is a fun and informal veterinarian-supervised test of equine (horse, pony, mini, mule, zebra...) and driver over a natural trail. Events range from 6 to 25 miles. The goal is to complete the course in the allotted time with the least wear and tear on your horse. Horses must complete a vet check (right photo) are scored for parameters such as pulse, respiration, soreness, and fatigue. Drivers can drive together, as demonstated by Alice and Ray Huber in the photo below, or independently on the trail. •
Photos provided by Alice Hubert
I Wasn’t Looking for Him
by Amy Allmond
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hen I applied to different agencies to adopt a Standardbred, New Vocations being one of them, I had a certain look, personality and athleticism that I was hoping to find. My goal was to try my hand at Cross Country and perhaps a little Dressage. After almost a year when my application was about to expire, I found my guy. Now I'll admit I saw Cheyenne Sportsman 5H581 earlier in the year but since I was looking for a trotter and he was a pacer, I passed him up, didn't give him a second look but for some reason when he flashed across the computer screen again several months later I said, “OMG, look at this guy, he is handsome.” So when I looked up his details, again showing him as a pacer, I reluctanting watched his video and thought, this guy has potential, I looked at his bloodlines and that's what sealed the deal....own son of Somebeachsomewhere...woo hoo, I couldn't contact them fast enough to say, I want him.
Anyways, snap out of it dear. Ok so I'm walking about, taking pictures (another weakness of mine), hearing all the wonderful things about these gallant animals. “So what are you looking for”? someone asks. “Oh well actually as far as size and looks, something along the lines of Somebeachsomewhere”. I believe I heard, “yeah, good luck” or “sorry I don't have any that we're willing to part with”. You see Somebeachsomewhere had been tearing up the track setting records and to top it off he was a successful sire to producing the same. I sorta knew he was 'something' but honestly I didn't realize how big and I just remember falling in love with his looks.
To gaze upon something so magnificent, to be privileged enough to lay a hand upon his glossy coat I was not but I had admired him from a distance through social media. Unfortunately I will never get the chance to meet him since he died earlier this year at the age of 13 due to cancer. I was heartbroken, and when I had heard the news, I immediately burst into tears and never cried Let me back up a little, during the past year I not only so hard over a horse I had never met but I guess I felt was shopping online but also driving to harness training a part of him through his son who I now own. I will tracks throughout the state of Florida meeting trainers, treasure him even more knowing he's a part of one of grooms and owners trying to find my prospect. I would the greats. • walk the shed rows admiring all the shiny bays and well groomed colts and fillies, “ooh aren't you beautiful.”
The except was when he was in the field and something would catch his attention: like the mailman, neighbor walking down the street or me on the mower...he would always go over and investigate. One time when we had the boys turned loose in the yard, my husband had cut a giant limb from an oak tree and every time we hooked up the chain to drag a piece to the back, here he comes over to investigate. I said to him,�who do you think you are, the Boss Man?� and there you have it, Sporty became Boss Man. Throughout his training, once he had something figured out, he would anticipate the next move, so I had to keep things interesting and always change things up. That's ok because I get bored also doing the same thing over and over.
Now to get to Cheyenne Sportsman, he was a 7 year old pacer off the track with a mediocre race record, regardless of his breeding. I didn't get the chance to ride or spend any time with him before purchase since he was in Ohio and I was in Florida. I bought him with my debit card basically sight unseen other then a video. I found out later that he had been adopted out before but was brought back since he was too much to handle... huh anybody that knows me can say that I love a challenge. So the bonding process begins...hmm, he was not an easy horse to get to know. He was rather standoffish, didn't care to be scratched and even hated my dog to the point of chasing him. Luckily my Australian Shepherd was quick to notice. I allowed him to just hang out with my other horse, a 25 yr old Quarter Horse named Cutter. Cutter wasn't too thrilled either since Sporty, as New Vocations called Cheyenee Sportsman, proceeded to push him around but luckily not too aggressive. Once I had settled on a diet that brought his weight and topline up, then I started to work him on the ground. Still at this point in time he hadn't shown me too much personality.
I have found that we love going to the woods and galloping the hills. There are constant turns and even an occasional log to jump. Oh, what a thrill, my husband even bought me a GoPro for Christmas so I could record our adventures. Since we are in a state forest there are also hiking and biking trails that cross over and he doesn't even bat an eyelash at anybody who suddenly shows up. We have done some cross country schooling on some beautiful courses and he takes to it all like a trooper. I really think with his hard driven personality and work ethics I have found the right match for me. My husband constantly mentions how we are so much alike, neither one of us like to stand still. With the fun comes the importance of proper horsemanship and making sure we are understanding each other under saddle. We have come a long way together thanks to my trainer and friend, Eddie Piloto, who is a reined cow horse trainer...what! How does that work... hey basics are basics and besides my guy has a pretty decent stop on him...ha ha. So with the collaboration of backgrounds coming together, I find that our future in whatever we do will be fun and successful. Everyone should have the privilege to ride a Standardbred. • Photo on far left: Cross country schooling at Three Lakes Horse Trials in Groveland, FL March 10, 2018. Photo on left: Boss Man at Brook Hollow Sports Horses
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G y m m ! u e A R Tim
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hen Alexys Daniels was asked to lead a local parade at the last minute she knew exactly the horse to call upon - Rummy.
Rummy came to live with Julie Allison near The Meadows Racetrack in 2016. He had a successful racing career and his race owners had tried to do right by him. When unfortunate circumstances resulted in Rummy being homeless Julie opened up a pasture for him. He primarily hangs out there, acting as a babysitter for other horses. A few times a year someone at the barn pulls him out and rides him, most often Alexys Daniels. Despite not having been ridden much this year, Rummy found himself in a familiar positon -- in the lead. Of course, this time it was leading a parade instead of leading the field. •
STANDARDBRED HORSE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA 2017 - 2018 NATIONAL HIGH POINT COMPETITION - RESULTS Champion Led Stallion - Senior Section Judy Frisby & Im Blue Double Dee Champion Led Gelding - Senior Section Claire Chandler & Altoya Vigilante Champion Led Mare - Senior Section Jamie-Lee Popynick & Clarenden Regal Champion Ridden Gelding - Senior Section Claire Chandler & Altoya Vigilante Champion Ridden Mare - Senior Section Doris Mathis-Kajewsci & Myluckylife Champion Led Gelding - Junior Section Gemma-Mae Stemp & Hezallgemz Champion Ridden Gelding - Junior Section Gemma-Mae Stemp & Hezallgemz 2017 - 2018 Standardbred National Performance Horse - Senior Section Claire Chandler & Altoya Vigilante 2017 - 2018 Standardbred National Performance Horse - Junior Section Gemma-Mae Stemp & Hezallgemz
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