Breeder's Cup, Ravishly, Deborah Jones

Exceller & Willie Shoemaker

Today is the biggest Day in Horse Racing..The 29th Breeders Cup at Santa Anita Park in California…it is running as I write.

Broadcast around the world, millions of viewers tune in to watch the worlds top thoroughbreds vie for million dollar prizes.

I too am tuned in, but not with anywhere near the naivety or enthusiasm  I once had for horse racing ...

Watching the Kentucky Derby -- the first leg of the triple crown -- 41 years ago ... I fell head over heels in love with the sport of kings as I watched a little brown horse from South America charge to victory in the 1971 Run For The Roses.

CANONERO II

Some years later I had the joy of meeting the my TV idol  Canonero II face-to-face at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, KY. During that visit I also met John Gaines, the visionary behind the Breeders’ Cup we see today.

My family owned shares in stallions at Gainesway including my personal favorite, the late great EXCELLER -- a victor in major stakes over the Santa Anita Course with Willie Shoemaker in the irons. Later in his life a casualty of slaughter.

Repeat visits to Gainesway and the surrounding iconic farms solidified my resolve to spend my life with thoroughbreds. I thought the career of a trainer or veterinarian to be noble pursuits….both front line caregivers..to the most beautiful creature on earth. 

Seeing thoroughbreds living at glorious bluegrass farms impressed me as to how well horses were treated…, and why wouldn't they be? Look at the amazing lifestyle they afforded their owners. I was young, naive, and quite impressionable.

What I didn't know  then… I know now. 

Never in my worst nightmare did I imagine that which I have recently learned people will do to horses. 

In my own zeal to share the "good" about racing – I brought you interviews with top racing people that I really, really believed had the best interest of their horses at heart. In the years since then I have learned, first hand, quite the opposite….and for that my friends, I apologize.

I believe adults should hold themselves accountable for failure.


Owners and trainers willing to sacrifice horse care for the sake of a win, or ship a horse out-of-state to an unknown destiny have contributed to an overwhelming problem in the racing world….the grotesque and inhumane butchering of America’s  thoroughbreds.

Many related in pedigree to the magnificent horses we see gracing our TVs today at the Breeder's Cup.

Whether dying on the track or in a slaughterhouse, the fact of the matter is -- the majority of American thoroughbreds are sent away on long torturous trips over US highways to Mexico and Canada. Terrified in a foreign land their skull is crudely fractured and their sinewy bodies hung  upside down by a hind leg to bleed out. According to USDA inspectors, some are still alive while being cut apart.

Rendering and processing it is not – it is an excruciating, horrific death. The journey begins in the breeding shed and ends at an auction -- ALL on American soil.

In my opinion .. if not acknowledged, addressed and  rectified with real solutions --- this will be the end of horse racing… and so it should be.

Overbreeding is the genesis of this train-wreck, and excessive drugging at the racetrack piles on even more innocent victims. Recently among them, RAVISHLY, a resident NY mare, owned throughout her career by IEAH Stable who purchased her for $75,000 as a two-year-old.

RAVISHLY did all that was asked of her on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. Upon retirement from the IEAH broodmare band, she became a "giveaway". No protection, no PENSION, no follow-up, and compounding the offense .... no names.

RAVISHLY at SARATOGA GLEN FARM

RAVISHLY was butchered the morning after she sold for $50 to a meat packing plant through an auction in Unadilla, NY. The same NY promoting and incentivizing more breeding without an effective and safe retirement plan for its equine participants.

RAVISHLY produced five foals for her owner IEAH. As the breeder, they may collect state-bred awards up to 30% of prizes earned by each offspring. WHAT A NICE RETIREMENT FUND THIS COULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR RAVISHLY.

California-based Deborah Jones revealed the plight of RAVISHLY on her facebook page, "emaciated, and injured from barbed wire, Ravishly was once again wearing a hip tag but this time there was no announcement promoting her bloodlines, progeny, race earnings not even her name....known ONLY as hip # 0715".

Deborah Jones is a first-responder on the front lines in kill pens. She saves dispirited and forgotten horses from the ultimate betrayal. Each of whom were once the apple of someone's eye. Now Deborah is their only hope.

Journalist Joe Drape featured the work of Deborah Jones in Friday's edition of the New York Times. She is a hero to every horse on death row and to those who do truly love thoroughbreds.  

So, on racing's biggest day, as winners celebrate their new found millions and championship honors, I mourn for the hundreds-of-thousands left in their wake. 

May there be a heaven for horses, Susan.

Related Links:

Exceller's Story: http://www.excellerfund.org/

Ravishly: http://www.ieah.com/cgi-bin/photo_gallery2.cgi?gallery=1000006

Ravishly and her foals at Saratoga Glen Farm: http://www.saratogaglenfarm.com/Ravishly.htm

NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/sports/rescuing-racehorses-from-slaughter-as-industry-bides-its-time.html?pagewanted=all

####

“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” —Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965); British Statesman, Prime Minister, Author, Nobel Prize Winner

The values we live by are worth more when we pass them on.

Enjoy every moment my friends -- we are all in this together.
And always remember, Every Horse Is A Blessing,  Susan.

and SNOW it goes...SNOW JOB....36 inches and counting!

Our little hamlet is getting snowed on again. We've had about 4 feet of snow and intermittent electric power. The horses think they are back at a show barn with daily exercise taking place in the indoor arena. We have had 6 beautiful foals so far and 10 to go, thank goodness we are on hiatus this week with all the crazy weather.

And of course, as breeding season begins we've had a flurry of owners and agents trekking through the storm to evaluate our handsome stallion Wild Desert. Friends, why didn't you come when the roads were clear!

To all my partners in Florida....enjoy! What a time it is in Westerlo -- perhaps I should rename this post, the real cost of breeding NY-Breds (LOL)!

From the rooftop ~ Susan.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & BLESSINGS

Get unbridled with a Wild Girl this Holiday Season

Give yourself the best gift -- take 5 minutes and watch

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

What does winning mean in a changing economy and racing industry?

Particularly since the shift in the economy, many interested fans and prospective clients ask me about the risks of owning through a thoroughbred partnership; with the myriad of factors involved, how can you really be sure of any horse? The real answer lies in how sure you are of yourself and your team. The majority of thoroughbreds born into the world have at least the potential to perform on a small scale--but is your partnership smart enough to manage a horse for what he or she is actually able to do well? It is as much of a mistake to believe that mediocre conformation can maintain a long career as it is to believe that a $500,000 price tag on a two- year-old guarantees success. People push or pamper horses everyday based on sometimes inaccurate beliefs about what method of breeding, training, and managing is best. For me, a realistic, long-term approach has always been effective in both assuaging any fears, and counterbalancing any illusions that might distract me from making good decisions. Pictured: Fine Behind - A now happy and pleasantly plump rescue from Paragallo.

Unfortunately, racing has sometimes had a bad reputation for its excesses, corrupt procedures, and inconsideration for the animals it profits from. In regard to this, I actually believe the recession scare has been good for the industry in the long run. Without a financial wake-up call, a lot of necessary restructuring to the management style of thoroughbreds might not have been contemplated for some time. Fair partnership operations, reasonable pricing, responsible breeding and training, solutions for equine retirement and overpopulation, and pragmatic education are all critical issues to be tackled in today's market. The future of the racing industry depends on the confidence we can have in its practices, and therefore, our own.

Over the years, I have formulated my own strategy for thoroughbred ownership based on what I observed to be successful, in the best interest of the horse, and fair for everyone involved. As I have spoken and written about many times and will continue to advocate for, conscientious breeding is the keystone in any champion's career. Big, strong, solid thoroughbreds last over time, are consistent, and make excellent bloodstock. Quality horses come from careful selection, and for me this is best realized in home-breds, rather than at auction or in claiming races. This is not to say that there aren't some great horses through those avenues, but to me, the degree of care is never quite the same as in a horse that has been cultivated to succeed from the womb. Home-breds are also better for the breed as a whole; the ubiquitous nature of auctions and claiming races perpetuate the idea that thoroughbreds are disposable, and that it is acceptable to simply sell to whomever wants to buy. In reality, this is the kind of attitude that weakens bloodlines through constant breeding in the haphazard hope of a profit, and sends many horses that could be adapted to another sport straight to the slaughterhouse. This is also where management comes in--a good manager is educated enough to place a horse where he or she can win, not where the horse will flounder and be considered an unworthy investment. Often the best test of character for a manager is whether or not administrative fees are taken from partners; a quality manager will benefit only when the partnership does, because he or she is confident in the decisions being made.

When comes to the concept of a "win" in ownership, the industry needs a more holistic definition. A win is not the achievement of one race, but the deliberate choices that comprise a long and healthy career. Surrounding yourself with others in your partnership and training stable who are excited about horses, realistic in their expectations, and educated in their actions is also part of accomplishing a win.

It is my personal goal in everything that I do with Unbridled to improve the world for horses and the people who love them, and if anything, uncertain times can be a great motivator to evaluate your own goals in the industry. I would encourage anyone that an investment in an ethical, proven partnership team is a surprisingly rewarding long-term venture to consider--and unlike any other speculation, it will get your heart pounding in a positive way!

Unbridled Joy & Swan Song of Sadness

At 2AM on April 11th , once again, I stood in awe at the wonder of equine life witnessing the instincts of a new foal and the gentle touch of a once ferocious race mare as she welcomed her newborn colt to planet earth. It was a vision of pure joy as our sweet boy stood and nursed gaining strength and coordination with each breath; it was the reward of 11 months of care and sacrafice. His extra long legs required and extra measure of effort with every step; a stride that will serve him well as he turns for home in the Travers --- like his daddy TEN MOST WANTED…..so I dream.

As the dawn of a glorious new day came forth so did the sad news of oppressed thoroughbreds located just 20 minutes from stall in which I had just experienced such joy. Center Brook Farm in Climax, NY had been raided by the State Police and its 177 horses were now in the care and custody of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society.

Like many a viewer, I was horrified by the pictures of very skinny, mangey, muddy horses and simultaneously daunted at knowing the responsibility that would fall upon caretakers in providing for these animals.

Thoroughbreds, more than any other breed, require a lot of feed, it is not unusual for a mare to consume 25 lbs of grain in 24 hours and a full bale of hay -- this alone is $15 per day. In the case of 176 horses it is nearly $2500 per day - $17,500 per week - over $75,000 per month to properly nourish them.

At this point, however this situation came about is irrelevant to its immediate solution, that it is an issue that seriously needs to be addressed in a huge way to see that this scenario does not repeat itself. Right now, the bottom line is these horses, many the relatives of horses that we have all made a living from NEED OUR HELP and they NEED IT FAST. The team at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society (CGHS) is working overtime and single-handedly paying for the food for these horses.

CGHS needs cash donations and the horses is need safe appropriate homes. With all my heart I am asking every reader, fan, partner & friend, every horse lover, and every racing aficionado to please give, every donation makes a difference, in some cases between life and death. Please help the CGHS help the horses -- the same equine that we make a living from and the same equine that bring us joy unmeasured.

Here is the contact info: Call 518-828-6044, extension 101 and speak with Katrina. You can also email cghsuser001@aol.com.

Please include your name and phone number on all telephone and email messages.

More Details: http://www.cghs.org/horses.htm

Donations: http://www.cghs.org/donation.htm

This story has been covered nationwide in mainstream media from USA Today to the NY Daily News, Today Show and extensively in equine publications, local papers and a hot topic on blogs and chat boards.

It is a man's sympathy with all creatures that truly makes him a man. Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man himself will not find peace. Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965, German Born Medical Missionary, Theologian, Musician, and Philosopher

Thoroughbreds are such stuff that dreams are made of…

From winning a local race to conquering Cups around the World, thoroughbreds bring us joy unmeasured and enrich our lives in every way. Breeding and raising horses is an awesome responsibility which bears much planning and forethought. After 8 consecutive nights with my eyes glued to the foaling monitor, I am delighted to finally introduce our beautiful new colt “Clint“. My partner Andrew, who lovingly supports my horse habit, had his eyes on Eastwood in the western classic Unforgiven when nature called.

Clint (pictured below with Andrew) arrived at 10:30PM on March 23, 2009. He is big, healthy, and strong; we are blessed with his presence and look forward to our time with him. As with the birth of each new horse, hope springs eternal. No matter what its breed, each foal comes with a renewal of our own youth and inspires us to dare to dream. Standing stall side as we watch our newborn take its first steps we can here the crowd’s roar as the stretch call plays out, we see the victory and we experience the euphoria that only a horse can bring to our mind; a win at Saratoga, the run for the roses, an entry on the Breeder’s Cup Day, a trophy held high and a bloodline brought forth to influence generations thereafter. Even though we know the odds of a champion thoroughbred are literally about 36,000 to 1 we endure the endless daily chores of raising our horse as if he or she is the “one“.

To many, thoroughbreds are a commodity, worth only what they can win. They are raised in luxury and kept better then most people live until they falter. It is then that too many are discarded in disgust because they weren’t fast enough or weren’t sound enough. Perhaps they should have never been bred in the first place; perhaps they didn’t receive the right nutrition or their parents were poorly matched. Whatever the reason, remember, the horse didn’t ask to come into this world or be placed in the service of racing.

Along with the privilege of breeding thoroughbreds is, or at the very least should be, the very daunting realization of the moral responsibility that comes with bringing a life into this world to ultimately serve human pleasures. In and of itself this obligates those of with a conscience to plan for the care and well-being of this magnificent animal throughout its time with us here on earth; anything short of that is simply unconscionable and represents totally irresponsible breeding.

Horses are not a commodity, they are a precious living breathing gift from God. Whether racing, steeplechasing, show jumping, eventing, pleasure riding, pasturing or performing in any of the myriad of sports in which they are our partner; a horse brings new life and blessings to all involved with it.

Each horse hopes too that each human involved with it is a blessing --

THE HORSE’S PRAYER

To thee, my master, I offer my prayer.Feed me, water and care for me, and when the day’s work is done,provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort.

Always be kind to me.Your voice means as much to me as the reins.Pet me, that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. Do not jerk on the reins, and do not whip me. Never strike, beat or kick me when I do not understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I fail to do of your asking, see if something is wrong with my bridle, saddle or feet.

Do not restrict me that I cannot have free use of my head. If you insist that I wear blinkers, so that I cannot see behind me as it was intended I should, I pray you be careful that the blinkers stand well out from eyes.

Do not overload me, or hitch me where water will drip on me. Keep me well shod. Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may have a bad tooth, and that you know, is very painful. Do not tie my head so I cannot see, or take away my tail: it is my only defense against flies and bugs.

I cannot tell you when I am thirsty, so I pray you will give me clean, cool water often. Save me by all means in your power from fatal disease. I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition. Give me all possible shelter from hot sun, and put a blanket on me when I am standing in the cold. Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands.

I try to carry you without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes stumble on hard ground, please give me safe and sure footing, and keep me properly shod. Remember, I must be ready at any moment to lose my life in your service.

And finally, My Master, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or sell me to some cruel owner only to be slowly tortured and starved to death, but do thou My Master, take my life in the kindest way remembering I gave you my best years. Do this and your God will reward you here and hereafter. Please do not consider me irreverent by asking this in the name of Him who was born in a stable.

~ Author Unknown

A Peek Inside Susan's Scrapbook

Hello Friends, Fans & Partners,
Here is a glimpse into my scrapbook that's on UR new website. Watch for an email this weekend announcing UR new website. In the meantime, enjoy the slideshow!
-Susan.

An Eye for the Future ...

O! to be in Saratoga … This season I had the great pleasure of bringing my horse-crazy neighbor Danielle to the backstretch of Saratoga. It was her first visit. As Danielle snapped pictures of the morning activities my own fond memories of the same brought a smile to my face and tear to my eye; nearly 30 years ago there stood I mesmerized by Seattle Slew. I still marvel at the old Kodak photos recalling the moment as yesterday. Though the Slew is long gone from the green barns, his greatness lives on in his four-legged descendents and in the hearts of those whose eyes he graced. As Danielle and I turned from the track we karmically walked right into the Slew’s trainer Billy Turner.

Danielle is an aspiring equestrian with dreams of becoming a jockey, she is a smart and fearless rider so I have no doubt she will excel with thoroughbreds. As we watched the dance of thoroughbreds in their daily work, Danielle quizzed me on every aspect of galloping racehorses. In doing so, she inspired this blog entry.

I have galloped racehorses since the age of 14 and have had the enormous privilege of sitting atop major stakes winners and working for leading trainers Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher. Riding for Bill and Todd reaffirmed my own conviction that every step and every breathe a racehorse takes in each training session must be designed to specifically serve that individual horse when he or she races. Anything less is wasted time, energy, effort and money.

For a trainer to effectively train a horse, the rider must be skilled enough to feel what that horse is doing and make adjustments while in the irons to ensure balanced strides and keep the horse straight and moving from hind to front. He or she then must be able to articulate the details of the ride back to the trainer. Ideally, the “exercise rider” is an extension of the trainer aboard the horse. Riding racehorses is a finely crafted skill. It comes by some naturally, for others it is honed from years of experience around horses; watching, riding, showing, grooming, training, hot-walking, etc. It is the consistent application of adjustments that emanate from what the trainer sees and the rider feels that are the magical ingredients to everyday progress with a horse.

Horses are intelligent, living, feeling creatures with unique individual personalities. They are curious animals and like to be out and about grazing, playing and watching other horses; this is hard to do 23 hours in a stall and on a track with blinkers! Great trainers, who are real horsemen & women know this, and they make adjusts with each horse to gain optimal performance. These adjustments may include changing surfaces, distance and direction of a morning outing, adding long walks or jogs under tack, working on hills or practicing dressage movements, afternoon grazing, equipment changes, and/or a rider change. Horses really try to communicate with us and if you really watch them and listen they will tell you what they need.

Everything you see in a horse at the track is symptomatic of his or her training regimen. From a lifetime of experience, I can look at a horse and tell you if he or she is being ridden properly, correctly shod and rightly fed. It shows in the horse‘s expression, body language, step, stride, weight, coat and musculature.

In a nutshell, a properly ridden racehorse will have a strong well-muscled back and hip, with definition through the hindquarters and a well-curved large gaskin. These simple indicators demonstrate that the horse is galloping by pushing from his hind end. Inexperienced riders can be seen hauling on a horse’s mouth and letting the horse pull around the track with his or her front legs, as a result, these horses usually have ankle problems and weak hind ends.

A horse that is correctly shod is a blessed animal at the racetrack! Most racetrack shoeing jobs are too fast and too poor, they do not serve in the best interest of the bio-mechanical function of the horse. Those adding toe grabs, trainer or farrier, should simply be ruled off the track. I have strong fact-based opinions on shoeing and I am in full support of a complete ban on toe grabs. Click here to read more on Toe Grabs.

Everything we do with a horse in the morning is all that horse has to draw on at post time. Every step, every breathe critical to crossing the finish line first. Great trainers know this. It is evidenced in their results. In the morning, look at horses walking from the stables of Bill Mott, Nick Zito, Jim Bond, Kenny McPeek and Todd Pletcher; there you will see happy, well-muscled horses, quiet riders, rhythmical strides and glistening coats. There you will develop UR eye for the future …

Email: Susan@UnbridledRacing.com