Retired Racehorse Training Project’s 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: Suave Jazz

On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. Fans will have the opportunity to see the horses in person at the Maryland Horse World Expo in January and the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo the following month. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses will be judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability, and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. As the Thoroughbred Challenge unfolds, Sarah Andrew will chronicle the horses’ progress. Please enjoy part 5 of this series.

Suave Jazz 

Representing: Walnut Green Farm 

“The Professor”

Suave Prospect – Cavite Starlet, by Jazzing Around

$24,000 RNA HRA 2005 OBSAPR

70-17-16-12

$651,062

Breeder: Farnsworth Farms (FL)

Owner: New England Stallion Station

It's almost here! On Friday, all four RRTP 100 Day Challenge horses will head to Timonium for the Maryland Horse World Expo. You can click here for directions, schedules, and more information about the Expo, and click here to find out when you can see the RRTP horses.  

Last but certainly not least in my horse profiles is Suave Jazz. In his 70 lifetime starts, Suave Jazz saw a lot. He placed in multiple graded stakes, overcame traffic (click here for video of his win in the Fire Plug S. almost exactly four years ago), and professionally outgamed the field (click here for his last win at Calder) many times. Based on his clean legs and long career, he carries some great genes.

When he arrived at Dodon Farm for training, he was easily the horse with the most experience under saddle. In addition to all the tracks he visited and all the races he ran, think of how many miles he put in during training hours in the morning and how many riders he carried. This is why Steuart was able to take him out with the Marlborough Hunt Club within the first month of training (click here for Week 2's training blog). In addition to his natural intelligence, good nature, and trainability, all the time on the track exposed Suave Jazz to quite a bit, so he handles strange surroundings quite well. The Professor is wise beyond his years.

Both in the video (click here) and Training Blog (click here) for his first day of training, it is apparent that the goal for a horse like Suave Jazz is to loosen his topline and help him learn to use different muscle groups from his racing muscles. By Week 2 (video), he is already getting the hang of bending exercises and is learning how to balance himself as a riding horse instead of a racehorse. It will take many hours of stretching and suppling to loosen his back and help him find his "new" trot and canter, but he is well on his way. By Day 30 (video), there is more improvement in his gaits, and his work over little fences is off to a nice start.

Over fences, Suave Jazz is willing, clever, and handy. His jump is flatter and not quite as extravagant as the jumps of his classmates Declan's Moon and Alluring Punch, but he has a tidy front end and loads of power in the hind end, indicating that his athletic potential is great. The quality flatwork schooling that he is receiving from Steuart and Michelle will not only improve his way of going on the flat, but will also encourage him to round and bascule over jumps.

One of my favorite things about the selection of horses in this year's challenge is how varied the horses' careers were at the track. The horses all had different campaigns, as well as varying amounts of time off the track. For people who (like myself) who own Thoroughbreds, they can probably see a little of their own horses in each of the 100 Day Challenge horses.

I'm looking forward to seeing the whole gang again at the Expo: The Natural, The Overachiever, The Kid, and The Professor.  

Retired Racehorse Training Project’s 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: Gunport

On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. Fans will have the opportunity to see the horses in person at the Maryland Horse World Expo in January and the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo the following month. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses will be judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability, and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. As the Thoroughbred Challenge unfolds, Sarah Andrew will chronicle the horses’ progress. Please enjoy part 3 of this series.

Gunport 

 RRTP's 100 Day TB Challenge Participant

“The Perfectionist”

2009 filly

Mizzen Mast – Directive, by Deputy Minister

1-0-0-0

$99

Breeder: Sagamore Farm (MD)

Owner: Sagamore Farm

On June 3, 2012, Gunport made her racing debut at Colonial Downs (click here to watch video). The comment on the race chart describes her performance in one word: "outrun." With this effort, she made it clear that she was not competitive as a racehorse. Her connections at Sagamore recognized the filly's balance and athleticism, and she joined the RRTP team and is now one of the 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge's fantastic four.

Gunport is 16.1 hands, with a short, strong topline, long legs, refined build, and a beautifully-set neck; she is an athlete from every angle. In her 14-day training video, RRTP President Steuart Pittman remarked,"I'm sure Sagamore is not interested in breeding for the show ring, and would rather have had this horse win some races, but they should still be commended. Somebody's got a good eye to create a horse like this, and it reminds us that breeding a racehorse isn't all that different from breeding a sporthorse."

During the first stages of her off-track training, a horse like Gunport is best handled by an experienced trainer like Dodon Farm's Michelle Warro. Of the four horses in the 100 Day Challenge, Gunport has the fewest hours under saddle, and she is also a sensitive ride.  In her first training video (click here to view), she handled the new environment and the new rider willingly but nervously. In the first few minutes of her two-week training video (click here to view), she was on her toes while she settled into a trot. An unskilled rider might be tempted to micromanage a horse like Gunport, but if she feels restricted, she gets quite tense. Michelle keeps her moving, does not fuss with her face, and expertly guides the mare into a nice rhythm at the walk, trot, and canter.

As they work through the gaits during their training sessions, rhythm is key. If the mare goes behind the vertical or becomes unbalanced, she centers herself through the help of her rider. When she relaxes, she stretches long and low, which in turn unlocks her back muscles. If Gunport rushes, Michelle settles her with leg and seat and she regains her tempo. The filly has all the physical ingredients to be a quality performance horse, and these ingredients are skillfully fine-tuned by her rider.  

Truffling. Purring. Chuffing. High blowing. The Thoroughbred Trumpet. That heavenly rhythmic snort that enthusiastic horses make with each canter stride. It's the sound Thoroughbreds make when they are out on the track in the morning, and it's also the sound they make during a bright canter or around a course of jumps. Whatever you call it, Gunport does it during all her canter work. Once she understands her task, she becomes bright and eager to attack it, merrily truffling the entire time.

Gunport's work ethic is outstanding. In the capable hands of her trainer (click here for her 30-day video), her nervous energy quickly turns into verve, and she becomes a game, willing partner. Around the cross country course during our January photo session, Gunport cantered brightly, waiting for Michelle's next cue. As the approached little logs, she handled them neatly and with great style, like the A-plus student that she is.

In week four, Gunport suffered a little setback when she sustained a swollen hock (click here for training update). She is out of training until she is fully healed, and my fingers are crossed that we will hear more about this promising perfectionist very soon.

- Sarah Andrew 

Retired Racehorse Training Project’s 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: Steuart Pittman

Pittman and Alluring Punch

   As a horse owner, a TDN staffer, and an advocate for horses in need, I follow the story of America’s Thoroughbreds in all disciplines with great interest. With all of the debate and negative media that we face each day, it is a delight to meet people who have original ideas and are out there making a positive difference in the horse world; Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) President Steuart Pittman is one of those people. From his tireless promotion of the retired Thoroughbred racehorse as a sporthorse, to the hours he spends in the saddle expertly putting a foundation on greenies, to the positive impact he’s making on the racing world, Pittman walks the walk.

   The mission of the RRTP is to increase demand for retired Thoroughbred racehorses as pleasure and sporthorses through public events, clinics, training publications, videos and internet tools. On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses will be judged by guest riders, judges, and online fans. Please enjoy part 2 of my series about the 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge, an interview with Steuart Pittman.

Pittman (left) aboard Alluring Punch and assistant trainer Michelle Warro (right) aboard Suave Jazz

TDN: You had a very busy 2012. What are some of the things that RRTP has done since last year's Trainer Challenge?

   Pittman: We had a Thoroughbreds For All Kentucky event in collaboration with New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program during the Rolex CCI**** in April. Bruce Davidson and Chris McCarron were the top attractions. We also held the Thoroughbreds For All event at Fair Hill, combining a marketplace of horses with education in collaboration with trainers, vets, exercise riders at Fair Hill Training Center and New Bolton Center. We received our first grants from Thoroughbred Charities of America and Maryland Horse Breeders Foundation. Our website had 310,000 page views, our YouTube Channel had 125,000 views, and we have close to 6,000 Facebook fans. Online databases of Trainers, Sources for Horses, Horse Listings, and Bloodline Brag are growing every month. We’ve been covered some 50 times in racing and equestrian media, as well as TV and print mainstream media.

TDN: What are your goals for the RRTP 100-Day Challenge?

   Pittman: To demonstrate to the public that the Thoroughbred racing industry continues to create outstanding riding horses, and to give equestrians a realistic picture of what it looks like to train and ride Thoroughbreds off the track. We want to continue increasing demand for these horses but also give people the tools that they need to succeed with them.

TDN: How is it different from the 2012 RRTP Trainer Challenge?

   Pittman: The Trainer Challenge focused on the methods used by the trainers. The 100 Day Challenge puts the spotlight on the characteristics and trainability of the horses. It was important for us to have each horse represent a major MD or PA Thoroughbred farm. We want the public to associate these great horses with the farms that produced them. Each of these horses has an amazing background that tells a story about an industry that is incredibly valuable to our states.

   The other difference is that all four horses are in one location being trained by the same staff. That allows the public to see just how unique each horse is, even when given the same opportunities. People stereotype ex-racehorses, but the four in this Challenge remind us how each horse is an individual.

RRTP's newest stars- from left: Suave Jazz, Gunport, Alluring Punch

TDN: What kind of feedback have you received from the racing world and from the sporthorse world about RRTP?

   Pittman: RRTP does not tell racing people what they should do about their retiring horses. It tells equestrians that they should get over the obsession with warmbloods and rediscover Thoroughbreds who have raced. That is a message that has to come from sporthorse trainers, but it has been fantastic that the racing industry is starting to recognize the value of this strategy. We have presented our programs as models at national conferences hosted by NTRA, The Jockey Club, and the University of Arizona's Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming. The Maryland racing industry has very generously supported our work and helped launch this organization.

   Within the sporthorse world, we get excellent media coverage and have obviously attracted huge numbers of people who are passionate about Thoroughbreds. These people have lacked an organization to rally around and the enthusiasm has amazed me.

TDN: What can racehorse owners do to help their horses successfully transition into a second career?

   Pittman: I know enough people struggling to make it on the backsides of Maryland tracks that I would never preach to them about what they should do. At the same time, it is pretty obvious that if a horse can be sold directly into a second career for at least a few thousand dollars, the pressure to keep running them when they've lost the desire or the soundness to win is less. Owners and trainers need better access to buyers outside of racing so that they can be rewarded financially for retiring their horses sound.

   In some cases, I believe that investing in some second career training is a wise move for owners. A couple thousand dollars of training often translates into a sale price of $5,000 to $10,000 more than for a horse straight off the track. It's hard to stomach investing money in a horse who has already broken your bank, but if the horse is sound and sane, the payback is often there. Make sure that it's a good trainer. Try the RRTP Trainer Directory.

   The best of the nonprofit placement organizations are excellent. You can donate the horse for a tax write-off and some of them have access to trainers who can give the horse the help it needs. To some degree these organizations have stepped in where "horse dealers" walked away from Thoroughbreds. There are, however, still thousands of people who buy, train, and sell horses off the track effectively who are independent of any organization. Accessing them is the problem.

Pittman at the PA Horse World Expo in 2012

TDN:  What can we expect in 2013 from RRTP?

   Pittman: We expect to bring our Thoroughbreds For All events to some racetracks. They combine education with a marketplace of retiring horses in a way that can benefit horsemen and create goodwill for the tracks. We also expect to announce a new version of the Trainer Challenge that allows for a much larger number of horses and trainers to participate. And finally, we expect to appear at more of the major horse expos in 2013, starting with the Delaware Horse Expo April 6 and 7.

TDN: Have you noticed any recent trends in Thoroughbred sporthorse pedigrees/breeding?

   Pittman: I used to believe that the industry was breeding fewer big-moving, sound sporthorse types than in the past. I thought that the decline in distances and the pressure to breed two year old winners was shifting the product to smaller, quicker horses who would be less successful for jumping and dressage. I have changed my mind. I keep seeing horses coming off the tracks that I wish I could say I bred for sport. Declan's Moon proves the point. He was the champion of his time and if I were looking for a sporthorse sire to replace my Salutely son, I would clone him.

- Sarah Andrew  

Click here to read Part 1: Declan's Moon

Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge: Day Two

- Sarah Andrew

You can read about Day One on the TDN Blog (click here).

Day Two of the Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge at last weekend’s Maryland Horse World Expo drew a much larger crowd than the first day. Three Thoroughbreds were led, tacked up, into the brightly lit Cow Palace Arena. Four X The Trouble regarded the bleachers, food stands, sound system, and running children carefully with a cocked head and bright eyes.

For the benefit of the folks who were not able to attend Friday’s evaluation and introduction to the Retired Racehorse Training Program (RRTP) and the Trainer Challenge, president Steuart Pittman went over the rules and introduced the participating trainers and horses.

Noticeably absent from Saturday’s activities was High Level, the versatile chestnut chosen by trainer Tiffany Catledge. Steuart Pittman announced that High Level had developed a stone bruise. While he healed, Catledge would work with the alternate, Solidify, the tall dark bay gelding from MidAtlantic Horse Rescue.

In order to maintain an authentic training experience, none of the horses in the Challenge were allowed to be ridden since they retired from the track. With the exception of one brief under-saddle evaluation to check for physical issues, these horses had been turned out since their retirement.

At the Expo, Pittman explained, “I told [the trainers] they could sleep in the stalls with the horses if they wanted to, to bond with them, but they couldn’t get on them. Tiffany asked, ‘Can we just get on them once just to make sure it’s OK?’ and I said, ‘No, I want this to be as real as possible.’ ”

And real it was. Eric Dierks was in the saddle on the dapple grey mare, Brazilian Wedding, before Pittman completed his introduction. Bitted in a loose-ring snaffle with no martingale and wearing brushing boots on her legs, the mare walked around the ring in both directions, with one ear on her rider and one ear on the crowd.

Tiffany Catledge let Solidify feel the weight of a rider by standing in the left stirrup and leaning on the saddle before she swung her right leg over his back. True to his Fonzie-esque attitude, the 6-year-old gelding was just as cool on Saturday as he was on Friday. Catledge settled lightly into the saddle and walked on. Solidify was fitted with a D-ring snaffle, brushing boots, training yoke (minus the martingale attachment), and a smart-looking bridle, generously donated by the folks at Five Star Tack.

Once Kerry Blackmer gently mounted up, Four X The Trouble prowled the arena, neck still turned toward the crowd. He sported a baucher bit, polo wraps, and a simple breastplate. Blackmer allowed him to check out his surroundings while she maintained soft contact on the reins.

The riders asked their horses to trot, and the horses responded with sensitivity and intelligence. Brazilian Wedding was the first to relax into a soft, huntery trot. While she was understandably tense through the back and neck, her responsiveness and trust in her rider was impressive. With training and suppling exercises, her gaits will only get better.

Four X The Trouble seemed to improve with work. Once he was given a task, he looked less at the crowd and focused more on his rider. Solidify was tense at the beginning of his trot work, but he lengthened his stride and relaxed his topline a bit after a short amount of time.

The arena was small, less than 60’ x 120’. Pittman upped the ante when he asked the trainers to canter their horses. One by one, each horse cantered around the arena. The stereotype that an ex-racehorse is unable to pick up both leads was put to rest by all three of these versatile equine athletes, who each picked up left and right leads on the first attempt.

My favorite part of the session was seeing the grins of the riders and the crowd. With each challenge, the riders beamed at their game horses. The skill and talent of these riders was inspiring. Each rider struck a delicate balance with hand and leg. Some of the horses were more comfortable with a little more rein contact and leg, and some were happier with less. Blackmer’s balance in the saddle helped her with Four X The Trouble’s canter. She sat in a half seat, heels flexed, and maintained contact with his mouth for guidance. Catledge used a little more leg on Solidify and let him have a little slack in the rein. Brazilian Wedding struck up a nice rhythm with her canter as Dierks grinned from ear to ear.

The session was a tremendous success for all the horses and trainers. The riders dismounted, gave their horses pats on the necks, and walked them in hand for a few minutes as the judges asked questions about their rides. Trainers, owners, judges, and spectators were all delighted, and I for one can’t wait to see the progress these horses will have made in five weeks.

Want to get involved? Join in the fun.

•  Visit the Retired Racehorse Training Project website.

• Watch videos of the horses.

• Add your Thoroughbred’s pedigree to the Bloodline Brag.

• “Like” the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s Facebook page.

• Attend the PA Horse World Expo.

Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge: Day One

- Sarah Andrew

"Is he sober?"

Amidst the hurry and scurry of the Maryland Horse World Expo, a big-boned, dark bay gelding stood quietly while he was groomed, politely flicking his ears forward when people opened his stall door.

Beverly Strauss, co-founder and Executive Director of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, looked up from her grooming, and seemed surprised before she smiled and replied, "All he gets is hay and water."

Solidify

The 6-year-old gelding who was standing so quietly that an onlooker asked if he was tranquilized is named Solidify (Alajwad--Kali Dearest, by Dearest Doctor) and he is one of the four horses taking part in the Retired Racehorse Training Project Trainer Challenge. In December 2011, Solidify finished second in a claiming event at Finger Lakes, his 16th start of the year, and his 43rd lifetime start. After retiring from the track, he had a few weeks of downtime, and in January 2012, he was at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, charming everyone he met with his friendly face and cool demeanor.

Solidify and Bev Strauss

The Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) is a 501(c)3 charity. President Steuart Pittman, a three-day event rider, clinician, and trainer, is actively involved in expanding the market for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Pittman is based at Dodon Farm in Davidsonville, MD, and travels the country teaching clinics, including 2009's successful Retired Racehorse Training Symposium.

Trainers participating in the RRTP Trainer Challenge will select a recently retired Thoroughbred, ride the horse for five weeks, and present the horse for judging at February's Pennsylvania Horse World Expo. Judges will be evaluating the work of the trainers and the preparation of the horses. At the end of the Challenge, the horses will be offered for sale (or adoption). As a lifelong rider and Thoroughbred enthusiast, I leapt at the opportunity to cover the event. I hear many misconceptions about the breed and the industries from both the sporthorse world and the racing world, and I was eager to watch these professionals tackle the challenges that people face when they work with horses off the track.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the RRTP Trainer Challenge officially began. Three trainers were selected to participate in the challenge: Kerry Blackmer of Frederick, MD; Tiffany Catledge of Middleburg, VA; and Eric Dierks of Tryon, NC.

Four horses were available for the three trainers' selections for the Challenge, with one horse as an alternate. The horses were brought from the barns to the Exhibition Hall Arena, where their athletic ability and conformation were assessed by the trainers in front of the Horse Expo crowd. 

Solidify: cool, calm, collected

I saw a little spring in Solidify's step as Bev walked him up the hill to the arena. He looked dapper in his trace clip and his signature blue MidAtlantic Horse Rescue wool cooler. The sight of the rows of trailers and a few horses in the distance changed his laid-back expression to a keen one. He waited outside the Exhibition Hall, gamely standing his ground every time the chain-operated arena door roared open and shut, resting his chin on Bev, and mugging for peppermints. Before the Challenge began, Bev put the finishing touches on Solidify, and led him into the waiting area.

First up for evaluation was Four X The Trouble (Domestic Dispute--Rynot, by Caveat), also known as "Tempest." Four X The Trouble was bred by Robin Coblyn in Clarksburg, MD, with both sporthorse and racehorse careers in mind. Robin carefully evaluates pedigree, because her broodmares perform double duty, producing racehorses one year and sporthorses the next. Tempest lived up to his name during his evaluation, and he was the most spirited of the bunch. His short back gave him power and agility. He displayed his athleticism for the trainers and crowd, while also showing off his good mind as he handled his strange surroundings with style.

Four X The Trouble

Four X The Trouble

It is difficult to imagine what these horses thought about their new surroundings. Although they were accustomed to racetrack life, the sights and smells of the Horse Expo could not possibly have been anything like what they had experienced before. Solidify showcased his adaptable nature and trainability as he trotted around the arena at liberty, calmly responding to his handlers. Steuart Pittman particularly liked his conformation, and remarked that his shoulder and withers made him look like he was built to be quite the jumper. Pittman also remarked that he may be the sleeper of the bunch because he was so laid-back in personality, but the crowd and trainers murmured with approval when Solidify broke into a lofty, powerful canter. The $4,000 claimer had a perfect "10" canter.

Solidify

Brazilian Wedding

 Brazilian Wedding (Milwaukee Brew--Lady In Tails, by Black Tie Affair {Ire}), a 16.1h grey mare, retired off a win, also in December 2011. She came from Three Plain Bays Farm in Conowingo, MD. Like Solidify, she was extremely athletic, but in a different way; she moved more like a hunter, with graceful, sweeping strides. She was bold, feminine, and serene. Her presence and class made her quite the crowd pleaser.

The future is bright for the fourth horse, High Level (Mutakddim--Maria's Crown, by Maria's Mon). Started by trainer and Show Jumping Hall of Famer Rodney Jenkins, High Level raced until 2009, when a little heat was felt in his ankles. Owner/breeder Jim Falk of Cornwell Farm gave him time off to prevent an injury, and the ankles never gave the horse any trouble. High Level was ready to either return to the track, become a steeplechaser, or become a show horse. Falk chose to send the muscular chestnut to the Trainer Challenge, and he looked balanced and game on Friday.

High Level

To the trainers participating in the Challenge, the big picture was key. I noticed them paying particular attention to the overall look and way of going of each horse, and performing less specific evaluations of individual parts of the horses. Size of the horse was important, and Eric Dierks went for a taller horse to match his own height; Brazilian Wedding was his pick.

Dierks and Brazilian Wedding

Eric was first to pick a horse because he was the first to answer a trivia question correctly. This was his question: "Hall of Fame show jumper Idle Dice (‘Jonlyle’ to The Jockey Club) ran at Charles Town before Rodney Jenkins made him the top show jumper of his era. How old was he when he won his last Grand Prix?" The answer is 21.

Dierks (left), Catledge (center), Blackmer (right)

Tiffany Catledge chose next, and selected the versatile High Level. Kerry Blackmer chose Four X The Trouble, and said that his personality and size were major contributors to her choice. Steuart Pittman could not have been happier. He loved the scope (and withers!) of Solidify, and he was looking forward to working with the "sleeper" from MidAtlantic Horse Rescue for five weeks while the other trainers worked with their selected horses.

Solidify the "sleeper"

The enthusiasm for this project is infectious. I heard excitement in the voices of the owners/breeders in the videos on the RRTP website, the comments of the fans, and when I spoke with Steuart Pittman and Beverly Strauss. The horses are stunning athletes, and they are truly showcasing the athleticism, trainability, and adaptability of the breed. This project shows a lot of promise both for racehorse owners and for people who are learning how to train racehorses for their second careers. The Maryland Horse Breeders Association is a sponsor of the Retired Racehorse Training Project, and I hope to see many more individuals and organizations from the racing world support this effort as well.

You can read my account of Day Two of the Trainer Challenge in Thursday's TDN. Visit the Retired Racehorse Training Project's website for videos, trainer blogs, and the latest news: www.retiredracehorsetraining.org