Introduction

I decided to keep this blog as a diary of my training adventures of my young gelding. It's really just for me to document our progress, but if you enjoy reading it too then that's a bonus! :-) And I welcome comments, suggestions, advice. Thanks.

Alittle information about us:

Me: I have been riding since I was six years old, my dad having owned a racehorse training and breeding farm outside Houston, TX. Horses are a huge part of my life, especially Thoroughbreds (TB). I started riding on a Shetland named Susie, then a lovely reliable former cutting Quarter Horse named Johnny. I learned alot from both and they both took good care of me.

Snapper: I still have my first off-track TB (OTTB), the adorably sweet Snapper (River Rat Ronald - ridiculous name, I know! What *was* my dad thinking?! - a 1983 TB gelding by Umin out of The Madam). He and I have been partners since I was thirteen years old and he was three, but we've know each other all our lives. Snapper was a baby by our stallion and out of our mare, so I have known Snapper since he was born. I have a picture of me at age 10 scratching his nose before he was weaned from his momma! (Makes me feel old!)

Did you bring a treat?

He's now a healthy, somewhat more opinionated (ahem), 28 years old! He's my sweet boy. We experienced alot together (trail riding, hunter/jumper, dressage, Eventing, foxhunting, even a hunter pace) and he taught (and still teaches) me so much. I hope he'll be around until age 30 at least!

General: My second OTTB was General (General Commander - a Louisiana bred 2000 TB gelding by Deputy Commander out of Miss Lion King), a great horse who came into my life in 2007, right when I needed him. Handsome, confident, sweet, always on the "lookout"... He was such a *good* boy. We had so much fun and learning for the three years we were together, until unfortunately I lost him to a badly twisted gut in February 2010. I still miss him often. RIP big guy.

Gen and me schooling at Pine Hill 

Devastated and heartbroken at losing Gen, I took my time looking for another horse. And though I am open to other breeds, I was still drawn to OTTBs. About nine months later, I found Sport through a friend who sent me to Robin P. (a racehorse trainer), whom I also know from my part-time work at Sam Houston Race Park. Sport became mine the end of October.

Sport: A 2004 Texas bred TB gelding by Orbit's Revenge out of Sports Prospector. Sport had been owned by my friend Jim B., who had passed away. Robin was his longtime partner in life and work. Sport only raced five times, never in the money, but then was put out on pasture with all of Jim's other horses for two years due to a "custody battle" of sorts between Robin and Jim's son after Jim's death.  There was a deal of sorts worked out with Jim's son, Robin, the lawyers etc. that the sale of the horse had to be approved by all parties involved, so it took a nerve wracking ten days to find out if I could take Sport home. Luckily, all went well and I took Sport home for the princely sum of $300! (Robin was pricing the horses just high enough to keep them off the truck to Mexico…)

In honor of Jim, when I start to show and event Sport, he will show under the name “JB Sport's Revenge”. I hope to make you proud Jim. :-)

Sport's first full day at his new home