Off Track, into my Heart

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed.  The Thoroughbred as it is known today was developed in 17th and 18th-century England, when native mares were crossbred with imported stallions of Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman breeding. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Thoroughbred breed spread throughout the world and today around 100,000 foals are registered each year worldwide. Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, but are also bred for other riding disciplines such as show jumping, combined training, dressage, polo, and fox hunting. They are also commonly crossbred to create new breeds or to improve existing ones, and have been influential in the creation of the Quarter Horse, Standardbred, Anglo-Arabian, and various warmblood breeds.

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless

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2 years ago today, I met Cas for the first time, completely clueless about the adventure that was about to embark on.

When I met him, he was bug eyed, spooky, uncomfortable and didn’t even have a personality. He was stressed out from being in a fast paced training facility, and being worked way too much in a way he didn’t understand. He was also in a great deal of pain; something he didn’t show symptoms of until the day after the second picture. That picture is the only evidence I have that confirms I’ve ever ridden him. After his KS-surgery, he came home. I was with him every day for weeks, talking to him, grooming him, picking fresh grass for him to nibble on, and I took him for 2 minute walks. Then 5 minute walks. Then 10. Then 20. All the way up to an hour and a half. I was in charge of all of his rehab and training. We grew very close.

Then I got sick and had to stop going to the barn. Cas was just left in the field by his owner, and in January 2017, he was sent back to the same trainer to be re-started under saddle. It did not go well, and his owner decided to have him shipped back home so I could continue working him, now that my illness was under control. After an incident with Cas almost left me with a broken back, his owner called it quits and told me I had two options: I either let her euthanise him, or I had to take him. I chose the latter. From then on, we took things way back to basics and went from there. We’ve worked on desensitising for countless hours, gone on dozens of walks, tried all kinds of training methods and ideas. And we’re still not done.

I can’t ride my own horse. Yet. Cas is deeply traumatised and although he’s improved immensely, we still have a long way to go. But I have faith in us. We’re a team. A family.

Cas might be the most stubborn, headstrong and annoying pain in the ass I’ve ever encountered. But he is also extremely affectionate, kind, goofy and lovable. He’s my best friend and my baby. And I love him with all my heart.

Wearing the same pair of breeches for weeks on end because the others are dirty and you haven’t done laundry

Did you give your horse its grain today or was that yesterday? What day even is it?

All of the poop falls of your pitch-fork. You’re giving up. You’re crying. This is the worst day of your life

Tacking up your horse seems like the most difficult thing to do, do you even need to ride today?

It’s ok if your horse has more time off right?

You’re going nowhere. Your horse deserves better. You won’t ever be succesful you should just sell them.

Me:

thank you for letting me be me, thank you for giving me wings and helping me fly. i can’t help but realise that you saved me before i fell.

Pictures of Scrambled galloping yesterday morning. He is entered in a Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita Park in race 1 on January 7th. He will break from post 11 with Tiago Josue Pereira aboard.