Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wood
photo by Phil West

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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth

Horse for sale - Aly's Alpha Boy at his first hunter pace. March 1, 2008

Aly's Alpha Boy was Elizabeth's moving tri-pod for the day. . . or should we call him a quad-pod?

 

 

 

Stevie Loverboy and Bounced are both former Kentucky bred race horses.

Stevie Loverboy and Bounced are both former Kentucky bred race horses.

 

 

 

Elizabeth and Aly's Alpha Boy. Photo by Andi Krakovsky.

Elizabeth and Aly's Alpha Boy. Photo by Andi Krakovsky.

 

 

 

OTTBs at a hunter pace in Georgia.

Loui galloped Era of Chanago across the big field. It was only her second ride ever on him. We are very proud of how brave Loui is.

 

 

 

 

OTTB - Bounced at the hunter pace.

Bounced and Andi stroll along after a good gallop and some coop jumping.

 

 

 

Ex race horses at a hunter pace.

Era of Chanago and Brew This are old hands at fox hunting and hunter paces.

 

 

 

 

Missy enjoyed the ride on her off-the-track Thoroughbred.

Just six months ago Missy bought her first horse right off-the-track. Stevie Loverboy was the black stallion she dreamed of as a child. She has now realized her dream and has also gelded her stallion Stevie Loverboy. Read Stevie Loverboy's Success Stories to see their journey together. We are extremely proud of how far this pair has come in just six months!

 

 

Era of Chanago and Loui Padgett.

Horse For Sale - Era of Chanago and Loui Padgett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loui loves her horse K O River Crossing.

Loui Padgett loves her horse K O River Crossing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K O River Crossing and Stephanie raced Aly's Alpha Boy across the big field.

K O River Crossing and Stephanie raced Aly's Alpha Boy across the big field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Bone and Barry Zuber relax at lunch after the hunter pace.

Stephanie Bone and Barry Zuber relax at lunch after the hunter pace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Horse For Sale - Baileysontherocks and his new mom Nikki Surrusco.

Former Horse For Sale - Baileysontherocks and his new mom Nikki Surrusco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friend of Bits & Bytes Farm Andi Krakovsky wins a red ribbon - is there another red ribbon in her future????

Friend of Bits & Bytes Farm Andi Krakovsky wins a red ribbon - is there another red ribbon in her future????

training notes from elizabeth

Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > March 1, 2008

Our training notes often show schooling at the farm but may also include cross country schoolings and trail rides away from the farm. Go back through our notes to see how we train our off-the-track Thoroughbreds and prepare them for new careers as sport horses.

Hunter Pace - First Time Away Off-the-Farm!

Saturday morning March 1st has got to be the best day of the year so far! The weather was sunny and warm -- but not too warm -- just perfect for taking some new horses off-the-farm for the first time. We loaded six off-the-track Thoroughbreds from Bits & Bytes Farm and headed to the In Unison Farm Hunter Pace in Kingston, Georgia.

The weather was perfect for a ride through the beautiful countryside of Kingston Downs where the Atlanta Steeplechase is held each April.

The hunter pace ride was through the beautiful countryside of Kingston Downs where the Atlanta Steeplechase is held each April. We did not tell our OTTBs that we were taking them to another race track! Three of the horses thought they were going BACK to the track as they had not been off-the-farm since retiring from racing. They were a little nervous at first but once we got into the woods they realized it was like riding in the woods at home.

K O River Cossing follows Bounced and Stevie Loverboy into the woods.
K O River Crossing with his mom Loui Padgett. It was the first hunter pace for both of them.

The hunter pace took us through the woods and across wide open fields where we galloped.
The hunter pace took us through the woods and across wide open fields where we galloped. Photo by Andi Krakovsky.

Stevie Loverboy and Missy Miller were both first time hunter pacers. Neither rider or horse knew what to expect when we lowered the ramp of our trailer. They both figured it out fast and thoroughly enjoyed themselves the entire day.

Missy Miller and Stevie Loverboy at their first Hunter Pace. March 1, 2008
Missy Miller and Stevie Loverboy at their first Hunter Pace.

Other first time off-the-farm horses included K O River Crossing with his mom Loui Padgett and my ride - Aly's Alpha Boy . When Aly's Alpha Boy saw the trailer his eyes told me he was worried that he was headed back to the track. I reassured him that I would be with him and that we were not going racing. Even though he was worried, he walked into the trailer without trouble and stood quietly while we loaded the other horses.

OTTB - K O River Crossing and Loui Padgett. March 1, 2008
K O River Crossing and Loui Padgett. March 1, 2008

Barry rode his special fox hunter, Brew This. "Brewster" is always steady and dependable which we hoped would reassure the new boys. It helps to have an experienced horse along. I believe they talk to each other and explain what to expect to the new guys.

K O River Crossing was nervous at first and Loui was not sure she was up to handling his silliness. She traded horses a few miles into the ride with Stephanie Bone who was riding Era of Chanago.

Era of Chanago is a bomb-proof horse and former fox hunter.
Era of Chanago with Loui Padgett.

"Chanago" was filling in for Stephanie's horse "Blue". "Blue" decided he wanted to stay at Bits & Bytes Farm for the day and refused to load up. Stephanie Bone is a two time buyer of Bits & Bytes Farm horses. Stephanie purchased our Bargain Barn horse Unanimous last July and later Prospect Horse For Sale - "Blue" in October 2007.

When "Blue" would not load, I loaded "Chanago" knowing that if anyone had a problem they could get on "steady-eddy Chanago".

Stevie Loverboy and Era of Chanago.
Stevie Loverboy and Era of Chanago.

Stephanie surprised us all with her riding ability. We were very impressed that she was willing to ride Era of Chanago, a horse she had never ridden, on a hunter pace. Then, when K O River Crossing was enjoying himself too much, she traded horses with Loui to ride yet another horse she had never ridden. Way to go girl!!!!

Aly's Alpha Boy and I had fun racing each other in the big fields. Loui had a great ride on Era of Chanago and enjoyed galloping him in the fields as well. She felt more comfortable on a more experienced horse who could take care of her.

Stephanie Bone rode two horses she had never ridden before at the hunter pace.
Stephanie Bone rode two horses she had never ridden before at the hunter pace. This is her on horse two - K O River Crossing.

Bounced was the only horse jumping at the hunter pace. His "Friend" Andi Krakovsky was on her very first hunter pace and she enjoyed galloping Bounced and taking him over a few coops. This was Bounced first time jumping coops and his second hunter pace.

Andi and Bounced jumped the coops.
Bounced and Andi practiced jumping coops while Loui and Barry watched.

Andi and Bounced jumped the coops.
Andi and Bounced jumped the coops.

It was my first time galloping Aly's Alpha Boy and what a fun I had. I turned him loose and felt confident enough to put the camera to my eye. We galloped along side Brewster and caught a few photos of he and Barry enjoying a run.

Barry Zuber and OTTB Brew This aka "Brewster". March 1, 2008
Barry Zuber and OTTB Brew This aka "Brewster"

By then Bounced and Andi were galloping behind "River" and Stephanie. I asked for some speed and soon we were galloping along side taking photos.

Horse for Sale Bounced and OTTB - K O River Crossing.
Bounced and K O River Crossing enjoy a run in the big field.

Bounced and Andi enjoyed a good gallop along the Etowas River.
Bounced and Andi Krakovsky.

K O River Crossing with Stephanie Bone.
K O River Crossing and Stephanie open up in the field.

"River" and Stephanie decided to open it up and we had a blast racing them in a field that was over a mile long. Each horse came back from a gallop with very little effort and then quietly waited for the others to catch up before walking on into the woods.

We walked and trotted most of the course with a few gallops in between.

We had some incredible views of the North Georgia mountains during the ride. We took the opportunity to pose for some photos.

We had some incredible views of the North Georgia mountains during the ride.
Era of Chanago, Stevie Loverboy, Brewster, K O River Crossing and Bounced. Not in the photo Aly's Alpha Boy aka "Tri-Pod".

Barry and Brewster. Stephanie and K O River Crossing.
Brewster and Barry with K O River Crossing and Stephanie Bone.

We returned to the trailer with everyone having survived the ride. No one fell off - no one got hurt. A fun time was had by all and the horses seemed to understand that their racing careers were over but their new careers as sport horses was just beginning.

Andi and Bounced with Loui and Chanago.
Andi and Bounced with Loui and Chanago at the end of the ride.

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with old friends. We were joined at lunch by another multiple horse buyer - Dr. Laura Durham-Dixon. Laura is featured on our "How to Buy a Prospect Horse" page with the first horse she bought - Miss With Attitude aka "Pooky" . We also met Nikki Surrusco who is the mom of a former horse for sale - Baileysontherocks. It was great fun to see our horses with their new owners enjoying the beautiful countryside and the gorgeous weather.

Elizabeth, Loui, Laura, Barry, Andi, Missy and Stephanie.
Elizabeth, Loui, Laura, Barry, Andi, Missy and Stephanie.

Baileysontherocks is doing fine! He enjoyed the hunter pace with his new mom Niki.

We caught up with Baileysontherocks and his new mom. He is doing great! He enjoyed the hunter pace with his new mom Nikki Surrusco. Read Baileysontherocks Success Stories to see what he has been doing since we sold him in 2004!

Taking horses to a hunter pace is a good way to introduce them to new adventures. It is also a great way to spend the day with friends. What could be better than galloping your own ex-race horse across a beautiful field of grass on a beautiful Spring morning? Nothing!!!

K O River Crossing took home a pink ribbon at his first "field trip" off-the-farm.
K O River Crossing took home a pink ribbon at his first "field trip" off-the-farm.

Stevie Loverboy finished fourth at his first ever hunter pace.
Stevie Loverboy finished fourth at his first ever hunter pace.

Era of Chanago won the yellow ribbon for his third place finish.
Era of Chanago won the yellow ribbon for his third place finish.

Horse For Sale - Bounced won a red ribbon at the hunter pace.
Bounced won a red ribbon at the hunter pace.

Aly's Alpha Boy wins a blue ribbon at his first hunter pace.
Aly's Alpha Boy wins a blue ribbon at his first hunter pace. He also won Elizabeth's heart with his braveness.


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