Elizabeth Wood
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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth
Marie van Roekel acted as the lead photographer for the trail ride. Here is an artistic photo of the the photographer's shadow and tripod (Snowdance Kid).
Aly's Charmer and Knight Villain. Aly's Charmer is just three and a few months away from the track. He was totally quiet and never spooked at all - even when some mountain bikers came streaking by him. "Aly" just stood and watched without reacting in any way.
Elizabeth checks the girth on Aly's Charmer at the beginning of the trail ride. - October 15, 2005
Aly's Charmer was happy to follow along at the rear behind Knight Villain. These ex race horses were relaxed and seemed to really enjoy the beautiful fall day in the North Georgia mountains.
Knight Villain won almost $300,000 at the race track. "Knight" has successfully made the transition from race horse to sport horse with very little training necessary. Most OTTBs are easily transitioned to a new career.
Aly's Charmer, Knight Villain and the Zaics.
Aly's Charmer was on the buckle for most of the ride home.
Barbo and Lise Matte enjoyed leading the way.
training notes from elizabeth - october 18, 2005 |
Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > october 18, 2005Our 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. The Bay-bies Go Trail Riding in the North Georgia MountainsThe training of our off the track thoroughbreds doesn't include just work in the arena and around the farm. Fall is the perfect time to load up as many horses as possible and head for the trails of North Georgia. This past weekend was designated as BAYby day. Of course, you wouldn't have known it if you had seen us on the trails. Our usual haunt, Dawson Forest, was closed to riding this weekend, but another couple suggested we try a short ride on the trails at the Bull Mountain/Jake Mountain complex. The horses loaded in record time and we were off. So, who did we take?
Lise Matte chose to take Barbo, the honorary gray for the day in the group of bays (say that three times fast). He was co-leader of the pack, brave and bold in the unfamiliar territory. He was whispering to Lise afterward that he had a lot of fun and wants to go again.
Marie van Roekel chose Snowdance Kid to be her BAYby for the day. "Kid" who is just four, served as the other co-leader keeping a watchful eye out for any changes in terrain as Marie turned around in the saddle to take pictures of the group.
Next in the group was Knight Villain with Barry up. Knight was happy to follow the others while Barry chatted with Elizabeth and friends from fox hunting - Randy and Colleen Zaic.
Randy is an architect and specializes in designing equine properties - both residential and commercial. Click here to go to his Web page.
The superstar of the day was Aly's Charmer, the true baby of the BAYby group at only three years old. Nothing spooked him, not even the mountain bikers who zipped by him when Elizabeth took "Aly" off alone to explore a side trail! Everyone commented on how he handled the trails like an old pro.
What trail ride is complete without food? We found a local church having a chicken BBQ and we just had to stop. With full stomachs, we headed for home, another training experience successfully completed for the BAY-bies and a gray too!
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