Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wood
photo by Phil West

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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth

Marie van Roekel acted as the lead photographer

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 - October 15, 2005

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. - October 15, 2005

Elizabeth checks the girth on Aly's Charmer at the beginning of the trail ride. - October 15, 2005

 

 

 

Ex-race horses enjoy trail riding too! - 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 and Barry. - October 15, 2005

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, Knight Villain and the Zaics.

 

 

 

Aly's Charmer was on the buckle for most of the ride home. - October 15, 2005

Aly's Charmer was on the buckle for most of the ride home.

 

 

Barbo and Lise Matte enjoyed leading the way.

Barbo and Lise Matte enjoyed leading the way.

training notes from elizabeth - october 18, 2005

Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > october 18, 2005

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.

The Bay-bies Go Trail Riding in the North Georgia Mountains

The 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?

Barbo and Lise - October 15, 2005
Barbo and Lise - October 15, 2005

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.

Barbo and Lise Matte - October 15, 2005
Barbo and Lise Matte followed by Barry on Knight Villain and Elizabeth on Aly's Charmer with Randy and Colleen Zaic in the rear.- October 15, 2005

Snowdance Kid and Marie - October 15, 2005
Snowdance Kid and Marie - October 15, 2005

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.

Knight Villain and Barry - October 15, 2005
Knight Villain and Barry - October 15, 2005

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.

Aly's Charmer and Knight Villain are both OTTBs who have new careers as sport horses.
Aly's Charmer and Knight Villain are both OTTBs who have new careers as sport horses. Who's zoomin' who? Elizabeth shoots a photo of Marie as Marie shoots a photo of Aly's Charmer and Elizabeth.

Randy is an architect and specializes in designing equine properties - both residential and commercial. Click here to go to his Web page.

Aly's Charmer and Knight Villain are both OTTBs who like trail riding now.
Aly's Charmer and Knight Villain are both OTTBs who like trail riding now.

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.

Knight Villain and Aly's Charmer on Aly's first trail ride. - October 15, 2005
Knight Villain and Aly's Charmer on "Aly's" first trail ride. - October 15, 2005

Snowdance Kid, Barbo  and Knight Villain as seen from the "Aly Cam". - Ocotober 15, 2005
Snowdance Kid, Barbo and Knight Villain as seen from the "Aly Cam". - Ocotober 15, 2005

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!

Bits & Bytes Farm in search of food!


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