Gunport at 30 Days in 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge

Sagamore Racing's Gunport at the end of the first month of the Retired Racehorse Training Project's 100 Day Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD.

• Category

  Pets & Animals

[isaacbrushettib]

The lady riding is leaning to forward so the horses neck is bent keep straight and sit back my perchron/tb does it to

[RetiredRacehorse]

She is leaning forward to get her weight off the horse's back. This is an ex-racehorse that isn't used to having weight directly on its back. We start all our OTTBs this way- Michelle's weight is balanced over her feet which allows Gunport to move forward freely and comfortably and to find a rhythm and gain relaxation in doing so.

[jordanroseelliot]

Lovely filly. Would love to see some outdoors stuff. Even a hack around the place to see how she reacts to different things.

[RetiredRacehorse]

That will be next. Unfortunately, we had a dead battery in our video camera this time, so we had to be close to an outlet - hence the use of the indoor!

[klsunsnowluck]

What exactly is the point of having a breastplate on that loose? (legitimate question)

[RetiredRacehorse]

It isn't a breastplate - it's a yoke (not attached to the saddle, only the girth) and is used as a grab strap.

[bittyflea]

Riding in spurs doesn't mean that you are necessarily going to use them. This rider has an educated leg and she is keeping sensitive and diplomatic contact with the upper calf: the heel is not bothering the horse and, therefore, neither is the spur.

[psycohorsefanatic]

I think its because some thoroughbreds, mine included, are not always that quick off the leg and can be surprisingly lazy, but are still sharp and spooky so you want to calm them down. Being confident and bombproof is not really related to being forward, if you know what I mean. Its sort of counter intuitive because a horse which is very forward can tend to be more sharp but one which is less forward can be just as sharp. I'm not a huge expert or anything I just learned from experience a bit.

[IrissMulaa]

this is so lovely

[Stephanie Dunn Haney]

What happens to the horses in the Thoroughbred Challenge? Will they go on to new homes? Are they already sold? Will they return to places like Sagamore to sell?

[Not0a0City0Girl0]

Amazing, she's so true. You can see her ask Michelle, 'are you sure it's ok to jump'. Michelle says of course, and them off she goes with a little happy grin on her face. 'Hey look what I just did'. She makes me heart smile. :)

[Lea Aune]

What a great horse!

Beautiful color

pretty position

she's aware

and she has a nice energy! :-)

[lauren blondie]

nice horse but if u want to calm it down, why ride in spurs? no offence jus curious x

[rlsnodgrass141]

And a lot of ex-race horses will slow down when you do pull on the yoke instead of leaning against the bridle.