Training Journals
Learn more about the training progress of horses currently for sale at Tebogo Sport Horses, as well as those that we have trained and helped find new homes.
Week of October 31: Pandora For the Win!
Virginia Horse Trials in Lexington marked our last horse trial of 2011. We may still show up at a random unrecognized event but looking at the calendar and everything we’ve done – it felt a fair place to end the season.
Success at VA Horse Trials for Pandora and Pockets
Pockets went Novice, and Pandora went Preliminary. Peyton got loaded up on the trailer at the last minute to take advantage of a stall reserved for Perfect (who we just got a glowing report from this week from his new owner.)
Since this was the year of natural disasters, perhaps we should not have been as surprised by an October blizzard! Luckily for the organizers and the competitors – the snow mostly moved along, leaving just an annoying amount at the Horse Center. Cross country was moved up to before the storm for some and postponed till after the snow melted for others – and somehow the show went on.
This proved most fortuitous for Katie and her own mare Pandora – as they won their Preliminary division! What a way to end the season!
Pockets was his normal, wonderful, steady self the whole weekend. He was tied for third after a lovely dressage test which scored a 31. He jumped a clean stadium round in the very atmospheric indoor coliseum, and then jumped clean around the cross country. His tiny speed fault dropped him to fifth but he was unaware of this little snafu and felt pretty good about jumping clean!
Back at Tebogo
Back at the ranch Paige kept the rest of the gang going despite the crazy weather. No rest for the weary as the Raleigh horse show is just around the corner.
On a personal note – since I recently purchased the wonderful and amazing Smooth Rider from Bobby Meyerhoff for my own personal dressage pursuits, I have found myself with less time to devote to my all around buddy Neon Delight.
I bought Neon off the Penn National track several years ago and since then he and I have dabbled in just about everything together – from horse trials, to A-rated horse shows, to riding all over hill and dale here at home. While not a world beater – Neon makes up for it with his beauty – both inside and out. He is also a People-Person – he loves human attention and seems to prefer human to equine company.
Seeing him pine for more attention I made the difficult decision to sell him – and probably would selfishly have kept him for myself if not for the absolute perfect buyer coming to Tebogo and falling right in love with Neon. Paige had already introduced me to Beth, a friend and former student from Virginia Beach, and her adorable child Beebee, some time ago and I knew Beth was the perfect human to dote, spoil, love and appreciate Neon for all that he is. I’m thrilled for Beth and Neon – and wish them all the happiness in the world together.
Week of October 24: Perfect’s Perfect New Home and Waredaca
Although we thoroughly enjoy bringing along the prospects, and getting them to shows and horse trials, and really enjoy winning ribbons and being on horses that are highly competitive – the actual point of the exercise is to find them their perfect new homes so that we can start the process all over again with the next batch.
This week it was Perfect‘s turn to leave Tebogo and start his new adventure with his fabulous new owner Mary C. Mary is an adult amateur who rides with Lainey Ashker, has competed to the Intermediate level (on a thoroughbred) and was looking for her next prospect.
She fell in love with Perfect (it’s hard not to, he’s exceptionally sweet) and got along with him great. We wish her every happiness with young Perfect and hope to see them out and about in Aiken this winter.
In the meantime Katie shipped out with her own mare Pandora to participate in their first long format event – the Waredaca Training Three Day. The week went perfectly with Pandora, the five year old, behaving as if he she had been doing this sort of thing her entire life. Katie could not have been more pleased with her mare. They ended up 4th in their division.
Week of October 17: Measures of Success
Two weeks ago Paige and Katie loaded up both trailers and head to Maryland Horse Trials Unrecognized at Loch Moy. It was jam packed with trailers that were jam packed with young horses and/or young or inexperienced riders. This made for an interesting day.
Keep in mind that this was the same weekend as Fair Hill International. So not more than an hour away many of our friends and colleagues were running THEIR lovely horses around the 3* track at the same time that we were running our lovely horses – around the Elementary Track. But it all starts somewhere – even those beautiful, elegant, wildly fit and athletic creatures at Fair Hill one day started by jumping a log on the ground. It was just one of those juxtapositions that reminded you – it’s all about the journey.
Tebogo Horses at MD Horse Trials
So – back at Loch Moy we had babies Crumpet, Peyton, and Kaz as well as the more “mature” Pockets and Pandora. Pandora of course just successfully ran her first prelim but Katie wanted her to go out and practice her dressage test. And Pockets had missed an event due to a high nail so he needed a little extra trip as well. We expected them to give the young ones a good example to follow – and our plan seemed to work!
Crumpet
Crumpet could not have been better. When Katie and Paige shot off with Kaz and Pandora for their extremely early dressage tests (ie, before 8am, i.e., it was still dark during warmup!) I was left to groom and tack Crumpet up. To be reminded – he is 3. And huge. And has not been off the farm a whole lot and he is now in the middle of a very crowded horse trial. But like I said, couldn’t have been better. Stood like a pro tied to the trailer, trotted off with Katie, did his adorable dressage test, and then jumped both his stadium and his cross country courses with wide eyes and a brave heart.
Kaz
Kaz took issue with the apparently evil rope that the stadium steward had to move to allow entry into the ring but other than that, he too was perfect. About three admirers asked if he was Irish. He is rather large of bone.
Peyton
Peyton got to the dressage warm up when it was most crowded so naturally he had the most to deal with – or I should say, Katie, his rider, had the most to deal with. But he finally did take a breath and march in and got the job done. Stadium wasn’t perfect but he made up for that with a flawless cross country run. His jumping form and his instincts continue to impress me and I’m certain given the right amount of time and attention this is an upper level horse in the making.
Pockets
Pockets of course was foot perfect the entire day. That’s just how he rolls.
So – there were no victory gallops, no press conferences afterward, and very little fanfare after all (Katie, Paige and I were too tired to even enjoy a celebratory beer after that day). But it was a HUGE success for us nonetheless. Who knows really – maybe one day Crumpet will take his turn at Fair Hill. In the meantime his first time out was an achievement worthy of much praise and many carrots.
Week of October 11: Perfect and Pockets head to MDHT
This week was rest and recovery week for the young horse show prospects after their big week at Culpeper but full work and prep mode for the young event horses.
Pockets and Perfect were both to head out Novice. Perfect was ready due to his recent successful run at Middleburg but Katie felt Pockets could use a quick cross country school. She hauled him over to Crosswinds, one of Tebogo’s other farms that serves as the base of operations for three day event rider Jenn Simmons. When it was purchased last year the big open fields just screamed “cross country course” and with the help of Eric Bull of ETB Equine Construction, LLC this idea became a reality. Pockets and Katie took full advantage of the new course and after a good school there Katie declared him ready to go.
Sunday brought the exact opposite conditions from last’s week Morven experience -clear skies, perfect footing, delightful temps. It seems a rare thing indeed to be able to event in these perfect conditions and Katie, Pockets and Perfect took full advantage of them and enjoyed their day.
Both boys finished on their lovely dressage. Pockets got a 31 and Perfect impressed with a 29, a score helped by his well-earned score of 8 for gaits. A 4 year old thoroughbred who gets an 8 for gaits? The future looks bright for this young man. Dressage aside, both boys loped around their stadium and cross country courses without blinking an eye.
They will both head out to Virginia Horse Trials at the end of the month for their last Novice run of the season. At that point, a well-earned break is in order, after which plans will be made to go Training down in Aiken.
Week of October 4, 2011: Busy, Productive, Successful!
Culpeper, Morven, first Prelim runs, horse sales – it’s hard to know where to begin!
Hunter Jumper Prospects at Culpeper Show
Paige took Kiwi, Promise and KC to the show on Tuesday morning. The boys all settled in and Paige readied herself for week of showing in the rain. This was her first show with Kiwi and he lived up to his reputation on all fronts – a handful in the warm up ring and a rock star in the show ring. By the end of the week she had the hang of him completely and was falling a little bit more in love every day. By end of the week we got the text “Now I know why you guys refer to him as Kiweeeeeeeee!” The partnership was sealed with a third place finish in the Level 2s (in a class of 54 competitors.)
Promise did what Promise does – marched into his classes, loped around, brought home ribbons. As always, he got particularly good ribbons in the under saddle classes. Promise does like to get a piece of the hack each time out!
Gavin Moylan Purchases KC After Culpeper
KC was competing at his first show – and being at his first show, and being 4, and competing in the Grand Prix ring was a lot! But he was perfect cause that’s how he rolls. Of course he was a little green and had the odd rail but without a doubt impressed spectators with his amazing maturity. Chief among his fans is Gavin Moylan who, as Paige’s trainer, has had a front row seat to KC’s awesomeness. And so it wasn’t too much of a surprise when Gavin decided to purchase KC for himself. To say we’re thrilled with the match is an understatement and we look forward to watching KC and Gavin continue on together.
Pandora’s First Prelim Run at Morven
Back at the ranch Pandora, Perry and Topper (Dave’s horses) prepped for Morven. We were greeted Saturday morning with wind, rain, cold. Perfect for Pandora’s first Preliminary run! No – not kidding. Pandora is a mudder and these wretched conditions which caused many folks to withdraw from competition actually were not a challenge for Pandora’s prowess. She had a great dressage test (though Katie says she has much better in her, which is sure to come out on a day when it isn’t pouring rain sideways), a solid stadium round and an absolutely FLAWLESS cross country round. The course was big, but she skipped around like she’d been doing it her whole life.
Week of Sept 26, 2011: Perfect is perfect at Middleburg HT
Before we get to Perfect’s flawless run at Middleburg Horse Trials, a quick update on the show horses who were prepping for Culpeper is in order.
Prepping for Culpeper Show
K.C., Kiwi and Promise were all three in show prep mode. Between regular jump, hack and flat sessions here at the farm, Paige also took them over for lessons with Gavin Moylan. Everyone continues to be a little bit in awe of KC. I know, sounds like an overstatement but the response to this horse is always something like awe. He’s only four, and between his brain, his jump, his movement – it just seems like the sky is the limit. Very exciting prospect.
Kiwi was acting like an old pro, but I did give Paige (who is new to him) a heads up that he might be a little more “up” at the show! And Promise, at six, continues to act like an old campaigner. We had him clipped early in the week and he just seemed to sense that a show was around the corner. Promise LOVES to show. It’s uncanny. He actually seems to prefer life at the show grounds to his cushy life here at the farm!
In the meantime, young Kaz is coming along in leaps and bounds. Plans to take him cross country schooling were thwarted by the weather (we will remember this September as the great Monsoon of Virginia). But he happily worked over fences here at the farm and plans were remade to take him on a field trip next week.
Perfect at Middleburg Horse Trials
Now Perfect. He joined Dave’s Perry (Clifton Imperial) in the trailer up to Middleburg and you could seriously not tell which one was the 4 year old and which was the 14 year old! Perfect just munched his hay and nickered good luck to Perry as he went to do his thing. Then when it was FINALLY time for him to go, he just marched into the dressage ring and knocked out an amazing test. So amazing that a small crowd formed as Katie exited the ring, all folks wanting to find out more about this lovely youngster. The next day, same story. Nickered to Perry, ate hay, came off the trailer and got to work. Flawless stadium, flawless cross country and a Second Place finish in a large open novice division. Not too shabby for a 4 year old OTTB!
Week of Sept 19, 2011: George Morris Clinic
Wherein one of the greatest, most respected and revered leaders of the hunter jumper world falls in love with Perfect Enough and proclaims to his clinic audience, “No wonder I love this horse – he’s a thoroughbred! Thoroughbreds are the best!” Why thank you Mr. George Morris – may we quote you?
Yes indeed it was a busy week of polishing tack and horses as Katie and Paige prepared Kiwi and Perfect for the three-day George Morris clinic at Morven Park. Both were entered in the 3 foot division and both were perfectly behaved, attentive, and obedient. By the third day they were acting like old pros, which for 10-year-old Kiwi wasn’t TOO much of a stretch but for 4-year-old Perfect was highly impressive!
At one point on the Day One of the clinic Mr. Morris got on Perfect to demonstrate something he was teaching. Perfect was, hate to say it, perfect! And thus the love affair with Perfect began. Throughout the weekend, as Perfect would make his way through a grid or flat work exercise, Mr. Morris was mutter, “lovely horse, just a lovely horse.” At one point he even proclaimed that Perfect was GENIUS 4 year old. Never a bad thing to hear about your young prospect.
Compliments and accolades aside, everyone, human and equine, gained immeasurable knowledge from the clinic.
Early Sept 2011: Vacation to Paris and Burghley
After a week of natural disasters and being out on the road competing things quieted down a bit at Tebogo. Patricia and Dave went off on vacation (non-horsey days in Paris followed by full horsey immersion days at Burghley where the winner was, why yes, an off the track thoroughbred Parklane Hawk with William Fox Pitt in the irons.)
Katie and Paige held down the fort – attending lessons with Inga Janke and Gavin Moylan.
Week of Aug 29, 2011: Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Horse Shows
The peace and quiet of last week was surprisingly interrupted by an earthquake (in Virginia??!) AND a hurricane and less surprisingly – another horse show and yet another horse trial!
We also had two young visitors for the week – horse-loving daughters of Patricia and Dave’s who were visiting from Hood River, Oregon. Amanda and Kailee rode, worked in the barn, rode, helped at the horse show, and rode some more. For the most part they helped Patricia put some polish on her horses Scrimshaw, Neon and Dutch. But they were also game to hack out on Peyton and Pockets as well. There is something quite special about seeing horses just a few months off the track heading off into the woods with their young charges – they all took it very seriously!
Back at Culpeper HITS Promise added “warming up for class – during a earthquake – without blinking an eye” to his resume. Good Baby Promise! On top of that he and Paige brought home nice ribbons in his Pre-Green and Low Hunter divisions – including a nice blue one for his Under Saddle class.
With Hurricane Irene coming through we thought better of sending young Perfect and Pockets off to the Loudoun horse trial but “mature” Pandora (she’s five after all!) went out and rocked her Training division in typical fine fashion.
Week of Aug 22, 2011: A Quiet Week At Home
After all the commotion and competitions from last week, this week was just a nice quiet week at home – a chance to catch up with all the rest of the less glamorous work that goes into transforming former racehorses into sport horse competitors. So there was time for hacks in the woods, a visit from our wonderful and eternally patient farrier Sean Crocker and of course, everyone’s favorite – the DENTIST! Our equine dentist is Graham Alcock who is not only a wonderful dentist but also a lover of thoroughbreds.
The exciting news of the week is that Ziggy’s transformation into an event horse was made complete upon his purchase by international event rider Jan Bynny. We are so happy for Ziggy who we clearly thought was a class horse. To have someone of Jan’s caliber agree with our assessment and to be able to watch him be competed by her in the future is nothing short of thrilling.
About Tebogo
On 100 acres in the heart of Virginia horse country, Patricia and Dave Vos have created a beautiful place for OTTBs to find new careers. Learn more about Tebogo Sport Horses. YouTube
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