Yes, I think Shaun was much happier in NZ as a race horse. You can see it in his picture, he's alive and exuberant! The folks that bred him figured out how he ran and let him do it his way. He won. A lot. When he reached this country, no one listened to how he liked to run. No one considered the horse. I watched some of his races here and in Canada, and he had no heart for it. Why would he? From Nz to a kill pen, and it was a continious down hill trek. If I had to be a race horse, I'd want to be in NZ. Never here. Never here.
Got some rain this morning, so dragged a steel panel up behind the three wheeler to smooth out the tractor tire marks in front of the shelter. It was the only place Shaun was having trouble with his feet. He's new to bare foot, and I'm hoping he will adjust. I'd rather he be comfortable, so if this doesn't work out for him, I'll keep him in shoes. His hoof wall is so thin the farrier was afraid to put nails into his foot. Just not enough there to hold a shoe. I'm going to introduce the farrier to Epona shoes. They are plastic, move with the foot, and the winter ones have carbide tips. Oh and mesh under the foot so snow doesn't ball up. If he has trouble with bf, these can be glue on, and we'll just do this.
He doesn't seem so sad, and happy to say he's a bit herd sour. He's building a relationship with the herd, especially Gunner. The mares don't hate him. Hawk is not as bossy, so life in the pasture has taken on a more lazy, graze kind of feeling. I've got the mister going in the shelter because it's still so hot. 106 by Thursday with humidity! Nice fine sand in the shelter makes for some cozy footing. He's gained good weight and only lacking in his one hip, probably from his trying to compensate for pin in his leg. Maybe nerve damage, according to vet.
I think he's going to be ok. It's like he's waking up. That's different that living in the past, like we do. I think he shut down, and went inside a long time ago. He's starting to trust. I'm not sure how much a horse loves, ya know? We love, but horses? I think it goes so deep, that connection and love is just a part of it. He's becoming a part of the whole, there's consistancy in his life, he's never hungry or thirsty, and I listen to him. His opinion matters. Like in NZ when his opinion was considered when he raced? I'm beginning to see glimpses of that horse in the picture, taken so long ago. Look at those eyes where he's in the racing bridle, an open heart, and a willing spirit. Now look at the picture at the top of the page. Can you see his pain? Is it worth it? Horse racing, I mean?
Depends on the owner and trainer really. Both my partner and I think we would be awful as owners with someone else training the horse as would always be questioning lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's like in any industry though you get good people and bad.
I try and keep in touch with all horse's that we have re-homed as too slow and get great enjoyment out of their new career's. Especially those we've bred ourselves. We have a 3yo of our own in work at the moment. She probably needs bit more time but currently is enjoying her work and bright and enthusiastic. Because we both own and train her we can keep a close eye on her attitude/behaviour and put her out for a spell when she show's she's had enough for now. Unhappy horses do not run fast kinda says it all really.
Our fillies full brother did all his work well, was bright etc but didn't actually enjoy racing. We gave him a whopping two starts and he is now in a new career as an eventer and loving it. (we have a contact that we give them too and she retrains and onsales for small amounts with the home being more important) He didn't have that desire or will to compete against others. Hence his work was good but racing not so. Now as an eventer he gets to just work with one rider and compete to show their best together. He loves it and is showing a lot of promise.