Moab was donated to The College of Findlay (UF) within the spring of 2023 by Godolphin, one of many world’s main Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations. Godolphin, additionally a proud supporter of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, is profoundly invested within the aftercare of Thoroughbreds. For years, Godolphin has supported UF’s breaking and retraining program by donating horses, highlighting their dedication to Thoroughbred aftercare.
In the beginning of the autumn semester, Ryanne, a junior within the English Equestrian Program, was assigned to work with Moab. On this program, college students take full accountability for a horse’s care and using every semester. As they progress, college students could also be assigned a number of horses and are inspired to interrupt or retrain younger horses after their freshman 12 months.
Moab, a 2020 bay gelding by Avenue Sense out of Skylighter, didn’t race however acquired some preliminary under-saddle coaching earlier than arriving at UF. Ryanne felt relieved that she didn’t have to begin from scratch, although retraining an ex-racehorse can nonetheless be difficult. Luckily, this wasn’t Ryanne’s first expertise working with a inexperienced or unbroken horse. Throughout her sophomore 12 months, she frolicked at Findlay’s Western Farm, the place she labored alongside college students and trainers to interrupt colts.
Ryanne’s ardour for horses started at age 8, beginning with Hunter/Jumper classes earlier than progressing to dressage till she was 18. After highschool, she enrolled at The College of Findlay and joined the English Equestrian Program, the place she educated below the Hunter/Jumper coach. Most lately, Ryanne spent the summer season in Wellborn, Fla., working with quite a lot of horses – broke, inexperienced, and unbroke – honing her expertise with totally different ranges of coaching.
When Moab arrived at The College of Findlay, he was given time to settle into his new environment. By mid-August, his coaching with Ryanne started. Regardless of Moab’s calm demeanor on the bottom, they approached the retraining course of slowly and punctiliously. They labored within the indifferent indoor area, the place younger and unbroke horses are began resulting from its quieter surroundings. Like all Findlay college students, Ryanne started Moab’s coaching within the spherical pen to keep up higher management. She began with lunging and ultimately taught him methods to line drive. Understanding the significance of ahead movement in horse coaching, Ryanne targeted on making certain that Moab moved ahead and responded to her aids, figuring out that this might lay the muse for additional success.
When Ryanne felt that Moab was able to be ridden, she mounted him for the primary time. Mounting may be difficult if the horse hasn’t been correctly dealt with beforehand. To maintain him calm, she had a classmate maintain him whereas she mounted, serving to Moab keep relaxed. Educating him to face nonetheless after mounting took time, however with endurance, Moab ultimately discovered to attend for Ryanne’s cue to stroll off. Now, mounting is straightforward and doesn’t faze both of them.
After mounting, Ryanne’s precedence was establishing ahead motion and straightness. Encouraging ahead movement helps the horse deal with “considering ahead” and listening to the rider’s aids. Straightness improves the horse’s stability and physique consciousness, serving to them perceive the place all 4 legs are in relation to one another. These foundational parts are essential for Moab’s coaching and total responsiveness to Ryanne’s cues.
After reaching straightness, Ryanne targeted on extra superior coaching, together with instructing Moab to reply to bit stress and use his physique extra effectively. Moab excelled in these challenges, eagerly responding to Ryanne’s cues. Earlier than lengthy, he grew to become robust sufficient to elevate his again whereas being ridden and carry himself correctly. He discovered to bend and flex with out dropping stability, although it was more difficult for him on the trot and canter than on the stroll. By taking issues gradual and regular, Moab was capable of study accurately, at all times exhibiting a want to do the correct factor.
At this stage, Ryanne acknowledged that Moab wanted extra psychological stimulation. She determined to introduce floor poles as the following problem of their preparation for the Retired Racehorse Mission’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Strolling, trotting, and cantering over the poles didn’t hassle Moab in any respect, so Ryanne started instructing him methods to bounce. Moab appeared to get pleasure from it, treating it like a enjoyable sport, so she continued elevating the jumps and difficult him with extra complicated workouts and mixtures. With the Retired Racehorse Mission approaching, they labored diligently on lateral actions for the dressage take a look at and perfected their 2’6″ fences for the present Hunter programs.
Whereas Moab’s under-saddle coaching progressed, Ryanne additionally targeted on refining his floor manners. She launched him to clippers and mane pulling, each of which he tolerated nicely, standing calmly throughout grooming classes. In addition they labored on trailer loading, which he dealt with with none points, additional proving himself to be an all-around easy-going horse.
Moab did have one quirky behavior – he cherished to place every little thing in his mouth. From blankets to Ryanne’s garments, if it was inside attain, Moab would attempt to chew on it. Like many younger horses, this habits stemmed from curiosity, as licking and chewing assist them discover their environment. Nonetheless, if left unchecked, it may result in undesirable biting or nipping. Progressively, Moab started to study that chewing on toys and treats was acceptable, however garments – his or Ryanne’s – have been off-limits.
Ryanne quickly knew that Moab was able to compete within the Retired Racehorse Mission’s Thoroughbred Makeover as a result of his response time below saddle grew to become fast and reliable. “There was now not a dialog – I would ask, and he’d reply with ‘sure ma’am,’ ” Ryanne wrote. One other signal of his readiness got here when one among her classmates rode him, and Moab carried out simply as nicely for her as he did for Ryanne. It was clear that each one the items of their coaching have been falling into place, and Moab was totally ready for the present.
Competing at Thoroughbred Makeover in Lexington, Ky., was a giant deal, however Moab handled it like simply one other day. He confidently stepped into every ring on education day and entered his present rings and not using a care. Ryanne and Moab competed in Dressage and Present Hunters, ending eighth in Dressage and fifth as a workforce in Present Hunters. Ryanne couldn’t have been prouder of Moab’s progress in such a short while and is worked up about his brilliant future and profession forward.
Within the months following the Retired Racehorse Mission’s Thoroughbred Makeover, Moab targeted on unwinding and rejuvenating. He’s now assigned to a sophomore in this system for the spring semester and is having fun with the prospect to study from a brand new coach. Moab nonetheless enjoys enjoying within the area and indulging in his every day afternoon naps.
The Jockey Membership helps many aftercare initiatives together with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the one accrediting physique in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which inspires the retraining of Thoroughbreds into different disciplines upon completion of careers. View the entire initiatives supported by The Jockey Membership.
