West Level Thoroughbreds shall be represented by not one, however two graded stakes winners on the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover: Cavalry Cost and Embellished Invader! Their Thoroughbred Makeover trainers, Erin Knehr and Mary Termer, shall be telling the tales of those two winners in a joint weblog entry every month.
Mary Termer replace on Embellished Invader:
Properly, we’ve made it. We’re one week out from the Thoroughbred Makeover. This has been the longest, but shortest journey ever, and I’ve taken time to replicate on the final 12 months. From the arrival of my new companion and the retirement of my final one, to the sluggish and typically scary, albeit thrilling path Finn and I are taking.
If it hasn’t been obvious in my previous blogs, Finn and I are entered to compete in dressage on the Thoroughbred Makeover. Some days are higher than others. I nonetheless don’t really feel prepared, however does anybody at this stage of the sport? So, my objective is simply to get on the market and trip, to make this simply one other expertise and to proceed to construct the bond with Finn as that is simply the beginning of our journey collectively.
Finn is a mischievous, glad, snuggly boy with a fantastic forelock and the beginning of an extended, thick tail (I LOVE tail!). Finn loves getting kisses on his nostril and he’s studying to present kisses again. He has discovered the routine of turning out and in, and loves his pasture mate Rio. He nonetheless thinks most treats are toxic, however LOVES those he eats. He even is aware of which pocket I carry them in and tries his hardest to nostril wiggle them out after I’m grooming and tacking him. He loves face rubdown as soon as the bridle is off, and should get his drink of water earlier than being hosed… this stuff are non-negotiable per Finn.
I’ve had nearly weekly classes on Finn since April with my wonderful good friend and coach Dona, in addition to a number of present experiences at completely different amenities, with each getting higher than the final.
Our newest outing was on the Kentucky Horse Park for the USDF Area 2 Regionals present final month the place we competed within the open present receiving supportive scores and feedback from the judges and even being Excessive Level Thoroughbred for your complete present!
I couldn’t be prouder as Finn dealt with the busy ambiance like a seasoned present horse, if not higher. We had been even entered in a single final present this previous weekend nevertheless it bought rescheduled, thanks Hurricane Helene, signed sad dressage rider. Prayers to all affected!
This journey to the RRP has positively taken me out of my quiet, very private consolation zone, sharing our highlights, struggles, and my ideas, however I additionally should be pleased about it. Finn and I’ve met some wonderful individuals and we’ve probably the most supportive group standing not behind, however with us. Right here’s to the following 10 days, Finn and I’ll see you on the opposite facet!
Erin Knehr replace on Cavalry Cost:
Subsequent week, it’s time! The previous couple of months of coaching flew by. We now have come to date however nonetheless have a lot to study. The final 5 weeks of coaching we went to 3 completely different present venues with fairly a combination of outcomes.
Our first present throughout this time was our first indoor, and in a single day, present. Calvin continues to be getting heavy and a bit downhill within the turns, so we tried a brand new bit. It was a no thanks. I ponder what bit he raced in and if that’s authorized within the hunter ring? Absolutely, they’d extra brakes? We additionally added 95-degree temperatures and large overhead followers that had been turned on simply earlier than we entered the present ring. I can’t complain, he held it collectively however was simply actually grumpy and unsettled, and he confirmed an excessive amount of enthusiasm and pleasure of dragging me round for the hunters.
We completed the primary day and I made a decision to take him residence for the evening, flip him out, and check out once more the following day. We additionally determined to remain on the 2’ top despite the fact that I used to be initially planning on leaping him across the 2’6 on day two of the present. Sunday, I went again to his outdated bit, added ear plugs, and he went round like a star. We had been the one one in our division so, glad to say, we had been champion. The non-Thoroughbred Makeover crowd determined 95 levels in an indoor, even with a fan, was not well worth the sweat at the very least for the newbie hunter division.
A way more relaxed Calvin made his look on the subsequent two outings, and final weekend we lastly jumped round an enormous boy course. We’re signed as much as present in each the hunters and jumpers on the Thoroughbred Makeover, and the hunter division requires you to leap a 2’6 course and the jumper division requires you to leap a 0.8m (2’7) course. So, we went to a jumper education alternative and went across the 0.8m top. He was very properly behaved.
Calvin jumped round a little bit inexperienced within the first journey — whereas we might heat up, we weren’t capable of soar the course previous to the precise journey. After he noticed the jumps the primary time, he switched into present mode and jumped with no fear. One of many good issues in regards to the Thoroughbred Makeover is that the jumper division just isn’t timed. Proper now, with Calvin we’re all about consistency, in rhythm, tempo, and pleasure degree. So, leaping round untimed is ideal. We will go good and sluggish and never activate his racehorse want for velocity.
I’m more than happy the place we’re at in his coaching, nevertheless it’s exhausting to foretell what is going to occur on the present. He’s nonetheless very inexperienced and each day could be completely different, however I would like this expertise to be constructive and I believe we’re able to have expertise.
On the shoe entrance, it is a very uneventful month, thank goodness. As a result of his costly glue-on sneakers, we’ve saved every little thing hooked up to his physique. Not for lack of attempting, as one morning he was carrying a bell boot round his cannon. Properly, that is it, cease by and go to us on the Kentucky Horse Park subsequent week at stall #628! Cavalry Cost and Embellished Invader are stabling buddies and can hopefully share some good luck with one another.
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 all the initiatives supported by The Jockey Membership.
