Sweating or Not

Giving you both flavors of video. The smaller one might be better on slower connections.





Update from Alex:
Review of anhydrosis here. I found it interesting how it seems that an environment that is too unrelentingly hot and humid could shut down a horse's ability to sweat and that a little break from the heat could restore it. Maybe we just need a big fan or swamp cooler for Stack's stall...

Wednesday at the Farm. No OBS, but Video Goodness!

We saddled up spitfire and he was very high headed, we put side bungee reins on him and had him stand in the stall where he fought the bungees but then figured if he dropped his head he was comfortable.

Tiny tune Lilly has been off and sound...working through shins...we galloped her today...let's see how she is tomorrow...TSFay bright. Stack is also on the machine. He is more sedate and isn't sweating as much as I think he should. He might go into non sweating ...a problem here in Fl. Maybe a good reason to go to Ohio later this month...

IE's Shins and Monday at the Farm

Irish Eagle's shins today. You can compare with previous pictures.














The body's reaction as he heals: First the flare up then, as it heals, it tightens on the leg.











TS Faye and Spitfire on the machine today ...off tomorrow...to OBS on Wednesday.












Phontiff ridden lightly today, maybe getting a gate card on Wednesday's OBS trip.

Back to OBS

We went back to OBS this AM. I sent out TS Faye and Spitfire and another filly purchased last week by a friend. I asked them to gallop together and then go to the gate. They are trying to get together here.














I asked them to go to gates and breeze 4 to 5 furlongs. TS Faye breaks on top. New filly is up in air as the handler in gates confused her. Spitfire is the slow breaker-you can barely see his nose. Though we had his tooth pulled that had bothered him, he still worked poorly... I may put him up for the summer and let him grow. TS faye worked in 51 ,new filly behind and spitfire trailed....hmmmm
TS got her gate card and is close to running at Calder.
Maybe one more breeze.













I then sent Stack Bali against two other older horses. He broke well .














Stack broke on top and was in front for about 3 to 4 furlongs and tired. He will need more work to carry speed. He came back really tired but did every thing all right.

After OBS- Spitfire's Nose

June 11th, 2009:



Spitfire's nose-remember he had a little mucus yesterday when we went to OBS. I told rider not to push if he felt bad. Horse went on track and tried to run away with him -he had not gone to track last week because of mucus . So he was very much on the muscle this week. We got a lot done with gate work and gallop. This AM he had a little crusty mucus. Seems bright and good and ate well .
Irish also had more mucus than Spitfire yesterday and got the cold a few days behind him. So he was a little runnier in the nose today.
The filly has yet to show any sign of anything...maybe she has a better immuno system or maybe because she went through a sale she already went through the baby "snots".
I have not given any medications and of they heal uneventfully I will look like a smart person and if they get worse I will be blamed.
All we can do is what we think is okay at that moment.
Hindsight is 20-20!

More OBS

June 10, 2009: Gates and Breeze.






We are at the OBS track and it is much busier as the two year sale is next week . we are waiting for the riders.











We went back and brought Spitfire ,Irish,and TS Faye. The two boys had a little bit of mucus so I told the riders not to push them if they did not feel well.










This time I had horses stand in gates and they were flopped out and galloped out .
They then came back and stood again and broke out well when the gate was sprung automatically. They are progressing well.









This is the second break and they broke very well this time!












Spitfire fought most of the way with the rider and didn't settle down until they galloped a half a mile but he needs to work with the rider.
They broke off at three eights and breezed to finish line.
TS Faye finished out front in 38 seconds with Irish second at 39 seconds and spitfire behind having fought too much with rider.

Mucus

June 7th, 2009:


Irish had a little mucus in his nose this am so we did a light gallop. That might help him clear up his lungs.after his gallop his nose was clear. We will watch and see. He is due to go back to track on Wed.








After his gallop he shows no mucus in his nose. I hope he continues to be clear.I believe the exercise helps clear the lungs-the art is to do enough work but not too much!









The drainage is not clear the way it would be if he had no colored mucus.
When you see clear fluid from nostril it usually shows that he worked a little and expanded his lungs. I like to see that as it means the ride was useful.








Spitfire had mucus and a cough a week ago and was off his feed.We gave him time and turnout and this AM BEFORE his gallop,his nose was clear. We did an easy gallop to see how he was feeling with instructions to just jog if not right.
He felt good so he galloped easy and came back with loose snot in nose.
I believe the gallop helped him work the mucos out.

Irish After the Breeze

Galloping at the farm. Last ridden at OBS track three days ago. He will now have two days off and
Then go to breeze at OBS again
Not sure if Spitfire will go-need to see if he has a cough.
Might take Phontiffs Wind if his shins seem okay.
ebb and flow -training changes from day to day!

Breezing at the OBS Track

Back on May 25th, 2009:Since trying work at Calder turned into a Catch-22/logistical nightmare, we ended up heading the 2 or so hours north the the OBS track.





TS Faye Loading well.













Spitfire in like a pro.











And of course, good old Moose, the pony.










Arrived at OBS safely. Waiting for riders.










This is all new for these guys.











Sure is different from the orange grove!











On to the track...












Track looks big and scary.











At the gates.











First breeze! TS Faye in front.












Nice and calm after breaking from gates and breeze. Now back home for late breakfast.

25MAY09 Update on the 2YOs

Shins, works, and a household cleaner trick.




Phontiffs Wind, a 4yo who galloped on the farm and bucked a shin on a breeze at track. 2 weeks ahead in healing of Tiny. Jogging now. See slight buldge in left shin? About month old and is getting smaller.












Phontiffs Wind in the walker.







My rider makes the horse stand still then he jumps on-making horse stand in place. Depending on rider,this prepares horse for track where the riders are thrown on
Of course some riders need a leg up or a mounting block...









TS Fay good and workmanlike into the gates.









TS Fay fast out of the gates. Looks like a sprinter.









Spitfire needs racetrack, getting too fast for safety.









Spitfire getting too fast for the exercise track here. Needs a real track to stretch out on. Very aggressive early. Looks like a sprinter.









Irish Eagle wants to be a route horse. takes him three of our half miles laps to get into groove, then he continmues for a total of seven. Stayer material.









Spitfire done with gallop. He was getting fractious before going through gates. Today we walked him thru gates 3 times to acclimate and calm him. Seems very agressive, prly sprinter, personality and bodytype seem that way. Don't want him too hot or crazy into gates with nothing left for race.








I use a half cup of Pinesol per half gallon of water on a final rinse for the horses. Good antibacterial and pest repellant.








Applying the Pinesol rinse.

Between Works

From May 20th, 2009: Downtime between works means catching up with farm chores, friends, and frolicking.








2YOs kicking thier heels up between biweekly breezes.







Relaxing between works includes frolicking on the hill.










The horses at the farm get name tags on thier paddocks. Stack is my new project-he is getting his gate card (I hope) and will be ready to run!















Moving fence closer to the lake. The lake rises and falls as much as 100 to 200 feet. Mother Nature keeps us hopping!










Now the track is bigger. It was in front of my pretend gates before-now it is closer to the lake.









Had a nice visit with my friend and mentor Dr. Phyllis Lose V.M.D. That is her dog Oscar with her. Dr Lose wrote the book Blessed are the Broodmares and Blessed are the Foals.
She is such a fount of knowledge and a great help with the horses. I can discuss any problems and she has 50 years of race track experience. She was a horse trainer at 19!

Running at the farm after the weekend off

From about May 17th, 2009: We just let them relax after their trip to JB's farm last week and this morning they had plenty of energy.





Iron Eagle working, very aggressive.










T.S. Faye flying up the hill.






Spitfire is fast!











Hosing off after.