Training Journal
If you’re riding a horse, you’ve already won.
I added Milton and Previous Horse to the Thoroughbred Sport Tracker of the Retired Racehorse Project. The weirdest part of the whole thing for me is the RRP subtitle, “Increasing Demand for Thoroughbreds”
Increasing demand?
When did this happen?
There used to be a place to show Thoroughbreds. It was called the hunter industry. If you wanted a chance with any other breed, you had to wait for the non-Thoroughbred classes. Now it’s the other way around. They have special Thoroughbred-only classes.
I repeat, when did this happen?
The question is rhetorical. I watched it happen. I still don’t understand why it happened.
A while back, I was talking to a young professional about Rodney. I mentioned that his former owners told me he had jumped 5 feet. Whether or not this is a fish tale is not germane. This person said that Thoroughbreds should not jump that high.
Excuse me?????
Thoroughbreds are awesome jumpers. The best.
Do the names Snowbound, Bally Cor, or Touch of Class ring any bells? They are three of the four American Olympic gold medalists in jumping and eventing. Thoroughbreds all. Snowbound and Touch of Class were ex-racehorses. (The fourth, Custom Made, was 1/4 Irish Draught and imported.)
American riders in forward seat on Thoroughbreds. It’s what we do best. Why did we ever move away from that?
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Virtual Brush Box 
So. Why did we move away from that?
Thoroughbreds require tactful handling which the rider must learn. Learning tactful handling requires years of study and concentration. Current trend is to buy an already-trained and princess-proof warmblood for megabucks which doesn’t require tact, so Daddy’s Princess can win the big stuff without working for it.
By the way, include Untouchable in your list of Thoroughbreds that can do.
Why? I’m still on Team TB, so I don’t really know why. I have thoughts. This may call for a follow-up post.
Anon. Also Keen. And Idle Dice. And …
It’s as anonymous said, too many people don’t want to take the time. What happened to bonding with your horse, becoming a team, putting in the time?
I adored Idle Dice.
Now that I look back, Idle Dice probably had a hoof in renaming Roscoe to Rodney.