Well once again it's been a really long time since I've had a chance to get some thoughts typed in. Summer time has brought me more than I expected! I have old clients calling, wanting to bring their horses in for boarding - and I have to keep turning them away due to lack of space. I have people calling for lessons - and not enough lesson days to accommodate them all the way they deserve. I have people wanting some training put on their horses - and not enough free time to take on more.
These are all admittedly happy problems when you think of what real problems we've had in the past. It's nice to have too many clients as your main concern instead of: How am I going to feed these guys come winter? or Uh oh, Tequilla's laminitic again so we need to find yet another way to manage her feet. These are the kind of problems that one would usually find on a horse farm. Not here at the moment - knock on wood. :)
We just need some more room! And to make enough moolah to allow me to quit at least one of my jobs to focus more on the horses and clients. Wouldn't that be nice!
And so once again as demand dictates, my priorities for the summer have shifted. If I am going to be successful in the horse business, I have found out that (unfortunately) I need to focus a little more on making money, than spending it riding in too many races. I need to keep my lesson horses in shape and sharp instead of being able to keep my racers in peak condition. This bothers me, but they have no problems with a little less work, so why should I right?
I must remember to keep my border-line A.D.D in check and FOCUS on what I want to achieve. This is harder than one might think! I want to race my horse, run a successful race and training barn, give lessons......all while maintaining and renovating this farm for a quick-ish sale.
And just to add to my To Do list, I recently became partner in a racing stable and bought into a broodmare!
Her name is "Inca Is Calling", and she arrived at the farm on June 9th; 2 weeks after her last race. She immediately captivated everyone who looked at her. Now Inca may be done racing, but she has more than enough to offer us in her pedigree. My partner - Joe Lefevre - is the race bloodline expert, but I can tell you that she is related to "Citation" and "Count Fleet" - both triple crown winners - within 5 generations. That's not something you see anymore. Some other names in her pedigree include "Northern Dancer", "Mr. Prospector" (her Grand Sire), Fly Till Dawn (Grand Dam), and a gelding who is tearing through the racing world right now: "Inca King".She is also very closely related to the great "Man O War"! I don't know about you, but I find that extremely impressive - and so do some of the bigger stud farms in Canada!
We have been talking to them as we have been checking out stallions, and so far Sam-Son Farm (one of the biggest in Canada) likes her so much that they are willing to offer us a discount to breed her to their stud, "Strut The Stage"! Somehow we did something right, 'cause we got really lucky to have found a horse of such caliber. She's tough too. She ran 50 races and earned over $160 000.00 in her career. Had she been managed better, I believe she could have won more, but that is neither here nor there. The point is, her babies will be managed in a way that optimizes their chances for a rich racing career.
And we'll be breaking all the rules! No performance enhancing drugs - just smart, consciencious training and conditioning. No pain killers before a race - if the horse is off, the horse does not race. None of my horses are going to fall victim to the pitfalls of those raced by careless owners. And I hope this gives them a better chance at longer, healthier careers. If that works, the money should follow, right? Man I hope so.
Our stable's name is "Peace 'N' Love Racing", and I am a 40% owner. It's kind of exciting and scary at the same time - and I hope it's an investment that pays off - especially since I've effectively put the long distance competition riding on partial hold for the moment.
All in all, things are going pretty well here on the farm. We're really cleaning it up and it's starting to look quite pretty! These things please me to no end. Sometimes I sit outside on quiet mornings and just watch the horses lazing in their paddocks. This gives me a peaceful feeling that stays with me all day.
I don't know how I inherited this great love of animals - horses in particular - but I'm glad for it. I wouldn't know what to do without it.
And now to get back at it.
Peace! :)
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