Tales of the Lost Lead pretty much describes my status quo in training my horse. Let's go back a little bit to the beginning.....(insert cheesey harp music here)....
A few years ago, my Paint Horse, Romeo, was doing superb at the Starter level, placing 2nd at Sayre, then winning the Bluegrass State Games, then placing 3rd at Champagne Run Mini-Trial. We were about to move up to Beginner Novice, when he came up lame...like all the time. It was all of the sudden, and after 2 years of trying to help him be sound enough to ride, I realized that his condition was beyond help. Thus, he is retired...at 11 years of age....throw in having to scramble to find a place to live and impending divorce and I was miserable.
Fate has a weird way of bringing you exactly what you need at exactly the right time. The temporary house that I was renting happened to be right adjacent to a couple who bred and raced Thoroughbreds. Most of the ones around my house were broodmares, foals and young stock, but one day, this big, beautiful grey gelding appeared in one of the pastures. Upon closer inspection, I was in love!! My neighbor let me try him out, and after x-rays of his hind ankles, I purchased 3 year old Smokin' Bobby Joe (Smokey). Smokey had 3 starts on the track, placed in 1 of 3 races, and in his final race, fractured a bone in his right hind ankle (hence the x-rays). If I didn't purchase him, his plan was to go back to the training center and race again...yeah, like that didn't sway my decision!
I have always wanted to try my hand at re-training a OTTB. Nothing like diving in head-first!! It has been honestly one of the most eye opening experiences of my life...both for myself and the breed. I had this idea in my head that Thoroughbreds were flighty and kind of stupid. This horse is actually very intelligent...and loaded with personality!! And can he ever throw a temper tantrum!! Seriously, I wish that there was a "Super Nanny" for horses, because he would be on that show. Thus, bringing us to the present day.
Smokey has always been more proficient to the right, especially cantering. All summer and fall of 2010, we did nothing but stay at the trot because of 2 reasons: a) he tending to "drift" ...okay..."run" into the canter when he was unbalanced at the trot, and b) my thought was that he needed to learn balance at the walk and trot before we move into the canter. Hehe, nothing to this re-training process...WRONG. Now, that we have a lovely, balanced trot (most of the time), I have found that we have lost our left lead completely. Gone. Poof. Like the Bermuda Triangle...it just disappeared. Thus, the "Tales of the Lost Lead".
So, this blog is dedicated to my search for the lost left lead....and all the interesting things that happen along the way. Enjoy the adventure!!
Kristen
