Q:
How much ‘training’ do the yearlings undergo (in handling, etc.) and what is the next step in their development (ie, when they are introduced to bridle/saddle, and eventually ridden, gate training). Do they ‘graduate’ to another location/farm where they are taught these things?
Sue MacPhee
Toledo, OH
A:“Training” begins at the time the horses are weaned at Lanes End and continues until they leave the farm. Horses are taught to lead, walk and stand while traveling to and from the barn as weanlings and into their yearling year. This is a very important stage in development where they build a cohesive bond with humans. In their latter weanling months/short yearling they are more formally introduced to plastic bit and grooming tools such as brushes, mane combs and hoof picks. Bits are connected to their halters while they are being groomed in their stalls for a smooth transition for when we start prep.
Usually sometime shortly after the derby, the yearlings are broke to a surcingle with side reins (tack) and prep begins. At Lane’s End we prep yearlings to be racehorses. The yearlings start staying up in the barns all day instead of going out in the afternoon to protect their coats from sunburn. We hand walk the yearlings in a 40 acre field as a training tool as well as trot them in a covered round pen for fitness. Both of these are important part of the prep process. We use the surcingle and side reins for both walking in the fields and trotting in the round pens to ensure proper movement.
More aggressive grooming methods are used during prep where they are introduced to a curry comb for shedding, rub rags to bring out the natural oils in there coats and a hose/bath. We do not ride the yearlings during this process—yearlings are broke to riders after they leave the farm in the fall. Most of the yearlings at the farm are sent to either Florida or South Carolina in September/October and the training process starts over with the next crop of weanlings.
Expert: Cooper Sawyer
Q:
Does your farm try to keep the same “social companions” throughout their years as part of the broodmare bands, or does this change often?
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Alexander, ND
A:When broodmares have become good friends we do try and keep them together as long as their status allows us to. A happy mare is typically a healthy mare. However if a mare is given a year off from foaling and her friends are in foal then she will have to join a group of non pregnant or “barren” mares for the health of the herd, as her routine and feeding will differ from that of the pregnant mares.
When mares move away from their friends they adjust quite quickly to a new group and within a day or two have usually bonded with the new group. They are a social animal and need the company of the others in the herd.
Expert: Donna Vowles
Our Experts
Assistant Broodmare Manager, Lane’s End
Originally from Birmingham, England, Donna joined the Lane’s End team in 2004. As Assistant Broodmare Manager, she devotes her time to ensuring the health and happiness of all the broodmares and their foals.
Yearling Manager, Lane’s End
Cooper was born in Lexington, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Agriculture. He started working with horses in 1997 in the training barn of Al Stall Jr. Before coming to Lane’s End as the Yearling Manager in 2010, I worked at Wimbledon and Mill Ridge Farm.
♥ Auntie Judy aka JAG - So. California
♥ Dear Fellow Libra Deborah Richman! ♥
♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫ Hope you have a great day!!
♥ JAG :-)
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Debbie R.:
Happy, Happy Birthday. Hugs, JB
Anne from Paramount
Sure hope this is the latest page/date, since I want send huge high hoof thanks to all who have wished me and Rod a happy birthday this month. Too much time has gone by for me to remember one and all (although I plan to scan, later), but I want to note the frog hunting story from Sally B (I hope I have the right author there) and thanks to Sue Fredrick, also. The biggest kudos of course go to our Trina, whom I have thanked separately, for her fantastic poems. They have been making the rounds and eliciting smiles to whomever reads them. Trina, thanks again for the accuracy (!) and cheeriness in your epics. (Lava Man and I are now really immortalized, as is our Alaskan cruise. WOW!) Oh yes, all of the house frogs say thanks, too.
Moving on, an update on Rightful Image. A couple of weeks ago we learned from our trainer that he (horse, not trainer, although…) is being pointed for Hollypark. Rightful has been having recent weekly workouts, so we thought it might be sooner, but, no. It helps to have a general time frame, although we have been down this road before. Rightful has something in common with Animal Kingdom–they’ve both been off a LONG time.
And it was great to see you all there at Z’s unveiling–and with Dottie amazed as she looked at that fantastic scrapbook of Karen’s….a high hoof fun time. :-)
Breeders’ Cup countdown! Now it’s time to listen to the morning radio shows.
Thanks again and happy birthday to the other October birthdays, such as Deborah!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Anne from Paramount:
Looking forward to following Rightful Image’s return to racing. Wishing him safe and sound trips. Hugs, JB
dhoinmia
i know the foal is the focus these days, but some pics of the Queen in her second pregnancy would be great. we still want to see her and know how she is doing. no everyone is on facebook or twitter! thanks,.
Anne from Paramount
An amusing story: earlier this month I accidentally hit the panic button on my key chain for our home alarm system (since our burglary last December….) and was surprised to hear this woman’s voice come out of the wall, asking me to identify myself, password and so on. After that, a friend who is on our call if needed list, called us to say Security had called him and told him the police would be coming to our place. Well, during this time, Rod was almost asleep, but couldn’t help but hear some of the commotion, so I alerted him to the police coming. Two officers came and after asking if we were okay, asked to come in house to to make sure. In fact they nicely insisted. I said sure, nice to know the system works, but give me a minute to let my husband know they were actually here. Then, once inside, ambling down hallway to bedroom (Rod still there), they apparently noticed some horse racing pix on the wall, because one asked me if we went to the track often. We both gave him a very brief synopsis of our track life (including ownership), they asked quarterhorses or thoroughbreds and the one said he’s been known to make a few bets himself, in the past. I thought this was funny, the Paramount cops come to check out the scene, actually talk to us (Rod -still in bed-) about horse racing!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Anne from Paramount:
Great story. Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Great story. Thanks for sharing it w/ us Ann w/ an E!
Anne from Paramount
Judy Berube, thanks for your wishes on “Rightful” and also on my true tale. ;-)
So, this afternoon we saw on HRTV that Chantal announced her retirement from racing today. We couldn’t hear the commentary (not at home or the track) so don’t know if it is effective today or not. I don’t think she had any mounts today. They showed quick shots of her in various silks, smiling. Well, she was not getting many mounts and after losing “Dude,” she may have lost interest. I know she isn’t going to need food stamps, but I do feel bad for her–but perhaps it is the best decision for her.
Anne from Paramount
Ah, just read where Chantal was in Canada today (thanks JAG)…..she felt most comfortable there, she said, when she made her announcement.