Thoroughbred Logic Series

I happily train all types of horses, but it is undoubtedly the Thoroughbred that I love. I owe that affection and conviction to their intelligence, their heart, their drive, their sensitivity, their goofy quirks, and their often-brutal honesty.

Each year, I have the privilege to contribute to the training of more than 50 Thoroughbreds. For some, I get to hop on to provide their first post-track ride. For others, my role is part of their longer process of discovering (and training for) appropriate second careers. For a handful, I get the pleasure of riding to provide further education and show experience. And then there are those who arrive at my farm for me to address significant behavioral issues.

In all cases, I play a middleman. I translate horse to human and back again. Regardless of whether I’m communicating with potential buyers, owners, students, clients, or friends, there are enormous similarities in what I end up explaining. Through writings, clinics, and classes, the Thoroughbred Logic series is an effort to share some of those insights and experiences more broadly.

More specifically, the weekly series of “Thoroughbred Logic” written pieces hosted by Horse Nation, nationally-held masterclasses, and local clinics is an effort to do a number of things: 

• Step more intentionally into the things I love (Thoroughbreds, teaching, writing)
• Share experience and insight on post-track training (particularly focused on the first year away from the races)
• Help to promote the breed BUT do so intelligently – working to provide info that helps make good matches between horse and human and dialing in on training, behavior, nutrition, health and the like. 

Importantly, what I write, say, train etc. is one way of many, many, many ways to engage these horses and topics. It is how I choose to ride forward and train, and all of it is built from my experience and the horses with whom I have spent time. I’m certain there are innumerable other means to do so… and that is exciting, because that is exactly why with horses, we never stop learning. So kick on, time to go forward.