The RRTP and T.I.P.

I just found the greatest website http://retiredracehorsetraining.org/  As the web address says, it is the Retired Racehorse Training Project. Their logo says, Increasing demand for Thoroughbreds off the track. I can't explain their work any better than their mission statement which says: 
The Retired Racehorse Training Project is an effort to increase demand for retired Thoroughbred race horses as pleasure and sport horses through public events, clinics, training publications, videos and internet tools. Our mission is to facilitate the placement  of retired Thoroughbred racehorses in second careers by educating the public about the history, distinctive characteristics, versatility of use, and appropriate care and training of the iconic American Thoroughbred.
The RRTP is a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible pursuant to applicable laws.

Bouffe and I are now both members. This is Bouffe's page: 
http://retiredracehorsetraining.org/index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=62&sid=1770:Bouffe&Itemid=307

My page isn't anything I haven't already shared on this blog. In reading the information on this site I found out that RRTP founder and current president Steuart Pittman was judging an all Thoroughbred horse show at the Harford County Equestrian Center tomorrow. In looking at the class listing for the show I noticed that all the horses had to be registered with the T.I.P. I had no idea what that meant so I did what I usually do and Goggled it. This is what happened.

The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program T.I.P. 
http://tjctip.com/
To encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding, The Jockey Club is proud to announce the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). T.I.P. offers sponsorship for Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions, high point Thoroughbred awards at open horse shows and competitions, a Thoroughbred of the Year Award and a Young Rider of the Year Award

It was easy to register Bouffe and he now has a T.I.P. number. 


Tomorrow it is off to the show and see what our future competition looks like.

The Lessons Got Harder

I was still sore from the trail ride on Monday and I didn't realize how weak my lower legs were until I got on Bouffe and squeezed my legs to apply the aids. Trecie really stepped up the lesson and began teaching me dressage. 

There was so much to remember, squeeze with the inside leg, squeeze with the outside leg, jiggle the reins to get Bouffe to lower his head, sit up straighter. I was able to do what she asked but my legs were weak. Bouffe was doing fine, but I didn't have the confidence I had during and after the first lesson. This was going to be hard work!

Memorial Day Trail Ride

Bouffe and I did so well in our first lesson that I asked Tricie if she was going on a trail ride anytime soon. She was, and we set it up for the following Monday, which was Memorial Day. 

After the lesson I felt so good mentally that I knew I couldn't wait until Monday to ride again. But my body had different ideas. Thursday morning my lower legs were VERY weak and a little sore. 

Now since the first of the month I have had our swimming pool open for the summer and have been doing laps first thing in the morning, which does relive the tightness I feel in my legs when I first get out of bed. So, even though my legs were weak I swam anyway, which did its usual, reliving the tightness, but they still were not good as I stumbled and weaved to keep my balance when I first got out of the pool and when I first went in the house. 

I sat and rested for about fifteen minutes and my balance was better, even though my legs didn't feel strong. They had an increase in the numbness, which gets progressively worse as it runs down from my knees to my feet. But I was determined to ride Bouffe the next day. 

In the past I have given in to the MS symptoms and pretty much stayed home, but this time I decided to fight them back with as much exercise as I could manage to do. Enter dressage rider training.

I am not promoting any particular website but there is  dressage rider training available on the Internet. Now, it is for able body riders but I decided to give it a shot, taking into consideration my physical disability in choosing the exercises to do. 

On Friday morning I didn't feel any worse from the previous day's activities, so I swam my laps before I drove the thirty minutes to ride Bouffe. I was having some doubts as I got dressed but the adrenaline took over once I put on my boots and loaded the saddle bag into my car.

This time of year the horses are turned out during the day and to bring Bouffe in requires a walk most of the time, to the opposite end of a five acre field from the barn. For a person with MS the going is kind of rough up and down some rolling hills and a small jump across a stream. But after about ten minutes I made it with only a few very short rest stops along the way.

By the time I brought Bouffe in and brushed his coat and picked his feet, I was tried, but decided to ride anyway. Bouffe stood quietly while I tacked him up and also when I used the mounting block to get on his back. We rode around the ring, pretty much the way we did the first time I rode Bouffe. I didn't do too bad and decided that would be enough until Monday.

Gunpowder Stables backs up the Gunpowder State Park and there are miles of trails to ride. I felt pretty good physically on Monday and Bouffe continued his unshakable nature as we rode through the woods and even jumped, not very well, a fallen tree. By the time we got back about a half and hour later I considered the day a success. 

The First Lesson

I hadn't mentioned it before, but Bouffe is stabled at Gunpowder Stables in Kingsville, MD. The owner of the farm Patrice Messercola daughter Tricie, taught lessons, mostly to children, but I had seen her ride and knew she was experienced. A couple of days ago I asked her about coaching me and found out she was a three day event rider who was experienced through training level dressage, which is the discipline I wanted to show Bouffe in. So today is our first lesson.

Because of all his years on the race track Bouffe is more comfortable traveling around the ring the same direction the races  run, counterclockwise and responds to all aids better on his left side than his right; therefore, we did most of our work clockwise. 

I felt like a beginner when Tricie showed me how to hold my reins, out from the horses neck and how to squeeze with my lower leg in the long stirrup leathers. Much different from the hiked up stirrups I was used to at the racetrack. My legs are much weaker now, because of the MS, than they were the last time I rode seriously on the racetrack. My lower legs were aching from squeezing Bouffe's sides to make him bend and I thought I will never be able to post when Tricie said, "trot please."

I had never trotted in hippotherapy and was surprised how strong my legs felt as I was able to lift myself up and down off the saddle.  My confidence was growing.

Bouffe had always worn a shadow roll when he raced and I could see why, as he carried his head high as we trotted. Tricie showed me how to apply and release pressure on the reins on the outside and then the inside rein, which did help, even if ever so briefly, Bouffe to get the idea to lower his head.

Tricie said I was doing well and so was Bouffe. We ended the lesson on that positive note.

Riding Bouffe

I have given Bouffe a few days to settle in to his new surroundings,  which he adapted to quickly and decided today is the day for our first ride.

Even though I had galloped many difficult horses in the past, I knew this could be much different because of my MS. Bouffe was very quiet the day I bought him (see first post), but this would be knew surroundings and I was the only person at the farm. My mind raced with all the things that could go wrong, but nothing did. Bouffe was a perfect gentleman, as we rode around the ring, doing some circles and figure-eights. I was relieved, maybe I could ride him competitively.  The next step was looking for a coach.

The Players

Before we go any further, I thought I should introduce you to the players in this blog.

First off, there is me, Wayne Bien a retired (not by my choice) thoroughbred horse trainer and for at least one season an amateur steeplechase rider. I say not by my choice, because a neurological disease called Multiple Sclerosis came into my life 25 years ago, making it physically impossible for me to continue training horses. I did a variety of jobs (none of which I really liked) for the next ten years,  until the fatigue, caused by the MS, was so bad I couldn't work two days in a row. 

During all this time I never lost my interest in the racetrack and especially riding. Enter hippotherapy.

I was at a MS conference, where my soon to be hippotherapist, Robin Korotki,  was putting on a demonstration. It took me awhile to go to my first session; I didn't feel like I needed all of the help in riding a horse Robin offered. But eventually, I knew I had to ride again, no matter what, and started therapy with Robin.

During the last five years I have been riding therapeutically, I  never gave up on the idea of owning another horse of my own and that is where this blog begins.

This is My Lil Cup O' Tee (also known as Bouffe) winning his one and only race, in a long (until he was 12) but scattered race career. Now eighteen, Bouffe had spent the last six years standing in the field and only being used as a trail horse occasionally.

  

The Ad Read

For the past few months part of my daily routine was to read the horses for sale ads on the numerous Internet websites. I had found several different horses that I liked, but there something always just not right about the horses I had inquired about. 

It was getting into April when the ad appeared: My Little Cup o' Tee, Thoroughbred, year foaled-1995, gender-gelding,height-16.2, temperament 2, asking price-$50.00 

It all sounded good but the asking price was not in line with the rest of the description and I was expecting to find the reason in the notes at the bottom of the page, which read: 18 year old bay thoroughbred, ex- racehorse, been turned out and only ridden occasionally, needs training.

Nothing alarming, but I wasn't expecting much when I replied to the ad. I was surprised when my inquiry was answered a few hours later: Yes, he is still available. When would you like to see him?   

I explained my situation. I was a former trainer and point-to-point rider who had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and was looking for a horse to do low level dressage. Why were you selling the horse?

Again I receive a prompt answer: Kids have gone off to college and he's just standing in the field. I think if you understand track horses you should be fine with him.

Several days later I rode him. He was unshakable at a very busy boarding stable. I knew I'd found a horse!!