READERS FORUM - PART TWO

Dear BYRH,

How time has a way of getting away from one's self! I had intentions of writing you a few lines after our phone conversation a few days later but never got to it.

Your book, The Backyard Race Horse was excellent! Now I'm looking forward to your video on training. Hope you have it out before too long! We found out you're having a seminar at the Iowa Horse Fair in April and are making plans to be there! Both to hear you speak and see if we can get you to come to North Dakota sometime in the near future. I've enclosed a check for the newsletter and would appreciate any back issues! Thank you!

J.E.Marcotte
Grand Forks, North Dakota

By now, you know that I met with you in Iowa and we had a good visit. Maybe we can get a group of people from your area to come down to my farm in the middle of your cold cold winter and have a two day seminar. Not too much can be going on up there at that time and it is neat to see how it's done off the farm, rather than just talking about it! Of course I would love to go to your area as well...it's great fun to meet the horsemen in different areas and see how they are coping with the constant challenges of keeping racing going. On every trip I get more input for the next book and am constantly surprised by how innovative and determined horse people can be! I hope to hear from you soon, Jim. Meanwhile, I'll be sending you more Newsletters to spread around.-editor

Dear BYRH,

Recently I picked up a copy of your Backyard Race Horse Newsletter at the HBPA office at Ladbroke D.R.C.. Livonia, MI.

I have been involved in horse racing for over twenty years. I do truly believe horses are better racing off the farm. We have been doing that for years. They have time to relax and be a horse. They can breathe fresh air. They don't have to be in a stall and breathe all that dust and urine smell that they can't get away from at the race track. They also recover quicker after a race. Turn out is so important! This year we started six times. We had two wins, one second, one third and one forth!

I was sorry I missed your presentation at the MTOBA sale when you were in Michigan. Enclosed you will find a flyer on an equine information fair my sister's 4-H club is putting on. She has enlisted me to gather any information on racing that I can. I'll also be giving a breed speech on racing in general.

There will be an information tent set up so people can take home literature on Racing. Like you had mentioned in your newsletter, racing needs exposure more in the general horse industry. If you have any information you can send, it would be greatly appreciated.

Rosemarie Blohm
New Haven, Michigan

Dear Rosemarie,

Thank you for your note-it's important for people to know that you can race from the farm and win. Michigan is a lovely place with beautiful farms and all kinds of good horse people. I hope to have an opportunity to do a two day seminar there some time...it could help the pleasure horse people cross over into racing. I've enclosed two books...one for you and one for your sister's 4-H club to use as a door prize. My children grew up in 4-H and loved it. We could utilize these grass root clubs to be a part of racing...I wish I could get some help to develop a program that could be used with 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs throughout the USA. This could have a wonderful positive impact on racing- long term! Maybe racing will wake up and realize that having a youth program would greatly enhance the image and future of the racing industry.

I've enclosed a packet of newsletters for you to put in the tack stores around your area...thank you for your help! editor

Dear BYRH,

Thank you for your donation of the book to the 4-H club and to me. I will put the newsletters you have given me in the information tent at the fair. My sister and her club were very happy about your donation . I know when I give my speech on racing and training I will mention the alternative ways of training. If you are in Michigan around the fourteenth come to the fair and give a brief speech!

I was in 4-H as a youngster and from there went to the racetrack. My friend and I used to hop the fence to walk hots. We were under age and girls! Kathy Moore ended up being a jockey! I was too big and just galloped and ponied! There I met my husband. We've been together over twenty years, racing, training, breeding, vanning, and boarding...whatever we can do to stay in the business we love!

They just raised the purses here in Michigan since they have full card simulcasting.

The purses are great-especially for Michigan breds. Hopefully it will stay strong. Right now we are just running 2 Michigan breds. We have a couple of young ones and they are galloping fine cross country. In a matter of days they will be introduced to the race track. We did van one there a couple of times and he took it all in stride! The first thing people ask is how big of a track do you have to have on your farm and I just chuckle and say ride them cross country! The main thing with a young one is to take your time and make sure they are mentally and physically able when you run them.

Well, I could go on and on...but I'll get writers cramps. I'll gladly distribute your newsletters in various tack shops in my area.

After reading some of your book and all of the newsletters, it really hits home! It was hard to put them down!

Four kids from my mothers 4-H club pursued careers in horse racing! One is an outrider at Suffolk Downs, one is a jockey, one is a Standard bred trainer, and one is a New York farm manager!

Keep up the excellent work to make racing more friendly and better!

Rosemarie Blohm
New Haven, Michigan

Dear Rosemarie,

Again, your comments reinforce my belief that making Horse racing more of a Middle America sport is part of the over all solution. The monies from simulcasting are a great stimulation to your state program, but remember...there is only so much gambling money available. There will be a point of saturation. If racing can also be an attractive sport for youngsters who love horses, learning more about it while participating in 4-H programs and FFA programs will have a long term impact on the industry.

Every major sport has a youth program and markets to the future audience. We in racing lack unification and a vision for the future. It would be nice to have the industry back a youth program . I am hoping to meet with the AHC Youth Council to suggest programs that would work!

Remember...Everything you do with a horse is an experiment...if it works-great! If not, try something else!

Brian Sears
Trainer

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