READERS FORUM - PART THREE

Dear BYRH,

So sorry to hear, through the newsletter, about your mare, First Prediction and know you must miss her. I'm sending you this poem, from one horse lover, especially grays, to another. It was written "The Gray Horse" but I've changed it to "The Gray Mare".

After reading your book and talking to you on the phone once, although we've never met, I felt you would appreciate the sentiment in this poem. I read it years ago and saved it. I don't know who the author is but obviously a horse lover.

Keep up your good work on behalf of the racehorses. If there were more trainers and owners like you, the industry would be a much better place.

Sincerely,
Bobbye Clark
Vintage Farm, Spokane, WA

THE GRAY MARE

A dappled mare stood at the edge of the meadow,
She was peaceful and quiet and gray as a shadow.
Something she seemed to be saying to me,
As she stood in the shade of the chestnut tree.

It's a wonderful morning she seemed to say,
So jump on my back and let's be away!
It's over the hedge we'll leap and fly,
And up the hill to the edge of the sky.

For over the hill there are fields without end;
On the galloping downs we can run like the wind.
Down pathways we'll canter, by streams we'll stray,
Oh, jump on my back and let's be away!

As I went by the meadow one fine autumn morn,
The gray mare had gone like a ghost with the dawn;
She had gone like a ghost and not waited for me,
and it's over the hilltop she'd surely be.

When I read this poem I'm afraid it tugged at my heart. I still miss my dear friend and know that she was truly one in a million...a noble mare who never let me down. I know I was honored to have had such a mare and it is because of her that I learned so much about the training of horses. She ran on food and water and competed against the top mares in the country. In one of her best years she lost by a neck to Anka Germania, the Champion Mare of that year. She is an inspiration to all of us...she was special. Thank you Bobbye for the lovely poem. editor.

Hi BYRH , Terry McDonald-Barber from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, here-I don't know if you remember me or not, but I just wanted to let you know-how things are going for me since I quit my day job and took to training race horses (Arabians).

As of today, I have 9 races--4 wins (On Oct. 4 at Playfair in Spokane, Washington there were three Arabian races and I pulled a "hat trick" and won all three! Three seconds and two thirds...I am definitely on cloud nine!

Also want you to know I am constantly referring to your book-thanks to it, I was able to successfully "work through" my first episode with a "bucked shin". It was a very valuable learning experience for me and luckily the "bump" dissipated. Even though I had done much conditioning with this 4 year old colt on the farm, it was the speed at the track that got him.

As I looked back on my training charts, it became obvious to me that I had fallen into the "too much too soon (speed) syndrome". I now adhere to your advice explicitly!

The results speak for themselves!! Your method works! Thanks do much!

Terry Mcdonald Barber,
Cloud Nine Racing Stables
E6665 Borley Road,
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
phone 208 666 1536
fax 208 765 4032

Boy! What a wonderful note! You made my day! You realize that you have done well because you listen to your horses and you learn from your mistakes! I've put your address and phone in because I know you did quit your day job and I hope you get many good solid owners to keep up your farm and your goals. Congratulations! You have had a terrific start!-editor

Dear BYRH,

I don't know what to say other than that I was sorry to hear about First Prediction. I know so well a little of how you feel. At least you know, as we do, that our mares are now grazing together without any pain. If you do nothing else, I want you to take a few minutes to reflect the times she "gave you". Just remember how she would run, and do it so well, because she enjoyed it. Always know that she knew of your love, care, and enjoyment of being around her each day. You only need to look at the walls inside your house filled with her win pictures to see her during her wonderful career. There are so many in this business who desire to have what she gave you. There is no money in the world to compare to the feeling you always had to just stand and look at her in the pasture. While she is gone now , First Prediction has left you with success, happiness, joy, and has really helped to mold you into a very effective and knowledgeable horsewoman. My heart goes out to you as you know I'm feeling the pain with you. You made the right decision but you miss her. Remember that your friends will always be there to help you in any way. We too, are getting the benefits that First Prediction has given you. The lessons she taught you will be learned for many years by many people. I'm thankful to be connected with the chain of knowledge she has spread. If there is anything I can ever do, please feel free to call me

Thank you for leading me to many great people in the industry. You will never really know how much you already mean to me, and how you have helped me to get on the right foot from the start. You continue to prove to me that there are really some good honest people in this business. as I deal with it from day to day, it amazes me that I could pick up a book, call the author, and then actually meet the author, ride with her, help her at the track and learn from a real expert. You are such a credit to the industry and it needs help. Just keep it up and remember if it is easy... it is not worth it. Thanks Again

Terry Hancock

Dear BYRH,

I've kept your newsletter since 1996 and have been meaning to write. I have been training out of my "backyard" for 37 years! I've seen a ton of gimmicks come and go and I know that the horses are better off being turned out every day and being horses. I'm running a horse I bred -he's now nine and still competitive. He wouldn't have lasted a season at the track.

I have a small farm...10 acres and love my horses. I run my own horses (born here) and have formed some useful opinions about racing.

First-a little background-I'm now a retired engineer and my daughter, Suane Sundin, was the first female jockey at Longacres in Seattle-she was the first girl to get a jock's license on the West Coast. That can give you an idea of how long I've been around! There is nothing more fun that winning races with your horse! At any level it is exciting and thrilling! I know a great deal about racing in all kinds of circumstances and have tried and rejected many theories about what race horses need.

I like what you wrote in the book-especially the part about allowing them to be turned out between races. I've been doing that for years. My horses run about every 14 days...I have found if you run more frequently the horse may be sharper for the next race but it will take alot out of him...I want him to be around a long time! I do not train my horses between races...both the horses and I take it easy. If they need exercise before the next race, they start running around and exercising themselves and if they're tired, they rest and rebuild between races!

I want to warn your readers to stay away from the steroids-they are a short cut to breakdown. I'm a trainer and would like you to put me on the trainers list...I'm glad to help anyone out. I've got some common sense ideas...if you're interested I'd be glad to share them.

Sherman Sundin
Lovettsville, VA

Boy, I couldn't get on the phone fast enough to talk with Sherman. He has 37 years experience and thinks shipping in is the best thing for the horse! And has raced successfully! In our conversations I found that he has arrived at many of the same conclusions as I have in respect to what is important to the horse. It is great to have some one else, who's tried many techniques to confirm that common sense works. Sherman has agreed to write me about a few subjects he feels will help trainers. I'm going to hold him to his promise and plan to hear his ideas on bleeding, bucked shins, and bowed tendons. Finally someone on the track willing to share his experience! editor

Go to Issue #11, Reader's Forum Part 1
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