2010 Trainee Views

March, Kentucky, 2011

Almost a full three months have flown by since we all arrived in Lexington, Kentucky. All the trainees are thrilled that spring is around the corner. We are not just thrilled at the prospect of excellent racing from Keeneland and Churchill Downs, but also for the days of sunshine and warmer weather. When we posted last, we were facing snow storms and frigid temperatures but just today we were greeted with a hint of Kentucky in the spring with a temperature of 78 degrees, a light breeze, and prevailing sunshine.

Since January, the trainees all passed their final exams at the Kentucky Horseshoeing School with excellent marks, the highest going to Brianne who consequently had to learn the “Blacksmith Dance” from Mitch Taylor, our instructor. The greatest test of the KHS course wasn’t the written exam that left our hands numb from writing or the tense practical where Mitch watched our every move while we strained to pull the shoes off pasture ponies. No, the greatest test was the character-building time we spent out in the cold, blistering wind at Old Friend’s Retirement Farm trimming the feet of retired legends in the snow and mud.

Luckily in the weeks following our graduation from KHS we were given a slight break from the arctic conditions with a series of fascinating visits and lectures. The trainees enjoyed an informative lecture from Dr. Sue McDonnell from New Bolton Center who has devoted her professional career to becoming an expert on stallion behavioural psychology. Also during the week, we visited KESMARC, the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, and saw the latest technology in rehab treatments including an aqua-tread, swimming pool, hyperbaric chamber, and vibrating platform. To close the week we visited the legendary farms of Calumet, Gainesway, Claiborne, and Castleton Lyons. The trainees will not soon forget the visit to Claiborne Farm after experiencing the enthusiasm of the jack-of-all-trades tour guide, Tony. Though Tony spoke to us about the past Claiborne giants like Secretariat, Danzig, and Mr. Prospector; there was no mistaking his pride when he mentioned a slightly lesser known horse by the name of Doc La Pointe running at Turfway Park that day.

Following our week of visits we jumped back into the elements when we began our practical work rotations. The trainees were paired up and dispersed over the multifaceted Darley operations that included mornings at Gainsborough, Stonerside, Dubai Millennium, the stallion shed and office at Jonabell, Johnny Burke’s stable at Keeneland, travelling with several Hagyard vets, and night time foal watch at Gainsborough. The work rotations brought about many challenges as well as some memorable moments. What we all thought was going to be a chance to gain more practical experience soon became more of a survival of the fittest. The foal watchers were forced to come up with various concoctions of extremely potent energy drinks to keep their own picture from joining the photo gallery of sleeping Darley Flying Start trainees on the foaling barn computer. Others on the practical rotations were facing such challenges as digging out the Darley vehicles from under piles of snow and ice in the mornings, remembering the codes to the farm gates and attempting to find an ovary when palpating a nurse mare with hips as wide as the stall door. Yes, we all have been gaining practical experience through our work rotations, with some lessons harder than others. One trainee in particular will never forget the hard hitting lesson taught to him by a little teaser named Macho Man.

As our practical rotations continue in the mornings, the trainees stay occupied in the afternoons through visits and lectures. The early days of February were full with riveting lectures from Hagyard vets on everything from reproductive efficiency, foaling and foal care, to the precision of acupuncture treatment. During these afternoons we were privileged to have lectures from the venerable John Williams, who talked with us about stallion conformation (going over each of the Darley stallions in detail) as well as yearling conformation on weekend trips to Dubai Millennium Farm. A visit to the Keeneland Sales pavilion was next on the calendar. The trainees spent the afternoon learning from the members of the Keeneland sales team. Also adding to the excitement of February’s activities was a visit to Rood & Riddle where half of us in turn got to meet with the legendary Dr. Bramlage and witness his expertise first hand as we studied slight lameness in horses at the jog. Ending the month of February was the feared Equine Nutrition midterm test at the University of Kentucky. We all managed to survive the test with no more than a few sore wrists and a pencil callus here and there on a finger. Everyone had studied hard and put in a very good effort given the challenging subject.

Farm visits for the month of February and March left the trainees awe-struck. The first visit was a trip to Winstar where the trainees met with Tony Cissell. At Winstar we had the opportunity to see the likes of Distorted Humor and Tiznow, but perhaps the highlight of the tour, for at least Michael and Barry, was a chance to hold the World Cup trophy won by Well Armed in the Winstar office. The trainees next had the pleasure of meeting with Bill at Adena Springs where we enjoyed the chance to see power stallions Awesome Again and Macho Uno. Following that visit, the trainees found themselves at Three Chimneys where they had the pleasure of meeting Case Clay, the president of the farm, and sat down with him for a stimulating talk about the industry. The talk soon left the office and continued outdoors with a walk though the paddocks where the trainees got to give a pat to Big Brown and Sky Mesa, while admiring Dynaformer from afar. March was highlighted by a visit to Taylor Made as part of our two day client relations seminar headed up by Reed Ringler. While at Taylor Made, we learned the finer points of customer service from Mark Taylor, followed by a stallion show that included Eskendereya and Unbridled’s Song.
It is incredible to think that amid the buzz of activities during the week, the trainees have found some free time to make use of. After the morning rotations, receiving Brianne’s timely texts with the precise time of departure (down to the accuracy of a minute, second, and hundredth second), and after the final lecture or visit of the day, the trainees have had time create some weekly traditions. The classroom projector always seems to disappear mysteriously every Friday (to the dismay of team leader Leah) in conjunction with Michael Morrison’s big screen, live Aussie racing on Friday nights. Currently, Michael Hardy is attempting to over throw basketball queen Lindsay Schultz with his bracket in the Gainsborough March Madness tournament. Nick, it would seem, is forever running somewhere and announced just today that he ran 20 miles in a little over 2 hours. While others may not be running 20 miles every day, almost everyone has been going to the gym consistently with the hopes of getting ready for the warm weather and an open pool.

There is a lot to look forward to as spring in Kentucky begins to unfold and the trainees are thrilled about what is to come. The words Derby trail, prep races, and a mile and a quarter in May have all been rolling off of everyone’s lips. With the Keeneland meet weeks away and Churchill Downs just around the corner, the trainees’ hopes are high as some of the best of American horse racing begins to kick off!

Leah Clark and Brianne Sharp

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