44/ DECEMBER 2013 THE RIDER From Kill Pen to Podium, An Underdog’s Story
By Gemma Young Several years ago, my
friend Adrianna’s horse was waiting in a ‘kill pen’ in the US for her fate when she was rescued by a guy who takes horses from the lower end auctions and retrains them. Reckless Abandon
(her new name not her race name) had raced until she was 7 years old, winning more than she lost but somehow had not made it into one of those programs that retrains retired race- horses. Her rescuer usually only took horses that approached him which she was far too frightened to
do, but she was in luck anyways. A TV show wanted an ex-racehorse and she was the only one there. After 45 minutes he managed to halter her and he took her to his barn. My friend saw her
online, went down to see her and brought her back to Canada. The mare was sensitive but not harmful - she was flighty, and yet predictable in her fear once you got to know her. New people, new situations were mildly alarming but a roll of paper would send her down the other end of the arena even when a clock falling to the floor and
smashing didn’t even turn her head. They had been
through several barns, with barn owners and fellow boarders offering both advice and ridicule for owning
a ‘crazy’
horse. They finally moved to Equestrian Dreams where owner Debbie Dob- son took a different approach and their partner- ship grew stronger under Debbie’s
experienced
eye. Reckless Abandon tended to be tense but she was starting to relax, Adri- anna could ride her on a lighter contact, her old sti- fle injury was becoming
Above: Adrianna and Reckless Abandon At Right: Debbie Dobson from Equestrian Dreams with Adrianna
less stiff and she was get- ting stronger, more bal- anced and more flexible - starting to leg yield and half pass - it didn’t happen overnight but the changes were there. Debbie’s phi- losophy was, stop…lis- ten….. and her behaviour was actually predictable her response always flight, never fight. Debbie is an experi-
www.davisfeed.ca
enced Dressage Coach and after training at the new barn for several months with her - the first Dressage competition, a local school- ing show was upon them. They even had prac- ticed some Dressage tests off the property to ensure that new surroundings
wouldn’t be an issue. They were ‘on deck’
to ride their first Dressage test and then the bell rang, a forgotten memory - it was race time! She heard the bell and was at the
track again, she started to gallop immediately and they ended up leaving the ring.
The show was
lost...and they still had another test to go, this time
they were led up to the ring so the bell wouldn’t be an issue but as soon as they heard the sound she went into race mode again, she was no longer a Dressage horse. Adrianna knew as soon as she was release they would be galloping again. Then an unexpected helping hand, the Judge asked if someone could lead her throughout the test and friend offered to do just that, they knew they would be disqualified but it would help her horse understand her job. They entered the ring
and the friend ran the test with them (thankfully only a walk-trot test as her friend on the ground wasn’t yet established in her can- ter leads but she did salute at the end with her). They exited the ring to raucous applause from their barn friends (no jibes about a crazy horse, just support for a brave ride on a horse new at her job) but Adrian- na was still disappointed, she didn’t expect to win on her first time out but did hope to complete the test without assistance. She knew her horse could do better.
Where to go from
here? Even with all the practice, her horse had lost focus when it came to the test. Her coach was unde- terred - it should have been embarrassing for the coach but she still offered her full support - ‘These things happen with horses, we practice again, with a bell…’ she said. In the same barn were expensive imported Warmbloods and Adrianna was over- whelmed that this coach would spend so much time on her $500 off-the-track Thoroughbred. Adrianna pushed her disappointment aside and the pair contin- ued to practise and work hard.
Another show arrived
- They even stepped up the tests - two Training Level tests and two First Level tests (they had been school- ing Second level at home). Reckless Abandon kept her mind, despite bells, whistles and small children running riot and they completed the course. Their partnership had never been stronger. Adrianna hugged Debbie as they awaited the test scores - and they were good, they had items to work on but overall they were in the high 60’s - then the results - my friend’s smile grew wider with each placing - the result - four 1st places - one in each of the tests they had entered. And so it hap- pened, the moment you always hope for when the underdog wins. Next year - they go Gold level - wish them luck!
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