If I have to go to a horse sale, I am taking my snowboard with me.

This whole business of being closer to home is turning on me a little. While it is nice I can run home for the day and see the new foal or help get a few horses out as training begins, it also means I can be recruited for my least favorite thing in the world: horse sales.

I’m not a fan and I’m really not a fan if we’re selling. That is what we’ll be doing at the end of next month in Montana.

Most of our horses are bought and sold at the Heritage Sale in Oklahoma because they are race bred. I’ve gone once and it is kind of a neat place. Heritage Place is for Quarter Horses what Keenland is to Thoroughbreds.

But, the horses that are for sale right now are not horses bred to race so we’re heading to Montana.  It’s not the venue I’m worried about; it’s the idea of saying goodbye to the horses I’m not looking forward to. It’s the one thing I really have a hard time reconciling: I realize the horses are not pets even though we generally treat them like family members (I’d even venture to say a horse has – on occasion – gotten better treated by my parents than me.) But, in the case of these horses, they aren’t getting ridden a lot because we focus so much more on the race horses. These horses can go to homes where someone will do something with them; maybe show, run barrels or breed them. They won’t get that done staying with us, so they should go. Knowing that just doesn’t make it any easier.  

I’m a bit of a wuss like that.

I’ve been in a slump ever since my Dad called last week with my orders. (He did seem to have the tiniest bit of gloat in his voice since my presence on this road trip exempts him from having to go.) Then today I realized there could be more than one upside to this sale in Montana. First, it is a learning experience which is probably why I was asked to go.  My mom teaches me what to look for in horses, little nuances that would make her buy or not buy a horse.

Second, I realized it is in Montana – in the winter – and I love to snowboard. I usually head to Utah once a year but I haven’t gotten back in about two winters. The friend who taught me to board will actually be working in Montana that week and so one of the sale days I can spend on the slopes.

Another bright spot is I’m holding out hope this selling trip will earn me some points. Points that will be remembered when mom and dad head to Oklahoma this spring to pick up a few more racers. One of those could be for me – you know for all the hard work. Not likely, but it could happen.

On a side note: We got our first baby of the year. This is (tentative name) Dreamabo. He was born on Jan. 15. This picture was taken on his 1-week birthday. He’ll be a racehorse one day. I’ve got odds that say a fast one.

Well, it’s that time of year: time for me to get back on the treadmill. It’s also time for the horses to get on the treadmill to start training. I do mean literally, not figuratively – the horses have their own treadmill.  

Our equine treadmill looks a lot like a human treadmill but instead of bars on the sides, it has walls and is set at an incline that can be adjusted. The tread has defined grooves for the horses’ hooves so they don’t slip. The speed doesn’t go past a fast walk for the horses but the workout is intense, they need about 10 to 15 minutes on the treadmill to get a good workout.  During the cold months, we don’t want them to work up too much of a sweat, but it gets their bodies working and helps them build some muscle before the real stamina work begins next month.

Horses are a lot like people when using the treadmill. Some love it while some obviously prefer working outside. But all (of our horses) don’t need much prodding to hop on and figure it out. Most have it down after the first go. Of course, for someone who’s never seen a horse on a treadmill (or working in a pool, another useful training tool) I imagine it can seem a little odd.

January is generally when training for the track will start up – at least on a light schedule. It’s also when I amp up my own gym time so I’m ready to help at the track by the time the horses go to Canterbury in May. It’s easy to take for granted the fitness level you get working with the horses on a regular basis. You can build muscle and stamina  from doing day-to-day chores like cleaning stalls, and riding is great for core strengthening – when you’re doing it properly, anyway. Since this year is the first time in a long time I’m close to home during training season, I wanted to be ready a lot earlier than track time, but the December storms and snowy weather was a great excuse for procrastination.  

I tried to take a picture of our own horse treadmill, but I kept forgetting when I was home, so with Trilogy’s permission, I attached a photo from the manufacturer for you to get an idea. Ours looks almost exactly the same, only green. Of course, we also keep indoors. There are other styles of treadmills as technology keeps evolving. I hope to update this with a pic of the real one soon – Maybe I’ll even get fancy and add video.

On a another note: Tonight, Thoroughbred racing’s Horse of the Year will be announced. I’ll likely have something to say about that later this week…