The best riding I've ever seen!!!

Jade · 06-13-2007, 10:12 PM

My OTTB's previous owner invited me to go with her to the race track this morning to meet her trainer and see all the action behind the scenes. It was really cool to stand right next to the gate as the horses earned their gate cards and watch all the jockey's training. I've never seen so many horses on the track. But the coolest thing was watching one of the out riders catch a riderless (he dumped his jockey) horse running full speed around the track against the rail. The out rider was an older man and he was riding a big buckskin QH. The two of them worked absolutely as one. He first starts galloping against the rail to head off the other horse, then the QH just explodes as the escapee comes around the turn. The out rider leans WAY out of his saddle to grab the race horse's reins; the reins break. He leans WAY out again and grabs the bridle; all this while running at absolute top speed and minding not to crash into the other 30 horses running all over the track. Once they get around the next turn they finally start slowing down and they come to a stop. I tell you I've never seen anything like it.

palakida · 06-14-2007, 06:39 AM

That sounds very cool. I love things that make my mouth drop in amazement!!

KrisRN2005 · 06-14-2007, 06:57 AM

that must have been something incredible to watch!!!

**gbarmranch** · 06-14-2007, 08:47 AM

What a wonderful opportunity - I am sooo jealous of you being able to do that

and a rider being able to ride like that

JoAnne · 06-14-2007, 08:51 AM

Sounds fantastic. And the jockeys too. I am such a wimp I could never do it, admire them totally.

pvf · 06-14-2007, 08:55 AM

I wish I could have been there. You were lucky!!
wow that guy can really ride..

Rebecca · 06-14-2007, 11:35 AM

Thatâ€™s fantastic!

AlbertaGirl · 06-14-2007, 01:37 PM

Very neat! You certainly picked the right day to go, hey?!

misshuckleberry · 06-14-2007, 03:45 PM

That is a great story, and I'm glad you shared it because I had a similar experience recently and haven't stopped thinking about it!

I was at Keeneland opening weekend, and during the warmup for the big filly race, the Ashland, the horse that I had bet on (!), called Hucking Hot, dumped her rider and bolted. It was terrifying because she was running *at* the starting gate, since they were just about to approach and load. The men who worked the gate dove for cover, and the filly bolted around it and went into a flat out gallop. She tried to jump the fence at the turn, fell on her back (I screamed in horror), and leaped up and just kept going.

But those outriders!! Unbelievable! My husband-- whom I only met two years ago and is newly exposed, via me, to horses-- hasn't stopped talking about these "3 big cowboys on quarter horses" who out-galloped that filly, chasing her down the backstretch like they were the Thunderbirds Air precision team. It was an unbelievable sight!

(I was very upset that she was scratched because I'm convinced she would have beaten Christmas Kid, but I've sinced Googled Hucking Hot and all I can find out about her is that she's been difficult in the past).

Jade · 06-14-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misshuckleberry

That is a great story, and I'm glad you shared it because I had a similar experience recently and haven't stopped thinking about it!

I was at Keeneland opening weekend, and during the warmup for the big filly race, the Ashland, the horse that I had bet on (!), called Hucking Hot, dumped her rider and bolted. It was terrifying because she was running *at* the starting gate, since they were just about to approach and load. The men who worked the gate dove for cover, and the filly bolted around it and went into a flat out gallop. She tried to jump the fence at the turn, fell on her back (I screamed in horror), and leaped up and just kept going.

But those outriders!! Unbelievable! My husband-- whom I only met two years ago and is newly exposed, via me, to horses-- hasn't stopped talking about these "3 big cowboys on quarter horses" who out-galloped that filly, chasing her down the backstretch like they were the Thunderbirds Air precision team. It was an unbelievable sight!

(I was very upset that she was scratched because I'm convinced she would have beaten Christmas Kid, but I've sinced Googled Hucking Hot and all I can find out about her is that she's been difficult in the past).

Great story! They are amazing aren't they. One of the things that impressed me was the out rider's horse. He knew exactly what to do. He started bumping that horse a little at a time to push him off the rail and while the outrider had one hand on the saddle horn and one on the other horse's bridle, he never slowed or drifted. He had just as much speed as that young TB.

06-13-2007, 10:12 PM
Jade Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 736	The best riding I've ever seen!!! My OTTB's previous owner invited me to go with her to the race track this morning to meet her trainer and see all the action behind the scenes. It was really cool to stand right next to the gate as the horses earned their gate cards and watch all the jockey's training. I've never seen so many horses on the track. But the coolest thing was watching one of the out riders catch a riderless (he dumped his jockey) horse running full speed around the track against the rail. The out rider was an older man and he was riding a big buckskin QH. The two of them worked absolutely as one. He first starts galloping against the rail to head off the other horse, then the QH just explodes as the escapee comes around the turn. The out rider leans WAY out of his saddle to grab the race horse's reins; the reins break. He leans WAY out again and grabs the bridle; all this while running at absolute top speed and minding not to crash into the other 30 horses running all over the track. Once they get around the next turn they finally start slowing down and they come to a stop. I tell you I've never seen anything like it.

06-14-2007, 06:39 AM
palakida Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 491	That sounds very cool. I love things that make my mouth drop in amazement!! __________________ A child and a horse will make a liar out of you everytime. - www.palakidaranch.com

06-14-2007, 06:57 AM
KrisRN2005 Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 679	that must have been something incredible to watch!!! __________________ May you always be true to your best friend, today, tomorrow and always ....

06-14-2007, 08:47 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	What a wonderful opportunity - I am sooo jealous of you being able to do that and a rider being able to ride like that __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

06-14-2007, 08:51 AM
JoAnne Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,442	Sounds fantastic. And the jockeys too. I am such a wimp I could never do it, admire them totally.

06-14-2007, 08:55 AM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,780	I wish I could have been there. You were lucky!! wow that guy can really ride.. __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

06-14-2007, 11:35 AM
Rebecca Started Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East Texas Posts: 2,808	Thatâ€™s fantastic!

06-14-2007, 01:37 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,431	Very neat! You certainly picked the right day to go, hey?! __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

06-14-2007, 03:45 PM
misshuckleberry Newborn Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7	That is a great story, and I'm glad you shared it because I had a similar experience recently and haven't stopped thinking about it! I was at Keeneland opening weekend, and during the warmup for the big filly race, the Ashland, the horse that I had bet on (!), called Hucking Hot, dumped her rider and bolted. It was terrifying because she was running at the starting gate, since they were just about to approach and load. The men who worked the gate dove for cover, and the filly bolted around it and went into a flat out gallop. She tried to jump the fence at the turn, fell on her back (I screamed in horror), and leaped up and just kept going. But those outriders!! Unbelievable! My husband-- whom I only met two years ago and is newly exposed, via me, to horses-- hasn't stopped talking about these "3 big cowboys on quarter horses" who out-galloped that filly, chasing her down the backstretch like they were the Thunderbirds Air precision team. It was an unbelievable sight! (I was very upset that she was scratched because I'm convinced she would have beaten Christmas Kid, but I've sinced Googled Hucking Hot and all I can find out about her is that she's been difficult in the past).