Silver Charm stands with Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends, and Sandy Hatfield, stallion manager at Three Chimneys.
It’s a happy ending for Thoroughbred champion Silver Charm as he has been brought home from Japan to live out his years at Old Friends retirement center. Silver Charm, dual classic winner and oh-so-close Triple Crown near-winner arrived this week in Georgetown, Kentucky, after standing at stud in Japan. The center will hold an open house on Dec. 2 to welcome the 20-year-old champion home before he starts his 21 days in quarantine.
Silver Charm stood his first five stud seasons at Three Chimneys in Midway, Kentucky, before he moved to the JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station for the 2005 breeding season. While his Kentucky-sire offspring included 15 stakes winners, he was not a successful stud in Japan, siring just one stakes winner.
Silver Charm captured the Kentucky Derby by a gutsy head over Captain Bodgit and the Preakness Stakes by a head over Free House, only to lose the Belmont by less than a length in the closing strides to Touch Gold. In 2007, he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. He remains today one of the 10 richest North American-bred and -raced Thoroughbreds of all time.
Trainer Bob Baffert privately acquired Silver Charm, a son of Silver Buck out of Bonnie’s Poker, by Poker, as a 2-year-old in 1996 for $85,000 and trained him throughout his career for the late Bob Lewis and his wife Beverly. The Lewises, who campaigned Silver Cham to win $6,944,369, paid for the horse’s flight from Japan to the United States.
Silver Charm is lucky. Not every Thoroughbred champion comes home. The racing world was shocked to learn that Ferdinand, 1986 Kentucky Derby winner who went on to capture the following year’s Horse of the Year title with a dramatic victory over 1987 Derby hero Alysheba in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was likely sent to slaughter in Japan after an unsuccessful stud career. His demise was discovered after a member of the Howard Keck family that owned and bred the horse inquired about having him returned to the United States. Because of what happened to Ferdinand, many owners are now safeguarding their stallions before they are sent overseas with a buy-back clause to help bring the champions back home.
Ferdinand and jockey Bill Shoemaker.
Silver Charm joins recently retired multi-millionaire Game On Dude, Gulch, 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava, and special Eclipse Award winner Rapid Redux in retirement at Old Friends.
Silver Charm is led by Sandy Hatfield, stallion manager at Three Chimneys and greeted by Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends.
After their racing days are through, some lucky Thoroughbreds find a second line of work. Some go on to be hunters or jumpers. Some gallop cross country fences in eventing or trot down the center line of dressage. And of course some stroll along trails with their new owners.
One story recently posted on OffTrackThoroughbreds.com tells the tale of a snow-white gelding who got his second chance after 11 years on the track.Now in his teens he has become the perfect partner for a 13-year-old boy in Salem, Va.
Alisa Gusterer and Scattering Breezes
But Scattering Breeze’s second chance at a new life off the track didn’t come without obstacles. Another story tells of former owner Alisa Gusterer’s journey with the gelding, who she called Apollo. “The first time I put my foot in the stirrup he reared and ran away,” Gusterere says. “There was another time, when the saddle didn’t fit him properly, that he bucked me off and then bucked all the way around the ring—twice.”
By the time Austin had come across Joey, 5 years after he retired from racing, Joey had spent time with experienced trail riders and had gone through extensive training using natural horsemanship techniques. “We went to see him right before Labor Day, and he was such a mellow horse that when I asked my son if he felt comfortable cantering him, he said sure, and cantered him up and down,” Heather Skeens told OffTrackThoroughbred.com. “We took him to this show the weekend after we purchased him. It was really blustery that day, and he didn’t look at anything, or spook.”
Scattering Breezes, aka Joey, and his rider, Austin, can be seen showing around the region. There next show will be this weekend (Nov. 8-9) at the Penmeryl Horse Trials in Greenville, Va.
The days have turned sharply colder and this weekend will be chilly with highs only in the 50s and lows in the 30s, but the horse shows continue in Southwest Virginia.But if you prefer to cuddle up on the couch in front of a fire, there are also some great options streaming online too including the AQHA World Show.
VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER
The Virginia Horse Center will host the Southwest Virginia Hunter-Jumper Association Finals. The 26th Annual Show and Medal Finals includes a $1,000 Invitational Hunter Derby. View the Prize List for the show. The show will open Friday at 8 a.m. with Green Hunters Over Fences. The Invitational Hunter Derby will be Friday not before 4 p.m. The classes (see the schedule here) will continue through Sunday.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Dove Valley Farm Stables, about 15 miles south of Rocky Mount, will host a Blue Ridge Horse Force -sanctioned show, the Franklin County Equestrian Equestrian Club’s Stars and Stripes Horse Show, on Saturday, Nov. 8. Roger Moore will judge the show, which starts at 10 a.m. Championships and Reserve Championships will given in Western, Walking/Racking, English,Gymkhana in Novice,Youth & Adult. Proceeds benefit Unbridled Change Take Back the Reins Combat PTSD Program. For more information, contact Patricia Wray at (540) 420-8169.
ONLINE
The American Paint Horse Association World Show is streaming live from Fort Worth, Texas, through Nov. 15 on iEquine.com. Saturday’s classes show plenty of variety with Showmanship, Hunter under Saddle, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Halter, and Longe Line all on the schedule. See a full show schedule here.
The American Quarter Horse Association’s World Show begins streaming live from Oklahoma City on Friday, Nov. 7 on iEquine.com. More than 3,610 entries from the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico and Switzerland are competing for 100 world championships. The show opens on Friday with Barrel Racing and Pole Bending preliminaries. Saturday will include more barrels and poles (Finals with World Champions being crowned) and also add working hunter. Sunday will crown world champions in working hunter and jumping classes and Western Riding will hold it’s preliminary. Coverage will continue through Nov. 22. Find a schedule of classes here.
The U.S. Dressage Finals will be streamed live from Lexington, Kentucky from Friday through Sunday on usefnetwork.com. The national, head-to-head competition showcases competitors in adult-amateur and open divisions, at Training Level through Grand Prix.
LOOK AHEAD
Next spring, save March 21-22 for a clinic by Mary Babick of Knightsbridge Farm in New Jersey. Babick’s students have earned countless state, zone and national championships over the years — from the small pony to the national equitation finals and the junior and amateur-owner jumper divisions. Visit www.swvhja.org/clinics.htm for more information.
Have a show or other horse-related event going on this weekend within an hour of Roanoke, Va? Send it to diane.deffenbaugh@gmail.com to have it included in the weekend roundup of events and be seen by hundreds of readers across the region.
As we fall back this weekend for daylight savings, the shorter days have many a rider wishing for the return of warmer weather and more sunshine. But it’s not time to hibernate quite yet, there are still equestrian events in and around the Roanoke Valley this weekend.
VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER
The horse center is hosting the Virginia Horse Trials this weekend from Friday, October 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2. The Virginia Horse Trials, which is an abbreviated version of a three-day eventing competition, draws several hundred eventing riders from around the country.
GREEN HILL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
The Cross View Farm Open Show will be held Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. (See a show flyer.) The show includes English, Western and Gaited classes plus Game classes beginning at 1 p.m.
Have a show or other horse-related event going on this weekend within an hour of Roanoke, Va? Send it to diane.deffenbaugh@gmail.com to have it included in the weekend roundup of events and be seen by hundreds of readers across the region.
I know many of us who love pleasure horses have sat in the very situation I found myself in once again today as I was watching the live feed from Quarter Horse Congress at my computer. A colleague strolled up and asked, “What are you watching?” Relishing some interest in my passion, I happily responded, talking about the huge show in Columbus, Ohio, that takes place each year. Looking at my screen his face screws up in confusion, and I know what’s coming next as the western pleasure futurity horses lope down the rail. I’m already scrambling for an answer when he asks, “Now, why are they walking like that? Are they sick? They look so sad.” Sigh.
Western pleasure has been under fire for decades. The peanut rollers of the 1980s brought inhumane methods such as bleeding and tying up of horses’ heads to create that lethargic look. AQHA responded in the 1990s by issuing requirements that the horse’s poll not be below his withers and ruling that light contact should replace draped reins. (Whatever happened to that anyhow? Did the growing popularity of the spur stop make them simply change their minds?) These days, judges call for a “moderate extension of the jog” as a regular class gait. But often there is little perceivable difference in the gaits. It seems more of AQHA’s way of saying “well we told them to move faster. What can ya do?”
Talk rages among even AQHA members about the class as the horses seem to get slower and slower. On one side you have the argument that the horses are bred to move this way. I agree, to an extent. With level toplines, foals lope across the arenas next to their mommas with the deep hocks and flat front leg that will make them successful in the show pen. But on the other hand, as western pleasure becomes more and more competitive, the lope becomes more and more artificial. Western pleasure horses are practically a gaited breed at this point, and you need a trainer to help you maintain that gait. Overly-canted to the rail — when the hind end is pushed toward the center of the arena, helping the horse reach ultimate collection and stay slow — are now the norm, when once upon a time straightness was emphasized.
Horses canted to the rail is uniformly observed in western pleasure classes.
Watching the warm-up pens and horses being worked at shows has become painful, even for those of us that understand what all those draw reins and ‘bumping’ on the horse’s mouth is for. And more than a few horsemen, once competitors in the class and supporters of western pleasure, can no longer stomach what the class has become. So what would the general public think if they were to come across one of our warm-up pens? It’s doubtful we’re drawing them in and making them want to ride western pleasure, that’s for sure. Who wants to ride the “sad,” “sick” horses?
We’re seeing this play out in real time as pleasure classes get smaller and ranch horse events, including on the rail, gain popularity.
The pleasure futurities are the worst. I applaud efforts to create more maiden events for 3-year-olds. But watching 2-year-olds try their best to lope that way is doing no one any favors, least of all the horses. All but the very top babies don’t seem to know what in the world to do with their legs as they are told to lope, but barely move. They hesitate at the oddest of times. They jerk their feet down. Their steps are uneven. There is absolutely nothing flowing or pretty about them. Not to mention the physical damage that is being done to their hocks and other joints. What they really need is just the permission to flow forward ever so slightly. Would this be such a crime? Dressage horses aren’t expected to start out performing passage poorly around the arena. They are worked up to the collection required. Western pleasure should be no different and forwardness in a 2-year-old should be rewarded.
So what’s to be done? I actually think it’s fairly simple. One, look to the western riding horses. The speed they maintain through their patterns is hardly roaring around the arena, but it is, frankly, more reasonable. The horses’ expressions are often more alert and pleasant. The way of going is more natural. The topline is still flat. The movement is still lovely to watch. It’s such a small correction, but it is one that would make a world of difference.
And two, judges need to finally take a stand. No one is going to stop doing it if it’s what wins. I don’t care who is sitting on the back of that horse, if it’s going too slow, give it the gate. Even if no one is left in the end. This step is a pipedream, but it is the only way change happens.
While I agree there are a top few that can successfully pull off the extreme slow speeds now seen in western pleasure, most are being slowed to a point that their gaits fall apart. So why not move them forward to look their best? And I’d also argue that even the insanely talented ones would still look even better if they were moving forward with a more flowing stride.
Our horses are of better quality than they have ever been. It is truly awe-inspiring to see just how many excellent horses there are out there showing today. But we can do better. Let them do what we bred them for. Let them move.
Want other opinions? Check out these related stories:
Equine Chronicle: Correctness, Cadence, and Redefining the Purpose of Western Pleasure Take the Spotlight in 2015.
Go Horseshow:We Ask the Judges: Has the Western Pleasure Class Regressed? (2012)
Invitation Only surpassed Zippo Pine Bar this week as the leading sire of point earners. The 1990 bay stallion by Barpassers Image (who died in 2011 at age 27) was a leading western pleasure 2-year-old in his own right. Now his get have amassed 77,064 points, and at 24 he’s still siring winners.
He currently has 1,251 foals registered in 21 crops. His offspring have also earned 33 world championships and 36 reserve world championships. Zippo Pine Bar had 400 more foals in 26 foal crops.
This weekend the center is hosting the Virginia Dressage Association‘s championships, one of the oldes dressage championships in the United States. The show runs Thursday through Sunday. Highlights include the Intermediaire I Musical Freestyle Finals at 7:30 p.m. Friday and theGrand Prix Musical Freestyle at 9:24 p.m. on Saturday.
“The show is named after Col. Ljungquist who was one of the dressage pioneers in this country. It was started 32 years ago, and it was essentially the first regional championships in the country,” show manager Dianne Boyd said. “This year we have more than 350 entries. We are running three championship rings with a total of seven separate rings and two major night classes.”
Prior to the start of Saturday night’s freestyle is the extremely popular Doggie Costume Show.
It’s a great weekend for horses if you don’t feel like getting off your coach. The All-American Quarter Horse Congress is streaming live on iEquine.com. Highlights this weekend include the 2-year-old western pleasure Stakes limited finals on Saturday in the Celeste Center, Halter Mares all morning in the Coliseum, and the Open Western Pleasure Maturity Finals in the Coliseum Saturday night. Sunday will include hunter under saddle and western pleasure classes, including the Novice Amateur Western Pleasure Sunday night in the Celeste Center.
Also streaming live this weekend on usefnetwork.com is the Pennsylvania National Horse Show from Harrisburg, Pa. Saturday night is the $85,000 Grand Prix de Penn National. But you need not wait for the weekend, both prestigious shows are streaming live all week long.
Cigar, the first horse to tie racing legend Citation’s record of 16 consecutive victories — including in such Grade 1 triumphs as the Breeders Cup Classic — died Oct. 7 at at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, from complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck. Foaled April 18, 1990, the Hall of Fame horse and longtime visitor favorite at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions was 24.
I had the pleasure of meeting Cigar at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010. He was regal even in his retirement, and standing by his stall door looking into his eyes will be a moment I will never forget — my moment with Cigar. He certainly didn’t let on he was developing any problems with arthritis at that time. He stood like a gorgeous statue as they talked about him and all his accomplishments. And he seemed like he understood how special he was and was proud even all those years later. I felt honored to be so close to such a champion who I had watched race as a teenager. For my generation, he was like meeting Secretariat or Man o’ War, Triple Crown to his name or not.
Cigar’s career had a total of 19 wins out of 33 starts with earnings of $9,999,815, which was a record at that time. He was voted Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year in both 1995 and in 1996. Cigar had lived at the Kentucky Horse Park since his retirement in 1999 after he was found to be sterile and therefore useless as a stud. Cigar was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in August 2002.
“Cigar had been experiencing arthritis-related health issues over the past six months and was in outstanding physical and mental condition other than the osteoarthritis he was suffering from in several of his cervical vertebrae,” said Kathy Hopkins, director of equine operations for the Kentucky Horse Park. “Medical therapies had failed to relieve the pressure that the arthritis was causing on his spine, which had resulted in instability in his hind legs.”
The team of some of the best equine veterinarians and surgeons had decided that spinal surgery was the only option to relieve the pressure and ensure the highest quality of life for the racing champion. However, Cigar died during recovery when he fractured a vertebrae.
“We are heartbroken to lose this great horse, especially as we were trying to do everything we could to improve his quality of life and make him more sound and comfortable,” said Hopkins.
Cigar will be buried on the Memorial Walk of Champions near Thoroughbreds Alysheba, Bold Forbes, Forego, John Henry and Kona Gold. Man O’ War is also buried at the Kentucky Horse Park, but in a different area of the park. A public memorial service is being planned for Cigar.
I attended the Friesian Grand Nationals this past weekend obviously expecting to see gorgeous black horses with their long manes and tails blowing in the breeze as they thundered around the Virginia Horse Center for what is their world championship show. What I did not expect to find was an event that illustrated what a show could and should be. But that’s what I found Oct. 4 in Lexington.
The announcer was excellent as he quipped jokes and even interviewed the leadline contestants as they awaited the judge’s placings. (Everyone won, as is usual for the class for the littlest equestrians.) And for each class, he announced each horse as it came into the arena, giving each entrance something a little extra flair.
Perhaps the most engaging thing about the show (besides the competitors themselves, of course) was the music, showcasing a sense of humor that they weren’t afraid to use. They didn’t treat the classes like a hushed library, but played music over the sound system that went with the class. For the English Pleasure horses’ animated action, they played “Back in Black” and “Sexy and I Know It” as those proud black horses roared around the arena. It was nothing short of marvelous and you couldn’t help but smile and cheer. Meanwhile, for the next class, a driving class, the tempo changed to the nostalgic croonings of “Unforgettable” as the horses trotted in pulling carriages that were stunning in their elegant charm. Lanterns glowed at the sides, the drivers wore blankets over their legs, grooms sat in the back dressed in spotless finery, and I suddenly felt like I had been transported to another time in a blink of an eye. And during the dead-time of the arena drag, “She thinks my tractor’s sexy” brought a levity that somehow made the interruption less tiresome for those of us sitting in the stands.
For the shows that struggle to balance recognizing winners while also keeping a show moving along, the Grand Nationals seemed to have found a wonderful solution: reserve champion is called first. That horse then proudly goes and receives their ribbon while they call the champion. The others file out as they name the Top 5. Therefore the spectators know exactly who won, but the show still moves briskly along. And of course they have a victory pass for both the reserve and world champs.
I am torn about whether the dinner scheduled on the concourse of the Coliseum on Saturday evening was a plus or a negative. It must have been a wonderful community-building affair for the Friesian exhibitors at the show. But it certainly put a huge 3-hour gap in the day for spectators and I ended up taking my 8-year-old daughter back home to Roanoke rather than stay. I returned that evening while she stayed behind. I’m sorry now that she didn’t see the event.
The Friesian Grand Nationals is not a show I will soon forget. For 2015 their world championships will be held in Los Angeles, California. But if they swing back around to Virginia again, it is a must-see for all horse lovers in the area. I know I will definitely be back.
More photos from the Friesian Grand Nationals will be posted soon here on The Roundup.
Roanoke Equestrian 