Rags/Violet

Here is another photo of the truly lovely Rags to Riches. All I can say is that you can see that she is a kindred sister and close relative of my own lovely Velvet Tenderness.

Horse Sense: Riding a Thoroughbred!

I went to Kentucky for three days in mid-August. While I was there, I visited Claiborne Farms, saw thoroughbred foals at Valentine Hall Farms, saw the granddaughter of Seattle Slew, and stallions related to Dr. Fager, Mr. Prospector, Secretariat, and Danzig. I saw the graves of the greatest stallions in thoroughbred history. I travelled past Count Fleet's large, beautiful home. It was an amazing trip.

And when I came back on Saturday morning, I got to ride my very own slice of history, my beautiful Velvet Tenderness. She was feeling good and sassy because it was a cool morning and she had spent the entire previous day outdoors, eating Ohio green grass! She was pulling and strong, and trotting large. She wasn't naughty, but she was pushing the envelope, testing her power! I was proud to be a part of her heritage, even if I need to learn how to ride with my seat more! ;)

Anway, I ordered Violet her official leather sale halter from Quillan Leather Shop in Paris, Kentucky. That store serves the farms in the surrounding communities, giving thoroughbreds their official tack with the brass name tag. A beautiful halter with a coppery "Velvet Tenderness" will be coming soon!

Here's an amazing fact from Claiborne Farms. Each year, whether they need it or not, every horse get s new leather halter with brass nameplate. They often sell the old ones for charity, but I was just so surprised by that elegant extravagance! Plus as soon as we got into the front office at Claiborne after driving through the gate, we were in this beautiful wood-panelled setting. And I saw three leather halters with brass nameplates hanging in a row right by the door. I leaned down just to take a peek and saw Nasrullah, Princequillo, Buckpasser, in a neat little row. I could just feel the little explosion in my brain. The halters of such three fine horses right there at finger's touch!

I'll post a picture of my Violet's halter when it arrives!

Thoroughbred Breeding

This information about thoroughbred foal crops is from the April 27, 2007 New York Times. In 2004, 34,642 thoroughbred foals were registered. Kentucky produced 28.3% of that foal crop with 9,815 foals. The other big producing states were Florida (12.9%), California (10.9%), New York (5.8%), Louisiana (5.5%) and Texas (5.0%). Ohio produced 1.4% of the foals and New Mexico, where Violet's daddy now lives, produced 2.3%. In 2005, 23,674 of the yearlings from that 2004 crop went into race training. Yearling auctions accounted for 29% of the 2004 registered foal crop sales. There were 1,952 weanlings sold in 2004, as compared to 10,088 yearlings sold in 2005. In 2006, when they were 2, many of them began their race careers. 10,390 from the 2004 foal crop raced an average of 3.2 times, during their second year. And now in 2007, 20 of that initial crop of 34,642 registered foals were successful nominees for the Derby. They chose the top 20 money earners from graded stakes races. The entrance and start fees for the Derby total $50,000 with an additional $200,000 nomination fee for the Triple Crown. Entrance fees are applied toward the prize money for the top four finishers. The nations best stakes races are graded from I through III.

So, what does this mean for Violet? Violet was born in Florida on March 8, 2003 -- International Women's Day! I *think* she passed through an auction at one point because an envelope that came with her birth certificate and Coggins Test is from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company. Her daddy, Groomstick, was in his last year as a Florida stallion. Her owner was tentatively calling her Watch For Me which is an adorable name and I really like it, but my cousin, Jane, and I chose Velvet Tenderness instead. Out of almost 35,000 foals born that year, Violet was my magic one -- getting ready to come to me! She was going to be someone's hunter prospect, but now she's meant to be my pampered backyard pony.

Violet's and My First Derby Day Together!

I have loved horses my entire life. I read Black Beauty as a child. I read Misty of Chincoteague. I collected Breyers horses. I loved thoroughbreds. And I loved Secretariat. And this year marks the first time in my life that I owned a thoroughbred, shared a thoroughbred as part of my family. And such a lovely one -- beautiful Velvet Tenderness "Violet". I woke up on Derby Day joyful. I walked with my dog to Grounds for Thought, bought the Saturday paper, read about the horses preparing for Derby. Then I bought apples and carrots and visited my own thoroughbred. I praised her for her heritage. Groomed her with love. Told her that she's made of magic and speed and God's breath. And then I had a riding lesson with her. She was all light and floaty and powerful. And so that's how I spent my Derby morning with my first thoroughbred. I rode a four-year-old filly who is directly related to 7 Kentucky Derby Champions! War Admiral, Count Fleet, Reigh Count, Hindoo, Ben Brush, Pensive, Dark Star! How many women can say that's how they started their Derby Day!? Riding the descendant of Derby winners!! Yah Yah!!