I was struck this morning by how mellow Street was - thought maybe it was the weather (a little hot here in Louisville), or just a quiet day in the mind of the Big Guy.
Well, truth be told, I couldn't quite wake up in time to make it to the track yesterday morning. Turns out Street breezed yesterday, which means he ran a lap around Churchill at just below race speed. Trainers do this to get (and keep) horses fit, especially when they have a race in their future, as Street does - he'll next run in either the Jim Dandy at Saratoga 7/28, or in the Haskell at Monmouth in New Jersey on, I think, August 5.
So, my reward was a thouroughly content and slightly sleepy champion. That means he didn't move around a bunch while I held him for his bath (he usually likes to play a game of "keep track of me if you can" - I juke left, he jukes right - ha ha, very funny, but it's great entertainment if you're a horse - if you're a people, you just sigh, laugh and deal with it - keeping him happy and healthy is the top goal for all his handlers).
And I'm very glad to say happy and healthy he certainly is. He's also a great character; he has as much personality and intelligence as any horse I've ever worked with.
We had more work to do together after bath time. The breeze and following endorphine high (or whatever) also meant I was likewise blessed with a happy horse while I rubbed him dry. Being "rubbed out" (taking rub rags and swirling them about the animal), as we call it, is not something high on Street's list of favorite activities, though we've kind of come to a compromise, insofar as it must be done, he doesn't much like it, but he tolerates the intrusion while I talk to him and try to get the job finished quickly. Singing to him also seems to help, as long as I don't try to hit high notes, which he thinks rather sounds like a cat whose tail has just been crunched.
One of the wonderful things about this guy is seeing how gratifying it is for other people just to be around him. One of our exercise riders, Lucia, normally rides other horses in our barn but, this morning, she got to ride Street. I took a picture of the two of them with my camera phone and was able to send them to her. Lucia is from the Czech Republic and has been with us since the start of this year. Imagine how cool it is to send your friends back in Europe some shots of you on the Derby winner! Lucia's good people and I was glad to see her sitting pretty this morning.
And now, it's about time for that post-track nap. I do love the barn in the mornings, but my energy peack tends to peak and then collapse around noon.
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4 comments:
"Inside the Backside" eh? Can't say I'm all that surprised.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
--Mikey Mike
You, my youngest and least mature (by far) brother, are the only person (a-hole) to make such a prurient comment. You're like those guys who think Vladimir Putin's name is funny. Thanks for reading, though - By the way, Burnsie came up with the name; I just happened to agree it was fine choice. There will be payback, my little friend. Oh oh oh will there be.
- Edldest and Most Bestest
Vladimir Putin's name is funny, so is Robert Kocharian's (President of Armenia, google it).
I also still laugh every time I hear young Ebeneezer utter the line, "he was really attached to me dick was."
Hope the trip was smooth and that the 'Toga is treating you well.
Hey Bro' Bro'. Everything's quite lovely here at SAR. I'm sitting outside the Stall of the Donkey, who is just this great character of a horse - he's Mrs.'s R's fave. Really pleasant evening, sunny and no humidity (I so don't miss that about KY). I'm tired but good. I let one of our grooms borrow the car so he and another guy can get their grocery shopping done. Otherwise, he gotta eat out and one doesn't want to do too much of that here. What the hell's Armenia?
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