On the way back from Virginia and Kentucky we stopped in to visit the horses at the Fair Hill & Equine Therapy Center. Bruce Jackson is the trainer there. Right now, we have Kat Stormy training on the Tapeta and Sweetmerrymadness, turned out in a very large paddock with two three-year-old fillies.
The Fair Hill grounds comprise 4,000 acres of wooded trails, race tracks, training tracks and barns owned by various trainers who are stabled there. The land was bequeathed by the Dupont family to the state of Maryland and a horse sanctuary was born.
For our horses, the Fair Hill Training & Equine Therapy Center has various therapeutic and rehab tools at our disposal including a hyperbaric chamber, an aqua tread machine, and a salt room for bleeders. The aqua tread machine is key to getting a horse fit while moving through saltwater which is at 33°. This exercise gets them fitter faster, tones their muscles and increases air capacity in their lungs while stimulating circulation.
At the same time, they have use of a beautiful one mile training track with a 7/8ths Tapeta track inside. Kat Stormy's last breeze, featured below was on the Tapeta surface. Don't get too excited but she seems to like it. She will have one more work over the tapeta track before she ships to Belmont.
Sweetmerrymadness is turned out with two other big girls. We were told that she holds her own with them and dishes it out as much as she takes it. It's exactly what the doctor ordered for her right now and the fact that it's south of us the grass is still green and lush.
I'm very happy with the expert care both are receiving and the way they are coming back to training, soudness and fitness. Once they are ready, I think we will have a whole lot of fun with them this winter and then into the spring and the summer.
As we all know, the Breeders' Cup is this weekend. It should be a very exciting group of races with some of the best horses in the world. I'm sure everybody has their favorites and of course, we will be rooting for the Home team with both Sovereignty and Kingsman in the classic (see Sovereignty on the track this morningp below).
For your enjoyment, we have attached the Post Position draw and the PP's for the Breeders' Cup below.
cheers to all and Good Luck!