Having announced my goal for the year, and officially getting accepted, here are the things I am looking for in my RRP horse. I know that to meet all these criteria may not be possible so I expect to compromise on something. But, it is always fun to have a dream horse checklist in hand while I go look. Who knows maybe I will find a unicorn that meets all of these criteria!

We heard from Mary Roby about her experiences preparing for the Retired Racehorse Project in Part 1 and now we are catching up with her to hear about her time in Kentucky with her horse Indy. Applications are currently open (Through Jan 15th!) and I shared that I will hopefully participating myself this year. So enjoy and cross your fingers to be hearing a whole lot more about this project!

TBR: How was traveling to Kentucky? Do you have any travel or packing tips for anyone wanting to participate next year?
MR: Traveling from Maryland to Kentucky was not too bad considering I was in the car for about 9 hours. I had someone trailer Indy while I drove in my car. The only travel issue was the West Virginia hills because I had so much packed in my car, but we pulled through. Now when it comes to packing in small spaces or vehicles, it is important to use every inch possibly given. Think of all the items as like puzzle pieces. If you are all by yourself without a traveling companion, put your personal items in the front on the floor and drinks and snacks on the front seat. Grab a thermal bag from Walmart to keep your drinks cold. They're like maximum $10 and they are totally worth it! They kept my drinks and food cold for hours while I was on the show grounds. Keep your gas (and possibly toll money) in a separate envelope from your spending money. If you keep it together, you may run out and not have enough money for your travel back home. Using cash at gas stations can sometimes lead to cheaper prices, even a 10 cent difference can go a long way.

TBR: Had you been to the horse park before? What was it like?
MR: So i have never been to the Kentucky Horse Park before! Actually it was my first time in Kentucky in general. This was also my first competition outside of Maryland, so the whole experience leading up to it was nerve racking but exciting all in one jumble. It was a big step up from what I have done in the past and definitely out of my comfort zone.

TBR: How did Indy like being at that facility?
MR: Indy looked rather comfortable on his trip. In the trailer, he traveled with 2 mares which he likes to be around. When we arrived at the show grounds, Indy was a bit awake and kind of looking around intently. He wasn't freaking out or spooky or anything like that; he was just a little more aware of his surroundings. I don't blame him; it was only his second show ever and with over 500 horses, I would be a little on the cautious side as well. Once I had his stall set up and had him situated, Indy settled right in and ate his hay. For the rest of the weekend he acted like an old pro and calmed down immensely. He would nicker for his food and that was it. Even if the other horses were screaming their lungs off, he would just munch on his hay or grass if I was walking him around. Many people and competitors were extremely impressed with his attitude and almost never believed me when I told them he was only 4. They all believed he was older in age and had more show experience because of his good manners. Indy was literally wise beyond his years.

TBR: How did your hunter round go?
MR: The hunter rounds were very inviting. Before I started eventing, I did hunters in 4H for nearly 10 years. The jump courses were pretty standard course designs. We competed in the 2'6" height which Indy took really well. I think if we tried to go smaller (like I originally was planning) he would have been bored out of his mind. Indy did really enjoy jumping the hunter fences. I think they were very inviting for him compared to the crazy color fences for show jumping. If I had focused my training for hunters, I believe we would have performed much better than we actually did. Sadly I did not get a good rhythm going for his canter, I just could not get a good feeling for it so there were a couple of bad takeoff spots which resulted in a rail coming down for each course. However Indy did get basically all of his lead changes when I asked for them, and his flat class was near picture perfect. He was very fluid and consistent and just so lovely to ride for his flat class.

I am a big believer in setting goals. I feel like when you set goals for your riding you really get to see markers with your improvement. As with setting any goals you always want them to be S.M.A.R.T. specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. I often set goals for myself that don't fit in to these parameters that I unfortunately have to put on the back burner for hopefully another time. BUT, my goal I'm setting for next year fits perfectly in to these guidelines.

If you enjoy reading about horses in history, or just enjoy war stories then this is a great book for you! I'm pretty sure I'll pass this one over to my dad.  The Perfect Horse tells the story of horses rounded up and kept in hiding during World War II. These horses were selected to create a master breed that was intended to be the perfect war animal. 

Arabians and Lipizzaner from all different countries were stolen away from their homes and taken to a secluded farm to be bred into the perfect horse. These breeds were selected because of their beauty, strength, stamina and work ethic. Thankfully the two different breeds were never crossed but bloodlines and everything that went in to preserving these breeds up until this point were ignored and a lot of inbreeding took place.

This book is broken up into three parts, the first and largest section chronicles the horse's journey all around the countryside. This section is filled with stories about horses traveling hundreds of miles, tired, underfed, with feet worn down with bombs going off everywhere. The second section follows the American soldiers fighting their way across Germany and how they accidentally found out about the hundreds of stolen horses. The third section details the horses journey to safety. Unfortunately many didn't make it but quite a few did and their stories are heartwarming. 

I don't want to spoil anything because you just need to read it! I'll say it was a little slow to get started but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts below.

   This month we will be reading a classic. I don't think I ever read this book as a child but I loved the movie! I still have it on VHS somewhere lol. This book is about a young girl, Velvet Brown, and her adventures with her horse Pie that she won in a raffle and ultimately competing in the Grand National, a steeplechase competition. If you haven't read this book, let's read it together!

Right now there are hundreds of horses and riders flooding Kentucky. Those horses are all retired racehorses and those riders have taken them from the track and in a total of ten months brought them to the Retired Racehorse Project to show off their new careers. Today we got to talk to one of those ambitious riders and learn about the process leading up to this weekend!

TBR: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
MR: My name is Mary Roby. I am 23 years old and I've been riding since I was 6 years of age. I live in Woodbine MD. I am a full time waitress at an Italian restaurant and I'm in school to get my bachelor's degree in marketing. I've been around horses my entire life as my grandfather was a racehorse trainer and lived on my family farm until I was 12. Other than horses, my activities include running, hiking, going to the gym, photography, and sketching.

TBR: What made you want to participate in the RRP?
MR: I have wanted to do the retired racehorse project for a couple of years now after watching some of my friends do it in the past, but the time wasn't right and the funds weren't there. I got a great opportunity this year with having a better job and an amazing horse to do it all with. Plus I wanted to do something that not many of my Maryland friends have done, nor I have done anything like this. I've never finished outside of Maryland, especially at a big event like this. It's a risk I've been wanting to take.

TBR: What were you looking for in an OTTB?
MR: When I was looking at thoroughbreds, I wanted a horse on the younger side, preferably gelding at that time (although now I've come to realize how much I miss mares 😂). I wanted a horse with a pretty nice trot and an expressive demeanor. I wanted something that I believe would be good to train that could easily find a new home when the time comes. 

   I'm super excited to share with you the Allpony Activity Book! This activity book is something I have wanted to exist for years. With education being the main focus here at The Barn Rat this book steps right in seamlessly to help children ages 4-12 learn and play. The book has a thick glossy cover with nice quality pages filled with colorful images. Just about every other page has an activity from mazes to matching to drawing to word searches. The pages in-between are packed with clearly explained education. In this book you will learn about different grooming supplies, tack, disciplines, breeds, colors and anatomy. There are also multiple cut out interactive elements that can keep the fun going for hours. If you have a horsey kid in your life this would definitely be a great gift option! And the reasonable price is the cherry on top! Below are a few inside peeks and a look at the interactive components.

   Some true #SquadGoals right here! These four women make up the U.S. Endurance Squad going to the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC. Follow them along on social media and watch them compete September 12th & 13th on FEI TV.

   We all know about watching equestrian sports in the Olympics. But, did you know there was another huge event that happens every four years (two years after each summer Olympics)? The World Equestrian Games are to the equestrian world what the X-Games are to winter boarding sports or what Wimbledon, The US Open, Australian Open or French Open are to tennis. WEG not only highlights the same sports featured in the Olympics: Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping, but it also adds five more amazing events! The World Equestrian Games started in 1990 and have been held in countries all over Europe and 2018 will be the second time the event has been held in the US! Below is a brief description of each of the eight disciplines that compete and the dates you can tune in to watching as riders at the top of their sports ride in Tryon, NC. Watch at home here! 

​​Endurance is a long distance race taking place over a 100 mile track! I can't imagine being in the saddle for that long. With checkpoints along the way horse and rider are required to take rest periods for everyone's welfare. This isn't a flat track race either. Most courses require going up and down hills, crossing over water and uneven terrain. You are most likely to see Arabian or Arab crosses participating in this event because of their high energy and stamina.

Reining evolved from the movements a horse might need to do when working on the ranch or dealing with cattle. Sliding stops, spins and handiness are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this sport. This is the only western sport represented so far in the World Equestrian Games. The breed most common to this sport is the Quarter Horse, but many other breeds are successful reiners. When watching this event I can't help but compare it to dressage, the precision and subtle movements between horse and rider make this a thrilling thing to watch!

​This is the ballet of horse riding if you ask me. Beautiful dances preformed by horse and rider pairs that can seem like they are just floating. One of the three sports included in the Olympics, Dressage is one of the more commonly recognizable horse sports. Many different warmblood breeds compete in this discipline because they have been bred for power and impulsion. All things needed to preform some of those moves that look so effortless and graceful.

Another one of the Olympic sports, Eventing takes place over three days and includes Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping. These horse and riders are the "jack of all trades" if you will. They need to have the balance and precision required of dressage. The stamina and power for a trying cross country course where they jump ditches and logs, tables and banks, in and out of water elements. And the accuracy and speed for a show jumping course. Thoroughbreds, many OTTB's, are popular for this sport because they embody many of those athletic qualities. Warmbloods are also popular.

I love that Para-Dressage gets to play on the same stage here at WEG! Para-Dressage is an event in the Para Olympics for the differently abled riders, but there is just something so special about this being held at the exact same time as the other events. Riders are grouped in to different categories based on their abilities and the tests they are asked to preform are of an appropriate level. I dare you to watch this and not get a little misty eyed thinking about the hard work and struggle these riders have overcome to get to this point!

Let's just say this is gymnastics on horseback! There are some days when I feel like I can barely stay on, and I'm sitting there like everyone else. And these athletes jump on and off and all around trotting or cantering horses on a lunge line. If that wasn't amazing enough then multiple people get up there and form intricate lifts. I'm just in awe watching this every time! Heavier horses are typically used for this sport because they have wide sturdy backs allowing for the riders to enough room for their tricks. However, a rhythmical, steady gait is far more important.

This is the third and final event found in the Olympics. Show Jumping is an against the clock competition where the person with the fastest time who jumps around without knocking anything over, or faults, wins. The jumps are up to 1.60m in height (thats around 5'3"!) and can be crazy wide! This is the sport that has my heart, and I hope to compete one day at this level. Warmbloods are often found in this sport because power and speed are very important to success.

This event has four horses hitched up pulling a small cart. Four in hand as it is called is where one person is responsible for navigating all four horses through a course. Much like eventing's three phases, driving takes place with a dressage phase, a marathon phase and a cone phase. Other people are also found on the cart helping to counter weigh the rig so it doesn't go toppling over through the crazy courses. I can't say I've watched this sport much so I am excited to watch!

This months pick is brought to you by Heather Wallace a blogger, Equine and Canine Massage Therapist and Aromatherapist! She wrote this book from a place many riders are familiar with, being nervous in the saddle. I'm excited to read this one and see the many ways I can relate. This book is available here on Amazon. Grab a copy and read along!