Clubhouse Q&A: Staying fit, staying on
Jessica Paquette was never a natural rider. But, what she may lack in natural finess on the horse, she more than makes up for in sheer strength. Her well-honed conditioning has kept her seated when other riders may have fallen. A former body builder, Paquette makes it a point to cross-train, no matter how busy her day gets as the Suffolk Downs’ track handicapper and publicist. Her commitment has paid off with good health, and great stability in the saddle. In this week’s Reader’s Clubhouse Q&A, Paquette describes her fitness routine, and how she sticks to her workout goals, and […]
Share this:
After the Finish Line is going strong for horses
When, in a dismal economy, it comes to raising money for horses, Dawn Mellen stays positive. She doesn’t let negative thoughts crowd her head, choosing instead to focus relentlessly on uniting racing industry officials and horse rescues in efforts to support ex-racehorses after their track careers end. “I think owners and people in the racing industry should really think of giving back to the horses,” says Mellen, president of After the Finish Line, a 501 (c) 3 funding nonprofit. “They made a choice to come into the sport; and it’s a gamble. It’s a risk. And, if your horse gets […]
Share this:
From hospital to ex-racehorse, overcoming fear
How Carlos Pardo remembers his accident is in disconnected fragments. One moment, riding in a small schooling show in Ocala, Fla., aiming his horse at a jump, and the next, waking up in a hospital bed with his father beside him. His father, a horseman from a long generation of horse-owners, helped him piece together the story. His mount had spooked at something, possibly a backfiring trailer, while Prado was doing his class, and took off. Pardo fell out of the saddle and hit the ground, but a foot remained lodged in the stirrup. “I was dragged back to the […]
