Clubhouse Q&A: Choosing a bit for your OTTB
Deciding what bit to use with an off-track Thoroughbred may seem daunting to some, but longtime horseman Karen Hornyak has it down to a science. In this week’s Clubhouse Q&A, Hornyak describes her go-to bits, and the reasons for each. She enlightens us on how she achieves the perfect not-too-small, not-too-big fit. Q: Karen, with over 20 years experience finding the right bit for each horse, what are some of the guidelines you use? The first thing I consider is the length of the bit. I find that 5 ¼ inch is a good size to start with for most […]
She’s For Real storms HITS on the Hudson
She put up a small cross-rail and they plowed right through it. Then, she added a bounce, and the petite mare figured it out. “It was like she self-taught herself,” says Fay Spargo, a Thoroughbred trainer who has only met one other horse in her lifetime with the ability to think on her feet the way the little ex-racehorse She’s For Real can. “I tried her for 20 minutes, and turned to my clients Mary and Marty Joseph and said, ‘If we don’t take this one, we’re crazy.’ ” So with much anticipation of the good times to come, they […]
KY dentist: free care to clients helping Our Mims
A Kentucky dentist with a passion for horses is offering free dental care to uninsured patients who agree to barter their skills to aid Thoroughbred retirement facility Our Mims Retirement Haven, according to horse haven founder Jeanne Mirabito. Earlier this week, a client of Dr. Anna Newman, who practices in Paris, Ky., donated, delivered and stacked 115 bales of “good” quality hay at the nonprofit horse charity, bringing a tear of joy to Mirabito’s eye. “Hay is getting so expensive. I’m paying about $5.50 a bale right now, and I never get it delivered because that would be even more […]