Colonial Downs Report #2

Hey again from Colonial, and Happy 4th of July! Now with Katie Merritt and Ashley Gibson finally on board, things have moved into full swing. Amy Schuver has continued to help the track veterinarians in the afternoons before post time, finding horses for last minute Lasix and pre-race checks, and Nikki Sherman remains with the track photographer during the weekend races, taking pictures from inside the gate and doing any odds and ends that are needed to be completed.

Jackie Mitchell has been bouncing between trainers, helping whoever needs an extra hot-walker, groom, stall mucker, etc. Current trainer is Lawson Walston, at Cool Breeze Stable. She and Ashley Gibson have been hot-walking for him and his wife in the mornings, also helping out by refilling water buckets, bathing, giving hay, helping with wraps. Jokingly, Lawson has assigned each of us a "horse" of our own, though we don't get to keep them! Coincidentally, Ashley's horse, is a 5 year old grey Thoroughbred named Doc, the same as her old horse.

Katie Merritt and Amy Schuver are working with Richard Boucher, a jockey who is short-staffed because his trainer/wife is currently pregnant. The girls have been grooming, bathing, and pulling horses manes for their upcoming races.

Along with these morning "horse duties", we have been running errands for other trainers, picking up groom pinny's, dropping off racing silks at the "color room", and turning in papers for the horses running that day.

Everyday tasks include picking up programs, collecting overnights, off-races, results, and keeping a list of trainers and owners who run horses.

Groom Elite Program has completed its second week, and next
Wednesday we will begin learning how to properly tack up a horse in race tack.

A plus for today, though, was after our tasks in the morning were complete,

Lawson tacked up a friend's pony, Tigger, a Quarter Horse who was formerly a racehorse, with an exercise saddle. We were all able to experience what an exercise rider goes through, though thankfully on a bombproof pony and at a MUCH slower pace.

The weather is still hot, but we've managed to keep cool during bath time...for the horses, that is!

Jackie Mitchell Ashley Gibson
Amy Schuver
Katie Merritt
Nikki Sherman