Trot No Horse Before His Time

I am helping my island neighbor George train Magnetar...

...a three year old Standardbred stallion.

Getting ready: the "horse-human" bond is a boink this morning!

George has taken the unusual step of waiting until he’s three to begin training. “Maggie the Monster” is a HUGE and “gently explosive” animal with superb bloodlines.

inside the barn

George has invested three years (I remember the day he was born) in nurturing his character and physical health to get him to a level of emotional maturity and physical growth that most trainers are too impatient to develop.

George’s belief is the combo of genetics, TLC, and now training with regularity and discipline and love will bring out the best in him.

I admire that view, and marvel at his progress.

Yesterday at sunset:

tuning championship conformation

after "the work": yes, he steams

In his career, so far, George has had two million-dollar-plus winners who have performed so well that they’ve been invited to the most prestigious European races — in Sweden and France — where horses “under bridle,” standardbred trotters, are just as popular as thoroughbreds “under saddle” are here.

He is hoping Magnatar will achieve that too... as he nears 70, that would be the capstone of his career as a trainer.

My passport is current and I have an invitation to fly on the “air trailer” — which George says is a gas, with other elite owner/trainers — and that would be a bucket-list experience for me. 🙏🏻 🐴💕 🌬 🛫

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