Horseback Writer - The Whinny

The Whinny - My thoughts from the saddle...

Guy McLean

Guy McLean – A Quiet Way With Horses and Words

April 16, 2013: Guy McLean and his horses have returned to the Priefert Ranch, his home base in Texas, after an incredible two and a half months on the road. His journey has seen the Australian horseman earn his second championship at the Road To The Horse, a colt-starting competition at the Kentucky Horse Park that challenges the best horse trainers from Canada, Australia and the US to start young horses under saddle over three days.

This latest tour also…

Getting Started On The Trail

I’m a trail addict. It’s something I can share with a good horse and good friends, enjoying the woods in all the seasons, but still get involved in competition while pushing my riding skills and horsemanship to higher levels.

My first competition was in 1976, riding a three-year old Pinto named Topey. We placed 7^th in the Handy Horse Trail Trials at Al’s Tack Shop in Stouffville. Al has long since passed, and so has Topey, but I’m still doing trail and it’s still as fresh and fun as ever.

There are so many…

Wynne's Press Conference

While the horse racing industry impatiently awaits details, last week’s press conference at Grand River Raceway with Kathleen Wynne, the new Premier of Ontario and Minister of Agriculture, wanted to provide assurance that there was a sustainable future for the horse racing industry to which her government is committed. Last year the McGuinty government suddenly announced the end of the Slots at Racetracks Program (SARP) as of March 31, 2013, removing $345 million from the racing business and throwing… Read more

The Horse Human Bond

The Horse & Human Relationship Clever Hans was an Orlov Trotter who could do arithmetic, tell time, read, spell and understand German. In public appearances in the early 1900’s, Hans the horse would answer questions asked by his owner, Wilhelm von Osten, by tapping his hoof. It was a time when Darwin’s theories were coming to light and an era of great interest in animal behaviour. Hans’ incredible performances attracted great interest. According to Wikipedia, in 1904, philosopher and psychologist… Read more

O.C.E.A.N.S.

Living with O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome By Scooter Grubb Just recently, after years of research, I have finally been able to give a name to what my wife and I have been living with for years. It's an affliction, for sure, which when undiagnosed and misunderstood can devastate and literally tear a family apart. Very little is known about O.C.E.A.N. Syndrome. But it is my hope this article will generate interest from researchers involved in the equine and psychological sciences. You will, no doubt, begin to… Read more

Horse Racing News Summary

Four press releases on January 23 announced changes to the horse racing industry in Ontario. The OLG announced that it has reached agreements in principle with eight tracks, referred to as “gaming sites”, including Woodbine, Mohawk, Rideau Carleton, Hanover, Woodstock, Dresden, Sudbury Downs and Clinton raceways. Agreements in principle had already been reached with Western Fair Raceway and Kawartha Downs last December. The OLG projects that these agreements will be finalized by the end of February… Read more

Thanks, Coach

This story's actually a Fourth Line Frolics from about four years ago. We've come a long way since then, with addictive 'light bulb moments' happening every week.

A TRIBUTE TO MY COACH

“Your goal is to get her onto a transition bit. That’s what we’re working towards,” says my coach, as if she’s trying to sort out in her head all of the goals of all of the students she’s dealing with on a regular basis. “Have we done any trail work?” “Last week, up on the hill,” I answer. It wasn’t something I really… Read more

ORC Race Dates

The Ontario horse racing industry has been holding its breath waiting for the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) to announce race dates for the first quarter of 2013. The Ontario Racing Commission has approved a total of 208 race dates for the first quarter of 2013, down by only 16 dates or seven percent from the same time period in 2012. In a notice to the industry released on December 14, the ORC ruled on five applications for race dates from four different racetrack operators cautiously seeking a… Read more

Horse Racing Panel Final Report

Sustainable Horse Racing Model Proposed The final report from the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel was released to the public on October 30, 2012. While the proposed Sustainable Racing Model forms a framework for the future racing industry in the province, the race is far from over. Sue Leslie, Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) president, is unsure who will officially be at the table when negotiations continue, but when the time is appropriate for OHRIA to be… Read more

Horse Racing Report expected soon

Horse Industry Transition Panel Final Report Issued

As of Monday, October 15^th, the final report from the Horse Racing Industry panel is in the hands of the Minister of Agriculture, Ted McMeekin but many are left wondering if the current state of affairs in the Ontario Legislature will affect its use?

In an interview with The Motts, Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel member and former Cabinet Minister John Snobelin explained that when the house prorogues, the cabinet still sits and the ministers are…