Quiet Rein Farm's Tip Top TB Challenge

13/12/2024

Yesterday Wayne had his first post track ride! He was a gentleman, even with the wind and freezing temps 🥶 Going into the new year we are going to be doing more work on the lunge in side reins and begin trot work under saddle with the focus on bending properly both directions! I love that this war horse is up for a new challenge!
🏇🏻🏁

06/12/2024

Jacques 🏈 official first ride from 12/2!
He was such a gentleman. We worked on walking and trotting mostly. Continuing to do a lot of bending at the walk to help him loosen up his neck. We did alittle cantering at the end each way and definitely had some fun. This week has been pretty chilly so Jacque is super bundled and enjoying a few days off. Today he’s getting body work done!!! Hoping it helps get all those knotted muscles from racing back to normal ❤️❤️❤️ (Peep tarz 🐶photo bombing)

Wednesday I also did some decorating jacque even helped me hang his stocking (sorta😂)

04/12/2024

We might’ve just become the underdog but we aren’t ready to throw the towel in!

I have never had the opportunity to bond with
a horse and base a connection off of interaction that has nothing to do with riding. Sure, I’ve done groundwork before, started babies,
bonded out of the saddle, but December 2nd when I decided to swing a leg over after months of bonding, fighting the worst dermatitis on his hind legs, learning to ground tie and properly
Lunge, making him a priority even if it was 9pm after my baby fell asleep, etc. and he didn’t feel right, my heart shattered. My bond with Storm runs so much deeper than any bond I have experienced because it has nothing to do with riding, competing, or marked success. And now that I know his EPM is causing him physical distress, and several have said he might never recover, I am not ready for the inevitable goodbye whether it’s after RRP in October or sadly, much sooner. Hes the best “pet” I have ever had, and as a professional I am fairly
experienced with wrapping my head around
hard decisions due to bills piling up and horses being limited in their alleged usefulness. But Storm, he’s different. Root us on, drop your advice in the comments below ⬇️ , help keep the wind in our sails, lord knows we need it! Not ready to give up on this Storm.

Video included to show how we have gotten to where we are thinking he is a typical green horse and nothing more up until this point. Riding a horse gives you a feel for their balance, health, and soundness that cannot be replicated fully in groundwork.

20/11/2024

Storm Update long overdue!
Storm and I are hanging out pretty much everyday or every other day. He had some bad dermatitis on his hind legs that I have been staying on top of and now his legs are spotless, which I’m sure feels much better. I have lunged him a handful of times, working on transitions up and downward through voice command which he is really awesome at! Storm is beginning to naturally offer a slower cadence to all of his gaits which is awesome to see. I actually ponied Storm off of Buddy (my saintly QH bestie) at the walk and trot last night and Storm was awesome in both directions, through transitions, halting, and even offering to back on command. I wasn’t sure if it would bring up racing memories for him, being ponied to the gate, but he truly was a gentleman and was easy to redirect anytime he even got slightly ahead of Buddy’s shoulder. Tonight I kept it lowkey and just hung out with him in the ring while a jumping group lesson went on so he could become accustomed to the commotion of a busy arena. He was pretty much relaxed the whole time, even when we practiced standing at the mounting block. 

Overall Storm seems like he’s a patient guy, and I’m taking advantage of how smart he is to help him learn to check in with me when he’s unsure rather than reacting to whatever is making him question his situation. I use downward transitions, halt and stand, or back as a command to redirect him anytime I notice him losing focus or I am putting him in a new situation (for example horses jumping knocking a rail in the ring he’s in, or a horse having a fresh moment nearby). He is not high strung at all so he is taking to life at QRF quite well! I love his watch eye because it makes him very expressive. His face marking reminds me of my former jumper, James, who recently passed. Looking forward to getting that topline looking better as he continues to work slow gaits and lots of transitions. It’s been really rewarding having this extra time to work on groundwork before restarting him, and has inspired me to do some groundwork with my other horses as well! I hope it inspires you all to do your groundwork, too! 🙂

20/11/2024

Jacque-date part 2
Learning to ground tie and adding some commands to go with it 😊

20/11/2024

Jacque-date 🏈
Learning about random things mom puts on my back. He was such a good boy with Mr. Scarecrow on his back and rustling all around. He loves his doggy siblings too❤️❤️

13/11/2024

Jacque had a nice relaxing morning with is best buddy “buddy”!! I walked out to put another blanket on Jacque and these two were being so cute and snuggly. They were great participants in the photo shoot and then followed me around the paddock after.

Some updates:
💙Jacque is loving spending his first month at QRF hanging out in the field during the day and his comfy cozy stall at night.

💙Jacque got his shoes off to let his feet breath, we are working on treating thrush and keeping his feet strong. He gets a hoof supplement daily as well as some topical hoof strengtheners.

💙Jacque was amazing and let me clip his legs up to his knees and his ears. Super a good baby horse no drugs needed he stood there quietly (except for that one puff of hair at the bottom of the inner ear lol we gave up on that cause she has been just so good)

💙He got his mane pulled and he was a gentleman about that as well and there was a lot to pull!!

💙We have been working on lunging. He’s gotten a lot better at staying out on the circle and not cutting in. He has also been learning how to halt on the edge of the circle instead of turning in and coming towards me.

💙He’s been amazing with the doggos running around him and being crazy 🤪

💙I still can’t find a single treat the guy will eat 😭😭 I’ve friend everything from apples, baby food, apple sauce, peppermints, mints, sugar cubes, carrots, regular horse treats, .. and more the guy is not interested. Taking suggestions for sure

02/11/2024

Finally got to spend some time with my Thoroughbred of choice, Storm the Empire. “Storm” and I got to know each other a bit tonight, doing some casual lunge work and in-hand leading refresher work after a grooming session and then it was time for a makeover! Storm got his mane pulled, sheath cleaned, and legs intensely washed to remove fungus and old scabs. He is so shiny and happy, I can’t wait to add some topline on come ride time! Tomorrow Lukey comes to do his feet and then he will really be feeling brand new.

I’m really excited to make Storm a priority of mine for 2025 now that I have a year of motherhood under my belt and have figured out juggling life with Jules & the horses a bit better… and Storm will soon have a 4 legged horsey sibling come December when my Mustang arrives for the 2025 Mustang Makeover! Lots of exciting horses to work with at the barn, and so happy that Storm gets to be at the top of my list! So grateful to Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program - FLTAP! for sourcing us such special OTTBs❤️
-Catherine

01/11/2024

Hope tonight’s treats make you as happy as Wayne’s make him! Happy Halloween!
🍫👻 🎃 🍬

26/10/2024

Jacque 🏈 had some visitors today! Pam and Steve (Christina’s parents) came to meet the new guy in town. Jacque loved the attention and was such a gentleman. He truly is a huge puppy dog. Jacque and I then spent some quality time together working on getting used to grooming and standing on crossties. Now he Is snuggled up in his stall with his blanky and lots of hay!

~Christina 💙

25/10/2024

Introducing another one of our 2025 RRP Horses 🤩 everyone meet “The Wayne Factor.” Wayne is a 10 year old gelding from West Virginia who raced an astounding 8 years! This war horse had nearly one hundred starts (97 to be exact) and won over $130,000. We are excited to start Wayne on his journey into post track life. His goofy personality and beautiful self carriage is already a big hit. He will be working with Mattie going into the 2025 competition! Thank you Sara for this awesome guy!

23/10/2024

With Exxtop “Tank” on his way to his wonderful new home this Thursday where he will get to take care of his new kid, it is time to start looking into 2025 RRP! A few weeks ago on our way to Kentucky I saw a picture of the red guy whose racing name is “I’m Just”. After looking into his racing career I found he had 9 career starts, $35,870 in winnings, and had won first and third place in two of the 9 races. After looking further we found that I’m Just was raced by a female jockey one Jacqueline A Davis who’s been racing since 2008, has had 8,744 starts, and has total earnings of $21,449,536! In honor of this successful women jockey in a male dominated industry we chose the barn name “Jacque” for I’m Just. Today I got to meet him in person and I immediately knew he was the one I wanted to work with for the next 12 months to prep 2025 RRP! Jacque got a good bath today, a hand walk, and a photo shoot. He also spent time with Mr Tank who gave Jacque allllll his words of wisdom. Tarzan and Reen even like Jacque too! I am BEYOND excited to anncounce that I’m Just “Jacque” will be my 2025 RRP prospect. Thank you Quiet Rein Farm for the opportunity to work with this amazing young horse. A huge thank you to Melissa Porter and Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program - FLTAP! For another amazing prospect I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Follow us along for the ride 🤪🧡🏇🏻

15/10/2024

It’s time to crown 👑 our CROWD FAVORITE 🤩 for 2024 RRP — Charm Weaver! This girl got the most votes on our page and we can see why! She is sweet, talented, and a great partner. Best of all she is proudly offered for SALE!

Exxtop had many visitors at RRP this past week in Kentucky, so we know he had a large following and supportive fans! He was also amazing at KHP and is proudly offered for Sale! We are so proud of both of these horses. Time will tell who is the best selling horse! ❤️

11/10/2024

Exxtop aka “Tank” is the absolute best boy. QRF was lucky enough to be the ones to have the opportunity to restart him!! He competed in show hunters and show jumpers these last few days at the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project and didn’t blink an eye when faced with a new atmosphere and new jumps. One year old Juliette even got ride on him! All around great guy and he is proudly offered FOR SALE! If you are interested in Tank pls reach out to Catherine 860-992-9514

Thanks to Wasabi Aftercare Fund for retiring this guy and coming to visit him at the horse show it was great meeting you guys!

In September 2023, we privately purchased Exxtop for retirement and then retired him via Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program. He was purchased by Quie...

08/10/2024

🎟️🎟️ Tuesday 🎟️🎟️
Both Charm and Tank rode great around both the Hunter and Jumper tickets today! Feeling confident and ready going into tomorrow’s first day of preliminary competiton! 💪🏻 Retired Racehorse Project

08/10/2024

Move in day✅ Arrival exam✅✅ tomorrow both Charm and Tank will do warm up tickets and QRF team will be taking a shuttle tour of Claiborne Farm. We also plan to take the dogs for a walk exploring the Kentucky Horse Park Retired Racehorse Project

07/10/2024

Kentucky bound!! RRP here we come 🐎🏇🏻