You are here: You are here: Home > Cindy’s Blog > Culture At The Tracks

Being a “hotwalker” at the backside of Rockingham Raceways in New Hampshire was a summer of learning about horses, the culture of the track and so much more, that I shouldn’t write about.  In 1975, decided I wanted to be a Veterinarian Technician.  Thing was, you sort of had to know about large and small animals.  I had no horsey experience.  Gerry Cheevers the goalie for the Boston Bruins had a string of racehorses.  Some of his horses had names related to hockey. 

Now if you are a regular watching Coaches Corner, you know how Dad loves two things for his defensemen, “around the boards” and “off the glass”, which were   the names of two of Gerry’s horses. I guess he heard this a lot at practice.  So with this connection I got a summer of seeing the backside of the track.  I not only learned fast about horses, but more importantly the culture.  There is always a culture in most activities.  You have to be immersed in it to learn the real world of its reality.

Going to the races, and placing bets, is not knowing the inside of racing.  From the hot walker, grooms, pony girls, workout jocks, the vet and farrier, to the trainers and owners, that is the real world.  I had to learn fast about the hierarchy or in simpler terms the “pecking” order.  I look back at those days, and everyone at the track would undeniably say they “love” horses. It was their life, and livelihood.   Same with the professional jumpers, rodeo people, and all sports related to horses.

My question is this: Do they really love the horses, or do they love the culture and the world that they generate via the horse?  To question people’s love of animals when they have immersed themselves so deeply into their passion, is me being on thin ice to question such a thing. 

Once again, am I knocking these fields of passion?   What I am doing is asking what do these people give back when these horses are no longer functional or serve a purpose?  I hope these people look at the big picture.  Now there are some people that you do not have to ask this question to.  Such as Kathy & Mike Bartley, founders of Bear Valley Rescue, to whom we have donated to. Click here to read their story:

https://www.doncherryspetrescue.org/our-successes/monetary-donations/bear-valley-rescue/

These people see the used up, cast offs of so many horsey endeavours.   Their passion is without monetary reward, prestige, plus a lot of heartache.  They know there are only so many horses they can save from the horsemeat market.  Because of these horse rescue organizations in Canada, I now wonder when I hear someone speak about their passion for horses, and the sport that their passion relates to, is it really about the horses or the fun they generate? Just asking the question.

EPILOGUE: There are many horse associations, such as the Ontario Harness Horse Assc., Equestrian Canada, plus numerous Veterinary Assc., plus many horse rescuing organizations such as the Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue, that are a working committee, called the Ontario Equine Welfare Info Group, that have developed a document, called the Ontario-Care-Guidelines-for-Equine Rescue.

Check it out if you want more info on the rescuing of horses :
http://www.whhrescue.com/images/Ontario-Care-Guidelines-for%20Equine%20Rescue-Revised.pdf

You are here: You are here: Home > Cindy’s Blog > Race Track Horses & People

So I was going to get horse experience working at a race track, cause I wanted to pursue being an Animal Veterinarian Technician.   My only connection was to work as a hot walker for Gerry Cheevers’ trainer, Mr. L., at Rockingham Raceway.  If any of you ever watched the movie The Sting, with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, they mention this famous raceway.  First day I was all excited.  I had to be at the barns for 5 am, so of course I am early.  I have no idea where I am going, but who drives past me after I parked my car, but Gerry.  He spots me, and says get in I’ll take you to the barns and introduce you to everyone.  The groom of his two top horses takes me under his wing.  He explains the job of a hot walker.  Cool the horses down that come from working out with three walks around the barn, and then let them have only 3 gulps of water out of their bucket.  Sounds easy enough.  I get the lead and wind it around my hand so I have a good grip.  Wrong.  He asks me, “So if this horse bolts, your hand and strength is going to stop it?”  Good point, I then fold it, and place it my palm.  One of the many lessons to learn.  He then has me bandage a leg with a poultice.  I want to make sure it covers the whole front part and bam; he lifts his front leg and nails me right in my eye. I could feel it swelling up and throbbing. This groom had the 2 top horses in the barn.  One was Royal Ski. It was an honor that they even trusted me to walk him. Read about him here: https://www.si.com/vault/1976/12/06/621703/royal-ski-wasnt-caught-napping ).  

Rockingham RaceTrack-  “The Rock”,opened in 1906, closed 2016. 25,000 car parking lot, & I lost mine cause the parking lot was empty at 4:30 am.

To me he was not only the fastest, but the smartest.  He would not take a drink unless he did his 3 turns, plus only take 3 gulps.  The rest of the horses would always want a drink as they past their bucket, plus they’d down the whole thing, which would bloat them when they are still hot.  Not Ski. I tested him all the time.  I ask the groom if he had trained him that way he said no, he is just that smart , and is why he wins.  So I ask, does he win cause he’s smart or just fast? It was explained to me that usually horses are either or, but Ski had both, that’s why he was a cut above the rest of the horses and I saw that.  Now the other top horse was Timothy’s Chance, but not as smart as Ski.  This fact cost Dad and a lot of other people a lot of money.  In his last two races he came in 3^rd , then 2^nd.  I knew what they were doing.  He could have easily won, but they were holding him back to get the odds up.  So finally the big day comes.  They are going to let him go full throttle.  I was all excited and said to the groom, “today’s is Tim’s big day”.  The groom shook his head, and said, “He won’t win, he is used to not winning, he doesn’t know he is supposed to pass the others”.  That night, when I finally got home, Mom and Dad were getting ready to go to that race.  Dad even said, “well tonight’s the night Gerry’s been waiting for, I guess one of his horses is going to win big”.  I piped up, and said, “No, he is going to lose, I know it, the groom told me, he doesn’t know how to win”.  Of course Mom pipes in, “that’s it we’re not betting”.  Dad says he has to or Gerry will know something is up.  He also asks me if I like Mr. L., Gerry’s trainer.  Of course I did, so he tells me to keep my mouth shut and don’t tell anyone what I told him, if I want Mr. L to keep his job.  As my Mom is walking out the door, she says, “by the way how did you get a black eye at a race track”?  Maybe she thought I was in a fight; wouldn’t that have made my Dad’s day.

So the end of this story is everyone lost a lot of money, and the next day Timothy’s Chance’s stall was empty.   It was then I learned that this racehorse business is just that.  It’s a business.  It’s not about loving horses; it’s the fun and excitement it brings to people. To bring this type of entertainment to people takes a lot of money, jobs, and most of all, horses lives.  Especially horses that lose, through no fault of their own.

EPILOGUE: I always wondered what happened to Royal Ski, so with most things you “wonder”, I googled it and this is what I found.

For more information check the link below: :
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/175822/japanese-stallion-royal-ski-dead

You are here: You are here: Home > Cindy’s Blog > No Pet? A OK

I was at a function, and doing a speech on responsible pet ownership.  Afterwards, a bunch of us were talking about our childhood pets.  I noticed this one woman was not talking much.  Though I must admit when a bunch of my friends get together, it is sometimes hard to get a word in edge wise.  I simply said to her to get her in the conversation, how was her night so far?  She then proceeded to say, “oh, you wouldn’t like me, I don’t have a pet”.  I was shocked.  Not because she didn’t have a pet, but she would think that of me.  I know I am perceived as judgemental, but I didn’t think I was that bad.  I then told her, “good for you, you probably have a good excuse why you don’t, and if more people were like you, there wouldn’t be so many in rescue”.

What I meant by that is, there are more reasons not to have a pet, then there are to have one.  She hit the nail on the head, when she told me how she worked long hours, and was tired at the end of the day, and just felt she didn’t have the energy or time needed to take care of a pet.  Also, she traveled a lot, and didn’t feel she wanted to ask friends to look after her responsibilities.  She said, she’d love to have a pet, but just knew it wouldn’t be fair to the animal.  How great a logic is that?  A woman from my own heart.  She didn’t let her heart rule her head.  She loved animals, and supported many animals’ causes.  We were after all, at a fundraising event.  So, she walked the talk.  I truly wish more people were like her.  You hear it all the time, when people are surrendering their pets.  “Oh, we just work too much”.  Well, were you not working when you got the dog? Did you think, the dog after staying home all by itself all day, was just going to jump in your lap for the night?  Gee, it wants to go for a walk.  What a novel idea. 

You really have to wonder what people are thinking. I have so much respect for people that choose not to have a pet because of their lifestyle.  I only wish there were more of you out there.  I guess like me.  Yep, no pets.  When I started this Foundation, my Dad asked me, what are you going to say to someone that asks you about not having any pets of your own?  Well, I gave him my spiel, and I guess I went on too long, and he finally relented and said, “Ok,ok, I get it”. I wish more people would.

You are here: You are here: Home > Cindy’s Blog > My Dog Stinks! Ha Ha

“Boy does my dog stink”.  There is usually a giggle after that statement.  I don’t think it’s funny at all.  Healthy dogs usually don’t stink.  So the owner  will bathe the dog to death, and still it smells.  Great.  So they dry out its coat, and probably don’t do a good job rinsing the suds out.  We all know how, not too many dogs enjoy a bath, and just want to get away.  Frustration kicks in, and before you know it, you’re running around with a towel.  Suds are left in the coat, plus the concentrated shampoo ( that you didn’t dilute-hint hint) has now  dried out its skin. 

Now that  causes the dog to itch, and away we go with other problems.  It’s a vicious circle.  Remember, dogs don’t get Body Odor like people.   It’s a symptom that something else is wrong.  Most of the time, I lift the dog’s ear up and say, “ is this what you are smelling?”  Nine times out of ten, that’s it.  Or, it’s the breath that stinks. 

Again, most of the time the dog has stinky breath, cause the teeth or gums are rotting.  I came across this a lot, when I groomed dogs.  Part of my job as a dog groomer was educating people about the health of their dog.

You are here: You are here: Home > Cindy’s Blog > Crop ‘N Dock

My assisting meant I handed the vets the tampons to put in the inside part of the earflap, and then the cardboard tongue depressors on the outside to erect the sliced ear. They’d then stitch the outer part of the ear to stop the bleeding, and then tape it all up. Just like the pictures. They also, strung a suspended piece of tape or string as a bridge between the 2 ears to give it stability and help the ears stay erect while healing. Makes sense? Ohhh.. but wait. If those dogs have a violent time coming out of anesthesia with their paws flailing all over the place, and catch the bridge? Look out. Plus I had to sleep through the night listening to these dogs coming out of anesthetic, howling in pain. Lovely way to fall asleep.

But it gets better:  I forgot to tell you I was also the kennel cleaner.  Nothing is bloodier and messier, then a cage with a dog that has pulled apart its bandages from ear cropping. Dried blood is a bitch to clean.   Ohhh., I also forgot to mention during office hours I assisted in docking 3-day-old black and tan puppies’ tails.  Now there is an experience.  I hold the pup, (no anesthesia), while the vet applied hemostatic clamps on the tail, and twist.  The flexible cartilage stretches and can be easily pulled off, the skin stretches over the semi-bone and covers the end.  No stitches required.  It’s over in 10 seconds.  But I have to endure it for a whole litter of 8 pups.  I am trenched in sweat, and weak in the knees.  The horror of it all.  Best part, if you can call it that.  I am about to throw away the 8 puppys’ tails in the steel tray, and the Doc said put them in the fridge.  (same fridge where we all kept our lunches).   Afterwards I asked the other more seasoned assistants, why would he save them, and they all laughed.  “He goes fishing with them!” Just another day at the office.

For more info on the state of docking, cropping, declawing, and other unnecessary surgeries perform on animals in Canada, click here>>

OR – click here to sign this petition asking The Canadian Kennel Club to support cruelty free standards.