West Point Thoroughbreds will be represented by not one, but two graded stakes winners at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover: Cavalry Charge and Decorated Invader! Their Thoroughbred Makeover trainers, Erin Knehr and Mary Termer, will be telling the stories of these two winners in a joint blog entry each month.

Erin Knehr:

After last month’s update I had no idea where this month would take us. But we did it! We went to our first show and Calvin (Cavalry Charge) was a rock star. It was the perfect first show setting: small classes and most of the other horses in our divisions were also off-track Thoroughbreds. My number one goal for the day was to have a positive experience with no issues during warmup. While we rode in small groups in the past, we were are not quite prepared for a large group during warm up. Fortunately, only a few horses were in the ring with us at the time. 

Erin Knehr photo

We checked all the boxes, starting with a light lunge, and then Calvin stood patiently by the ring waiting for the schooling break. We went in and schooled around a very inviting 18” to 2’ course and then came back out to wait for the start of our division. Calvin has a very natural low head carriage and can get very heavy on his front end, but with some flowers and decorative brush he backed up a bit which really helped when we were jumping around. He was great in his over-fences classes, and while not completely relaxed in his flat class, his canter continues to make big improvements. We did not have any lead issue in the under saddle, and while we still have some work to do, I was very pleased with the class. We ended up champion in the future hunter division and I could not have been happier with this ex-racehorse who now I can officially say is a show pony.

We continue to have our daily ups and down and still have a ways to go to October, but getting some show experience was very valuable. Goals for the future include continuing to visit new locations and starting to get experience remaining relaxed and calm with a larger number of horses. I realize the show in October can be extremely overwhelming and I want Calvin to have the exposure he needs to feel relaxed in that setting.

It comes down to just needing more time in the saddle. This is the point in his training where I wish I did this full time. It’s really difficult as an amateur with a full-time job and full-time kids and full-time farm to get as much time as I would like to ride. I am getting a ride in about six days a week, weather permitting, but sometime what needs to be a longer ride is cut short due to the need to get back to work or take the kids somewhere. And of course, we still have the grass ring and riding on a slope issue, especially on days I just want to work on a balanced canter.

In transition, we did make great progress on our bell boot situation and some of the mystery surrounding them. We started yearling prep so Calvin lost his yearling buddies and relocated to a paddock for about three weeks. He didn’t lose a single bell boot, halter or shoe during that time.  We moved him back out to a larger field on week four with my other gelding, and within two days of being out with a friend he lost a bell boot. Just last week he left his halter out in the field.  Clearly, he cannot be trusted in social settings. 

Mary Termer:

Sometimes I forget. I forget about the fact that a year ago, Finn (Decorated Invader) was still in race training. He was still a stallion and wouldn’t be gelded for a few more months. I forget that when he arrived last fall I wasn’t in love with him and had no problem turning him out to be a horse. I forget that my first rides were weeks apart as he wasn’t my priority. I forget how hard those first rides were when Devin went lame and was retired, as Finn wasn’t Devin. But everything happens for a reason. 

Mary Termer photo

In my last writing, I wrote how we were still having explosive canter transitions. But after we get it, we can settle. So this last month we really worked more on me, just thinking about the transition, holding true to the outside aids and lifting my inside seat to go. In doing this, they are not perfect yet, but already better!

We entered our next show, at the Kentucky Horse Park, just this past weekend entering Intro A and B for Saturday and both of those plus Intro C on Sunday. We arrived Friday and got Finn set up. A couple of hours later we tacked up for a lesson with my trainer. We walked out to the schooling area, where Finn became quite unsettled and pulled a few “Hi-ho Silver” moves. We finally managed to get him to focus making circles and serpentines, getting his mind back on me and not the tents, trailers, other horses or ring set-up. After about 30 minutes, he settled and we were able to work, including running through my two tests down in the Rolex ring. 

We didn’t ride until 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Finn spent his morning munching hay and napping. We weren’t quite sure how he was going to come out to ride, but he was so good listening to me and didn’t bat an eye at the other horses. He walked out to the ring and we rode our first test like we were seasoned pros, earning a solid 70%! 

We went back to the stall and waited for our second test. Our prep time was shorter and Finn was just as good, this time not even paying any attention to the loose pony in the ring! After it was caught, we walked down to our ring and rode another great test, earning us a 68.4%. 

Our plan Sunday was much the same for the first two tests, and we were not quite sure if we were going to ride the third test, where the canter is introduced. Finn was great in warmup and throughout the test, only throwing his head once and earning us a 67.5%. After we saluted and turned past the judge to walk out, Finn spooked at a noise in the grandstand and reared and spun for a moment. So we made the decision to ride our second test but scratch the third and instead just school the canter in the warmup.

In the second test, I truly pushed for more of the less tense work we had in the warmup and it paid off! The judge even commented that Finn was less tense than the first ride. We walked back over and took the left canter with a beautiful transition. Now, time for the right lead. I sat up and thought “canter” and we did it! I was smiling ear to ear! I was glad we made the decision to not push the issue of the canter in a test quite yet and rather have a great experience in such a new place. When we got back to the barn, we found out my score was a whopping 72.8%!

This weekend was truly amazing. I haven’t had this much fun at a show in a long time, and I’m forever grateful for an amazing support team, as I couldn’t do it without them. With our scores, we won all of our classes AND were Thoroughbred (T.I.P.) champion for not only our level but for the whole show each day!

Walk trotting a dressage test might not be the same as those competitors that are already jumping courses and riding flying changes, but I’m in this for the long haul. I know Finn will continue to be nothing but amazing as we continue building this correct, steady foundation. Until next time, keep riding!