Chapter 46 – Tasse (long)
After checking Ghost the three took one of the bigger side by sides over toward the stud farm/breeding facility. Jack was pointing out various things as they headed over. When they got closer, they saw a pasture that had five mares and five foals in it. The foals were jumping and bucking around.
"So how old are those foals?" Elizabeth asked.
"At least five days." Jack said. "We keep foals and mares inside for at least five days before turning them out with other mares and foals. We try to keep foals together that are about the same age. I would say born within a week of each other. By the end of summer, they will be spending more time with other foals. Most will be halter broke by that time. Foals born this spring and summer will be away from their mothers by the new year. By then we will also have a good idea who are jumpers, who will race and who will be sold."
"When do you start with jumpers?" Nathan asked.
"No horse will be ridden for jumping until they are at least two." Jack said. "Some will have started training as jumpers before that. They won't compete as jumpers until they are at least four or better. Some of our jumpers started as racers for a season or two. Most of our racers start as two year olds. We have started a few older, but the younger the better."
"So you have horses in other states?" Nathan asked.
"For racing." Jack said. "They will usually all winter here. Granted there are a few that stay in either Florida or California. Those are Thornton Thoroughbreds that are with other trainers. We only have about a dozen with other trainers. We have talked about sending a few more to California. Some of our horses out there are doing really well. It is just a discussion of who will go and will they be turned over to other trainers. Thornton Thoroughbreds currently has two trainers who we work with in California and one in Florida. Grandpa and Uncle Conrad are our main trainers, but they have at least a dozen other trainers who work with them. Most are assistants, some are interns completing requirements for an equine degree and getting hours to get their assistant trainers certificate. That doesn't include riders or hands that work with the horses.
Honestly, I would love to have more horses in Florida and California, but it is a matter finding trainers that have the same views as us. Right now, the trainers we use are not exclusive to us so they have a full barn where they are. I think it might take a few more years, but the goal would be to have enough horses to race a full compliment for a full season in all the major markets, at least in the US. Those include California, Florida, Kentucky and New York. There are a few other places, but those are the biggest. There are also races in some cities in Canada and I am not even going to get started on Europe, Japan and the Middle East.
More then finding trainers, it will be getting enough horses to do that, while maintaining our quality. We would also need to expand the breeding facility so we would be able to have more mares and foals. We have only been breeding on this scale for about six years and we already realize that we need to double or even triple our capacity. The other option would be to get yearlings at auction. That can work, but it can also be hit or miss. You also are then bidding against many other people. The most cost effective way is to expand our breeding facility. I would like to see it at least triple in the next two years and then at least double every three to five years after that until we reach a predetermined level of mares and foals.
Personally, I would like to breed as many of our own foals for racing and jumping as possible. That means researching bloodlines and investing in mares and additional studs. The mares are the biggest piece. As long as we keep really good records, we can use a limited number of studs. Jumping is another thing I would love to expand. There are so many markets for that alone. Those that we don't chose, we can always sell as well. If we invest in good bloodlines, it will be easy to sell the foals that we don't chose. I could go on all day about this. Feel free to ask me other questions."
"So who all owns Thornton Thoroughbreds?" Elizabeth asked.
"Officially." Jack said. "It is my Grandpa John, my father, brother and I. Unofficially, we also have included some of family from Grandpa John's sister, Shirley – they receive a small portion of the profits when paid out quarterly. While technically Tommy owns a piece of things, he currently has no say in what happens to any of the horses. He needs to be able to show that he can be trusted before he will officially be given shares of the horses. Any money he earns as an owner goes into a trust. He will not have access to it until he proves to be responsible or age twenty-five when he can draw a small income from the trust. Right now, Grandpa John controls the trust, but if anything were to happen I would have control. And no, no one knows that. I doubt that Dad even knows that. Grandpa John and I have made a lot of changes over the last few months. To be honest, I actually own more of Thornton Thoroughbreds then Dad does and Tommy barely has any shares anymore since he has shown no interest in the horses. Don't say anything, especially to Dad and Ma. Things are going to be changing, but I can't really talk about that right now. It will all eventually be public, but right now there are only a few people that have knowledge of the changes. It isn't that I don't trust you guys, it is that I need to keep it to myself until things are official. Ma and Dad don't know about my plans and I don't want them to interfere."
"When did you get your ownership shares?" Nathan asked.
"When I was thirteen." Jack said. "When I was fifteen I was allowed to pick out my own horses to buy and a say in which were breed. Grandpa John had a trust set up for me where all the profits went that he controlled. He turned that over to me completely the day after my eighteenth birthday. You have to remember that I have been riding since I was five or six years old. I mean competitively riding. Ma and Grandpa had me on a horse by the time that I was one. I showed I knew what I was talking about. So when I was twelve, I was allowed to sit in on meetings when we talked about what was going to happen with horses. I offered my opinions and when I truly showed that I understood what I was talking about, they actually started asking what I was thinking about things.
It is was actually my great-grandfather William who started Thornton Thoroughbreds. After Grandpa John left politics he took control and grew it. Tommy and I were made part owners when we were born with the profits going into our trusts. So we have been earning for as long as we have been alive. I have even surprised Grandpa John with how well I have done picking horses. The better that I have done, the more responsibility he has given me regarding the horses. It was my idea to include the jumpers as part of our business."
"Why am I not surprised." Nathan said. "From everything I have seen and read, you have done really well."
"I guess." Jack said. "It depends on how you measure success. Have I earned money? Yes. Have I won huge races? Not really. The best that one of my horses has done is third in a grade two stakes race at Belmont."
"It will come." Nathan said.
"I guess." Jack said. "I have really high hopes for some of my foals. Granted it will be two to three years before I see a return on the investment. Right now, hope is all we got. Until the foals are born and we see how they actually stack up. Whether they race or jump, I am hoping that we have a good crop and maybe we can even sell some and buy others to expand our bloodlines."
"Grade two?" Elizabeth asked.
"It is complicated." Jack said. "But essentially all the big races are graded. The Triple Crown series are grade 1, the highest. The next step down is grade 2 and then grade 3. The races have higher purses and placing in a graded stakes race can mean more worth for the horse. Don't ask me to explain how horses are put into the different grades or how they chose what is a graded stakes race. Because to be honest after all these years, I barely understand it. I just follow along with what the governing body tells us we can and can't do. I try to learn, but the parameters are constantly changing. I think the biggest thing is how many wins the horse has plays the biggest factor. I also know that age and gender are also factors in most races.
When looking to enter a horse in any race, there are requirements that need to be met and when we find races for our horses we enter them. Aunt Heidi spends most of her days looking at that stuff and then will send a list of races and eligible horses to Grandpa John, Grandpa James and I. From there we chose. This year all across the country there will be four hundred fifty-five graded stakes races that have at least a seventy-five thousand dollar purse. There are a total of sixty-nine graded stakes races here at Saratoga worth over eighteen point eight million in total purses. That is just this coming season. Don't forget that there are graded stakes races in other countries as well."
"Wow." Elizabeth said.
"I agree, wow." Nathan said. "Guess I have to do some reading up on horse racing."
They stopped and went over to the railing of one of the fences. Jack called to one of mares. She came over to him. He petted her for a bit. Her foal came to see what his mama was doing and allowed Elizabeth to pet him for a moment before he ran off to play again.
"Who is this?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sassypants." Jack said.
At her name the mare nickered. Elizabeth just shook her head.
"So what is the foal called?" Nathan said.
"He still doesn't have a name." Jack said. "He is only two weeks old."
"What was the sire's name?" Nathan asked.
"Troll Time." Jack said. "Before either of you say anything. I didn't name either. She was registered when we bought her. I mean we could have changed the name, but the paperwork to do that is a hassle, so we don't change a horses name once it is registered. The sire was one that we bought the a dozen straws for. So will have six foals from him this year and six next year. We have used him before and liked the foal, so we bought the straws this time."
"I wasn't going to say anything." Elizabeth said with a smirk.
Nathan closed his eyes like he was trying to figure something out.
"How about Tasse?" Nathan said "It actually means one of a series of overlapping metal plates in a suit of armor that form a short skirt over the body below the waist. But more importantly, it can be spelled using letters from both parents."
"I like it." Jack said. "I will put it in the system when we get back. One down and a bunch to go. Of the twenty some foals that we have so far, we only have names for about a dozen and we have at least a dozen mares that have yet to foal."
"Get me list of the sires and dams." Nathan said. "I will see what I can come up with."
"How did you know that?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan just gave them a shy smile and shrugged his shoulders.
"You are not going to tell us are you?" Jack teased.
"Nope." Nathan said. "I can't share all my secrets the first week. But I will tell you this, don't play scrabble with me unless you want to lose. I love words."
Jack and Elizabeth both shook their heads. Jack was starting to wonder something about Nathan, but he decided to keep his thoughts to himself for the time being. However, he was going to pay a little closer attention to see if Nathan gave himself away. Jack had meet someone else that could do what Nathan had just done and Jack learned that person had a photographic memory and an insane IQ. Jack already figured out that Nathan was smart, just by the way he did things. The other thing that Jack thought about was how much that his cousin Melissa and Nathan would get along. If she wasn't the same age as him, he might have suggested that they see if there was something there. It also didn't help that she had fallen for some rodeo guy down in Texas. Jack wasn't sure about the guy, but he was trying to keep an open mind. He had really hoped that Melissa would come back to work at Coal Creek when she was done with school.
"Fine." Jack said. "Let's head back. We can come back over here later this week. I will also let the hands know to let me know when a horse is foaling if you want to see it. But I will warn you, they have a tendency to show up at night."
"I wouldn't mind." Elizabeth said.
"If you are going." Nathan said. "I will be going with. I know that it is on the same property, but I have a feeling that your father wouldn't see it that way."
"Good." Jack said. "Let's get back and check on Ghost. Then we can pull up the list of mares expecting and those that have foaled, but don't have names yet."
Nathan nodded and then motioned to leave. They walked back over to the side by side. Jack started it and headed back to the main compound.
"Would it be possible to use a computer?" Nathan asked. "I mean I have my laptop, but I was wondering I could use one in the office. Otherwise I would need the password for the wi-fi."
"Sure." Jack said. "What do you need? Either way, I will get you the password. I think Gran was going to change it anyway."
"I promised your grandfather I would look a few things up." Nathan said. "I also just remembered the two books that I would like to get him if he is serious about using natural remedies for the horses. I figured it would be easier to print something from the office computer. I don't want to use all the data on my phone."
"I am sure that he is." Jack said. "We have to be so careful giving the thoroughbreds any drugs, especially during racing season."
"Well." Nathan said. "There are a few natural things that should be avoid within days of a race, but otherwise most are fine anytime."
"I think Grandpa will be glad to hear that." Jack said. "We have had to scratch horses because we need to treat something with meds, that probably could be treated with a natural remedy and be fine to race. Personally, I would love to see this whole place go natural. I know that it is better for the horse in the long run and I think that we would have fewer scratches for racing."
"Give me an example." Nathan said.
"Some thoroughbreds are more prone to minor joint swelling after racing." Jack said. "If we could treat it with something other then drugs, we could still exercise the horse with in reason and they may be able to race again sooner. If we treat with drugs, it is usually at least eight to twelve weeks before they can race again because most vets will bute them. Other meds can scratch a horse for a few days to weeks. It depends on the drugs used and in what amount."
"There are several anti-inflammatory things that you can add to a horses diet." Nathan said. "It might even be able to prevent a lot of the joint swelling. You would still need to check the horses and watch them. But one of the guys who taught me rodeo fed his cutting horses a high immune stimulant and anti-inflammatory diet the week before the competition and he had far few problems with the horse then most of the other people."
"What is a cutting horse?" Elizabeth asked.
"It is a horse trained to cut or separate a cow from the herd." Nathan said. "There are competitions for it. They have to cut a cow from a herd and drive it to a separate pen. They also have to get the cow to move or stay in one place while maintaining control of their horse. It is one of the oldest rodeo events. It was based on actual things that cowboys needed to do as part of their jobs. I have done some basic cutting, but not the advanced things you see at some of the shows."
"I would love to see some of these rodeo events." Elizabeth said. "Not that I don't like show jumping and racing, but it is something different."
"I understand." Jack said. "I wouldn't mind going either. I also wouldn't mind knowing a little more. I would love to learn to rope and the reining that Laura was getting into, it was fascinating. I mean Gran's brother has horses as well, but definitely not the same as we do."
"What kind does he have?" Elizabeth asked.
"Belgians and Percherons." Jack said.
"Aww." Nathan said. "Big horses."
Elizabeth looked between the two confused. Nathan pulled out his phone and pulled up a picture of a Percheron.
"They are draft horses." Nathan said. "They are used to pull carts, wagons and sleighs."
"He competes with them." Jack said. "I haven't been able to see him do it live, but I have seen a video."
"What does he compete in?" Elizabeth asked.
"Hitch teams." Jack said. "There are two, four, six and eight horse hitch teams. There are also single classes. The most famous hitch team is the eight hitch Budweiser Clydesdales."
"I am confused." Elizabeth said. "I mean I have seen the Clydesdales on TV, but competitions."
"They have a team of horses hitched to an old fashion draft wagon." Jack said. "They drive the teams around the arena and are judged on how well the team performs together. My great uncle competes with two, four and six hitch teams. He also competes with a single horse. In those cases, the horses it pulling a smaller two wheel cart. There are single cart, tandem and unicorn.
Single is one horse pulling the cart. Tandem is two horses, one in front of the other pulling the cart or wagon. Unicorn is one horse in front and two in behind it pulling the cart or wagon. There are ladies cart – so a woman driving, men's cart – a man driving, team – two horses, tandem, unicorn, four, six and eight. If it is not specifically a ladies or mens class the driver can be either.
There are also breed specific classes. So Belgians against other Belgians. Percherons against other Percherons. Clydesdales against other Clydesdales. Although Clydesdales usually include Shire and Spotted as well. Then there is open class which can be any breed. Hitch teams are always one breed for that wagon. Because my great uncle had both Belgians and Percherons, he competes with two wagons at most competitions. He drives and so does two of his sons. His wife drives in the ladies cart class. Both of his daughters-in-law are or have learned to drive as well. There are many times that they compete against each other in the various classes."
"So do they breed the draft horses for show?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "Those that don't make the cut, are sold as regular draft horses. Usually for pulling in a parade or pulling sleighs. Some have also been sold to Amish, Mennonite and others like that."
"I would love to see those horses." Elizabeth said.
"Me too." Nathan said.
"Maybe we can arrange it." Jack said. "He is over in Ithaca and I know he has shows though out the summer. Maybe we will be able to go. Like I said, I have never been to a competition myself."
"So if he running two full six hitch teams." Nathan said. "How many horses do they take on a weekend?"
"If they are running all classes." Jack said. "They can take up to twenty-four horses, plus two wagons, and three carts. As well as all the tack that is needed plus spare hitch and wagon parts. I mean a six hitch team, the harnesses alone are over sixty pounds. Each of those collars weigh a good amounts as well. Plus there are grooming supplies, feed, water buckets. You basically have to bring everything you are going to need for the weekend. Granted you can buy feed there, but most usually bring their own hay and at least enough feed to get there and back."
"How much do those horses weigh?" Nathan asked.
"Each Belgian can weigh up to two thousand pounds." Jack said. "Percherons about the same, maybe a little more."
How do they move that many huge horses?" Elizabeth asked.
"If they take twenty-four horses." Jack said. "With everything that they need to bring, they travel in five custom tractor-trailers, plus a bus or two with the team of people needed to care for the horses and help get them ready for a show. The team of people who go are awesome and everyone has a job, even the kids that go help out with the horses."
"Wow." Elizabeth said. "And how many teams are usually at a competition?"
"I know when they went to Nationals a few years ago." Jack said. "It was the top fifteen teams for the eight and six hitch. I think it was top twenty for the rest of the classes. Other shows it can be that many or more. I think one of the largest shows had upwards of twenty or more in some of the classes. I guess it depends on the show and the size of the arena. In some of the videos that I watched there were four or five sections of hitch teams because they could only have two or three teams showing in the arena at a time for safety reasons."
"That must be some production." Nathan said.
"I am sure it is." Jack said. "I would love to see it myself. Like I said, I watched some videos, but I am sure seeing it live would something else. We can watch some of the videos when we get back."
They were quiet for a few minutes and as they entered the main yard, Elizabeth touched Jack's arm to get his attention for a moment.
"I have a question." Elizabeth said.
"Yes." Jack said.
"Gran said your cousin, David, has a ranch in Montana." Elizabeth said. "What does his raise? I don't remember if she told me or not."
"Cattle." Jack said. "Well, cattle and alpaca. They also have horses, but they don't really show them or compete. I think David has done some local rodeos. But I don't think he is into competing. I know he likes to go watch local rodeo events. They have a bunch of horses, but they are used for the ranch. I honestly don't know if he breeds them or just buys them as he needs. I know that we have sent a few out there for him. I also know that he got a few draft horses from Uncle Martin to use, but I don't know much about his operation. I have never actually been to their ranch. All I know is what we have talked about when they are here or what Uncle Chris has told me."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "So your family is in pretty much every aspect of horses."
"I guess." Jack said. "I guess I didn't think about it like that."
