What to know about buying a horse

The Horses of Mayberry at the Breeders Cup World Championships

BY LOUISA BARTON

Ocala, the official “horse capital,” never fails to prove that it is the home to the best horse trainers in the world. Being home to over 60 breeds of horses with so many different disciplines in the equestrian world, plus a wide variety of show venues and events all year round, truly makes Ocala a haven for horse lovers. With a variety of beautiful horses and ponies scattered across acres of pasture land dotted with barns and oak trees galore, Ocala/Marion County also boasts some of the best soil and water for raising and training horses of all ages.

Ocala is the place where during the fall and winter months, so many yearlings purchased at a variety of thoroughbred sales get their first training. They will be worked with on the ground, probably in a round pen, and learn some basic manners and, when ready, be saddled in a stall and ridden around in the stall to get accustomed to having a rider on their backs. Then they are hacked out to the track and quite often around fields, to get used to different terrain and to allow them to relax and just be horses. In between training sessions, there will be bathing, grooming and, if they are one of the fortunate ones and are a Mayberry horse, they will probably get a lot of scratching, affection and some treats. When mature and ready, jogging the track and eventually gently “galloping” the track will be part of readying them for their racetrack career or for the two-yearold in training sales. When ready, the horses are “breezed,” the fastest speed expected of them at this point over a short distance, much shorter than they will run in a race at the track.

Each year I enjoy following the top stakes horses across the USA and around the world and tracing their roots back home to Ocala. I always find that the thoroughbred trainers from this area are consistent time and time again in producing great results and many wins in the biggest races with their graduates. Just to mention a few, de Meric Thoroughbred Sales, Niall Brennan Stables, Eddie Woods Stables, Mark Casse and his team, Karl Keegan at Lucan Bloodstock and April Mayberry and the Mayberry Farm team are all consistently giving horses the best possible chance at success by giving them a great training foundation.

Back in Ocala, after a trip to Kentucky for the Breeders Cup World Championships, I was provided a wonderful opportunity to visit Mayberry Farm. Thoroughbred trainer April Mayberry and Kim Harrison were watching horses on the track. Mayberry was accompanied by her dogs, who ride with her to the barn each day. While walking down the barn shed row, she stopped to rub on a horse’s face or to touch a muzzle. Each horse was pleased to see her and eager for her visit. Mayberry cares about every single

horse, regardless of the price tag and it really shows in her methods and in the results.

While watching horses jog the track with Mayberry and Harrison, they mentioned that three of the eight horses in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic race trained on the track where we were standing. Two of those horses were Flightline and Rich Strike. Mayberry and her team started the training of both Flightline and Rich Strike at her farm. Rich Strike was the long shot 80-1 winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby and placed fourth in the 2022 Classic. Taiba also started his training at this same track with Hartley and Derenzo, when they trained horses at this track.

While standing there with Mayberry and Harrison, watching young potential future champions walking on to the track, they started sharing stories about other successful grads from Mayberry Farm. This impressive list included super horse Zenyatta, who was known as “the Queen of Racing,” Exaggerator, Accelerator, Honor AP, Express Train, Texas Red and more. With two Mayberry grads both on the board in the biggest race of the Breeders Cup World Championship weekend, the richest weekend in racing, there is much for which this team is to be proud. Edgeway, also a Mayberry grad, ran in the 2022 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. This year was not the first time that the horses of Mayberry Farm have really shown up in the biggest and best races and I am quite sure that it won’t be the last.

DECEMBER Equine 101

Ocala Magazine Horse Tip of the Month

Beginner Tips for Purchasing a Horse: • Look for a horse with a calm temperament and sound conformation. • Use proper fitting tack to try out the horse. • Wear the correct riding clothes and a riding helmet. • Make sure you have an appropriate and safe place to keep your horse. • Learn as much as you can about the feeding, health and grooming of horses. • Ask for veterinary records, deworming, podiatry, sheath cleaning and teeth floating. • Ask if a trial period is permitted. • Take an expert with you, if you are not familiar with the purchasing process.

Equine Industry Needs

December 7, 2022 | 7:30 PM — Buy tickets for the movie premiere of “Hero Horse: A Magical True Story” before it heads to film festivals across the United States in 2023. The documentary film event is a fundraiser to help support Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses elementary school reading programs. The star of “Hero Horse” will arrive at the Marion Theatre in a limousine wearing a tuxedo to walk the red carpet. You can dress up red carpet style or dress casually for the event. Tickets include the film, soft drinks, popcorn, candy and an appearance by the film star. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. Hero Horse merchandise will be available in the lobby. VIP Tickets include the film, pre-show party at 6:30 p.m. with soft drinks, wine, beer or try a “Remember the Magic” specialty cocktail, treats, photo and meet and greet with the film star, movie premiere swag bag and more. If you are not able to attend the premiere but would like to make a donation to support the therapy horse programs visit www.GentleCar-

ouselTherapyHorses.com or call 352-226-9009.

Louisa Barton is the Equine Initiative Director at the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, Showcase Properties of Central Florida Farm Realtor and host of the Horse Talk Show on the Sky 97.3, Audacy.com and Equus Television.

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Hope to see you in 2022. Hope to see you in 2022. Hope to see you in 2022.

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