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A quick background on my family:  I come from a line of horse people.  Both of my parents were quarter horse trainers many years ago, with my mom being one of the early female racehorse trainers in Florida.  When the horse racing world started moving towards thoroughbred racing, they went with the flow.  I literally grew up in the barns, the backside of the race tracks and getting a bath in a (clean) “muck bucket” was not out of the norm.  For entertainment, my parents put me in a bucket and hung it on a walker so I’d ride in circles for fun.  To be put on a green horse  and hope I could stay on wasn’t uncommon–it was definitely an experience and probably not a common way of life for many.   I wouldn’t trade it for anything, lots of funny memories!

My older brother Shane, my younger sister Casey and I all learned to ride on a Shetland Pony named Bunky.  My brother is 7 years older than I am and my sister is 7 years younger than I, so we had Bunky off and on for many, many years.  He actually died a few years ago at the age of 42.  He was a meanie, but he was a decent sport with us.  We all barrel raced on him, went trail riding and he even joined us in the house from time to time.  He was like a big dog, coming up to the porch to eat and visit.  He just didn’t like to be ridden, LoL.

We spent several summers at different race tracks, like Tampa Bay Downs, Hialeah, Gulfstream, Lafayette Downs in Louisiana, Thistledown in Ohio and there were trips to the Northeast US, too many places to name.  We barrel raced quite a bit and my brother rodeo-ed off and on (although I think he should have been a clown, hehe).  My mom was an amazing barrel racer on any horse really, but specifically on her horse named Fuller.  He didn’t like any males, coming from an abusive home, but he did all right with my dad.  However, he LOVED my mom.  Together they participated (and won) many barrel races and she always had a lot of fun with him.  Rodeos were common; I probably still have my big belt buckle around somewhere.

Now, my dad still occasionally will get a horse to play around with and train for someone else to enjoy, but overall, none of us really do much with horses these days.  You know, that life thing gets in the way and as horse people, we understand the commitment it takes to have a one.  They aren’t just a pastime, they need time, attention and love.  However, my brother has kept his heart in it and has turned it into his career. Shane moved to Wyoming about 10 years ago to be a cowboy (you know, herd cattle and all of that).  Then he moved to upstate New  York with his girlfriend and they have been running a horse farm for quite a few years now.  He primarily focuses on reigning and the Western style (she teaches dressage).  They train new horse overs and their horses, show their horses and board others.  He and is girlfriend are hard workers and are following their love and passion.  How many of us can say the same?  Oh yeah, Shane’s baby girl, Charlie Elizabeth, is bound to follow in his footsteps!

Last year, my brother really jumped into a new dream and challenge:  The Equine Comeback Challenge.  As a part of this challenge, the contestants take neglected and rescued horses and train (or retrain) them in 90 days, then show them in the Challenge Event in Pennsylvania.  From the competition, the horses generally find their forever homes.  Primarily it is to prove that they are trainable, lovable and still useful.  It is really an interesting idea and a lot of people participate.  He is doing it again this year, and his girlfriend has taken on a horse to train as well.  This is an awesome endeavor!  

Shane doesn’t stop there.  No, he has horses in his heart, so he also participates in the Thoroughbred Makeover challenge in Kentucky, which is similar to the Equine Comeback Challenge.  They take retired racehorses and train them in different disciplines (Shane focuses on Competitive Trail and Freestyle primarily), then they compete against the others participating in this charity.

This is where you come in!  As a part of the Thoroughbred Makeover event, people can vote for trainers to win the  $5,000 Ambassador Award.  Click here and vote for Shane Ogden and the retired racehorse he is training, Kyla’s Harmony.  My brother and his girlfriend operate a small training farm, which they just purchased, so this kind of award would be very helpful in continuing their goals and helping others.  Please share!

Thanks in advance!