Picture Day!

Saturday was a busy day for everyone at the MMSC. Now that the horses had arrived on campus and settled themselves in, it was time for official pictures! For the people, that meant an early morning. By 7am, everyone (Melissa, Susanna, interns, and volunteers) was there and ready to work.

By 10am we had all 10 horses bathed, brushed and looking their best. Just in time for our photographer, Mathea Kelley. Photographing professionally for about five years, Mathea never went to school to learn this trade. Instead, she taught herself, picking up bits of knowledge here and there. Currently, Mathea takes photos of foals at racing barns, big equine events (the Breeders’ Cup and the World Equestrian Games), and, of course, this semesters batch of horses at the MMSC.

I spent a good portion of the afternoon with Mathea and Melissa as they took pictures of the horses. I learned a lot about what to look for when taking composition shots of horses. After the last baby had been photographed, it was time to do afternoon barn chores and turn the horses out for the night.

Needless to say, everyone was ready for a nap by the time we were finished!

The 1st Intern Adventure

This past weekend was a big one for the interns of the MMSC. We were all introduced for the first time. Julia and Irene, both students at the University of Kentucky, are two of the other new interns at the MMSC this semester. They will be working primarily on the training aspects of working here at the MMSC. After some brief introductions, we were on our way. Armed with new companions, we were ready to follow Melissa on our intern adventure!

The first stop on our journey was KESMARC, an equine rehabilitation facility located in Versailles, KY. Taking any type of horse, from mini to Clydesdale, the facility is well-equipped to address most any equine injury. They have a pool with a depth of 16 feet, an aqua-tread, a hot-walker, an indoor track, a vibrating platform, and a hyperbaric chamber. With this type of rehab arsenal, KESMARC has made a name for itself in the equine world. While we were there, touring the facility with Victor Torres, we saw them swim a horse in the pool. This allows the horse to exercise and maintain muscle without stressing injured tendons. We also saw them walk a horse on the aqua-tread. This also takes pressure off of injured joints while allowing the horse to exercise and work muscles. This is a rehab method often preferred for dressage horse. Because of the resistance provided by the water, the horse develops leg muscles and movements that result in a light and animated trot. The hyperbaric chamber was another interesting element of our tour. Though it was under maintenance, Victor explained to us the benefits of using a hyperbaric chamber. By using 99% pure oxygen, the chamber helps facilitate healing. All in all, it was an exciting and informative stop on our journey. Now armed, not only with new companions, but also with new information in our equine arsenal, we started on the second and final leg of our journey.

The last stop on our Melissa-led intern-adventure was Woodford Equine Hospital. Our guide for this leg of our adventure was Dr. Dan Routh. Dr. Routh took us through the forest of the equine pharmacy, taking the time to explain to us some of the intricacies of equine medicine. He also took us through the tunnels of hospital administration, giving us a bit of history about the creation and foundation of the hospital. He also explained a little bit about what they do to prepare for surgery, showing us some of the recovery stalls, surgery rooms, and equipment. All of there were wonderful. But, by far, my favorite part was visiting the barns. It was great to see a mare and her foal who were preparing to go home after being treated at Woodford. What better way to see the results of a job well done? We ended out time at Woodford Equine Hospital with a picture of the interns and Dr. Routh around a poster highlighting the partnership between Woodford and the MMSC. (Woodford is the official vet of the MMSC.)

This weekend was one centered on healing, on making sure the horse receives the best care he can, either to treat an illness or recover from an injury. Both legs of our intern-adventure dealt with some aspect of healing in the equine industry. It was amazing to see and learn about that aspect of the equine world, to have people take time out of their busy day to share some knowledge with eager learners. This was just the first weekend. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester will bring!

Welcome to the Family: Communal

Did you ever dream of meeting someone tall, dark, and handsome? Well, here’s your chance! Communal will be joining the MMSC crew on campus this spring. This 9-year-old bay gelding is the epitome of Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome. He was retired by his former owner, Mr. Bill March, without injury at 9-years-old. This is an impressive feat for a mature guy who raced 63 times and won over $1000. With all this, Communal has shown that he’s no slouch when it comes to the hard stuff.

Though he’s no slouch, this handsome guy is also ready to kick back and have some fun. With a whimsical star and straightforward snip, along with his beautiful bay coloring, this guy is dressed to impress, no matter the occasion. Not only dashing in his appearance, Communal has spent some time dashing between the states, having raced in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky; he’s a pretty well-traveled guy.

No guy is without his vice. Communal is a slight cribber, but only when his home is new and scary. Once he gets settled in, he should be fine.

To recap, this guy is tall, dark, handsome, mature, rich, and fun. His foster-Mom, Dr. Fernanda Camargo, wrote in an email to the MMSC that “the Giant (I call him Giant…he is huge) is so sweet. And polite. And docile.” With this sweet personality, a healthy body, and a good track record, this guy is bound to steal someone’s heart!

New Faces

Hello All! My name is Ashlyn Anderson-Keelin and I am one of several new interns here at the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center. More specifically, I am the new communications intern. I am a senior at Georgetown College, majoring in English and Political Science. I am also an Equine Scholar, which is how I was introduced to the MMSC in the first place. Though I have been around horses for a large part of my life (I’ve been riding since I was eight), until now I’ve mainly been limited to the Dressage world. The only Thoroughbreds I had contact with were those entering the Dressage ring. You may be wondering then why I chose to intern with an organization whose mission is to retrain and adopt out ex-racehorses to new homes? Firstly, this internship provides the perfect opportunity to combine two of my passions: horses and writing. The fact that I get to learn about an area of the horse world that I am completely unfamiliar with is simply the cherry on top of what promises to be a very delicious sundae. Secondly, this internship reminds me everyday of why horses have remained my passion from childhood to adulthood—there is nothing these beautiful and brilliant animals can’t do. They can acclimate to a new discipline and a new way of life a short period of time. But that is enough about me.

Mine is not the only new face at the MMSC. Cole is another newbie to the MMSC family. Unlike the rest of us (all college interns), Cole is an EBC student at Tate’s Creek High School. He informed me that EBC stands for “experience basic career education.” This program allows students to job-shadow someone in an area that interests them. Cole chose the MMSC over any other location because he likes horses. (Who wouldn’t?!) Having worked on horse farms for the past few years, Cole has decided to try his hand at another aspect of the equine industry.

This semester promises new introductions (of both people and horses), new knowledge, and new adventures. I can’t wait!