Meet the New Greyby
I have a lot of strengths, but patience is not one of them. So I’ve been dying, dying to tell y’all something.
The last week has been a doldrum of waiting for the drug panel to clear after my pre-purchase, but now that it’s finally official I’m so excited to report that I’m a horse owner again! Not only a horse owner, but a baby OTTB owner that one of my bff’s has dubbed “the greyby.”
Meet Poet.
Although his name didn’t used to be Poet, that’s new. He was born Max or technically “MaxnMacy 15” at Rosecrest Farm in Kentucky.
His big claim to fame at his breeding farm was that he got up to walk around before his mother even stood up. And, because the internet is awesome, I have video proof of that.
His dam, MaxNMacy, is by Monarchos. She showed early speed at the track, but had recurring knee issues so the owners decided to retire her without any starts.
His sire, Informed, is by Tiznow, and won a bit, because stallion.
This is a horse that has been loved and cared for by good people for his entire life. Being in the industry for a long time, it’s refreshing. As a youngster, I’m told he had quite the personality. When turned out as a yearling, he’d tear all the halters off his pasture mates to the point where people had to constantly match the right name to the correct youngsters. This is probably what earned him is Jockey Club name, Carateracho, which means grumpy/problematic in Italian.
He was broke in South Carolina as a two-year-old, and sent to California to begin race training. Where he impressed his owners greatly by being incredibly, incredibly slow.
The seller, who is a former jockey, amazing horse person and over all solid human being, told me the owner’s wife really liked the horse. When he kept trantering down the track, they decided it was best to find him a good home. Which is when she got him about a year ago.
She named him Grigio, and during his year with her he learned how to horse. She grew up riding hunter/jumpers, and that plus her immense experience racing meant she knew the right things to let him down and start re-training in a proper way. He walk/trot/canters, steers (kinda!) and happily jumps little cavaletti. Basically, he’s a perfect canvas for a sporthorse home. She believed he’d be a natural hunter. Luckily for me, my trainers agreed.
If I’m being honest, I wanted this horse before I sat on him. For the past month or so, I’ve been horse shopping using the Mari Kondo method. It had to bring me joy. And from the first time I looked at him, he did.
Riding him, I felt very safe. He’s got a great brain. Yes, he’s super green. Yes, it’s going to be a long journey. Yes, I’m aware there are many people judging me right now for buying a green-broke four-year-old, but it feels right. So, I’m doing it.
Well, I did it.
Once he gets to the barn tomorrow, his name will be Poet. Show name Silverstein.
And so I leave you with a poem from his namesake, that I will be repeating to myself throughout this journey that will be long, and will inevitably have its highs and lows.
The Voice, by Shel Silverstein
There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
“I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong.”
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What’s right for you—just listen
to the voice that speaks inside.
