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Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Anna Twinney :
Bouie the Racehorse

BouieBouie was a very talented, beautiful, four-year-old,  grey, Thoroughbred racehorse

Trouble was half-way through a race he would always slow down and whinny

His owner was complaining that if he didn’t stop whinnying and start winning he would have to sell him.

Anna Twinney tells his story and how she cured him.

“I train racehorses and have one who is a very talented and beautiful four year old gray Thoroughbred gelding.  His problem is that he whinnies half way through the race. We (his owner and I) have had three vets check him out. He has had an acupuncture treatment and been to a chiropractor. Nobody can figure out why he whinnies during his races and they suggested I get in touch with you. He doesn't do it working out in the mornings. He could have easily won several of the races he has been in if he wouldn't slow down to whinny.”

This was the message I received one night as I was getting ready to head off to the East Coast; an emergency and I was intrigued. As I continued reading I wondered why the situation would be classed as an emergency, but it soon became apparent.

“His owner will be forced to sell him if he doesn't start winning. My client’s husband passed away last year and this horse was one of his favorites. It was his wish to race the horses. Without him, there is no income and the horses must support themselves. We are doing everything we can to fulfill last wishes. We would like you to ask him why he whinnies in the middle of his races. For us, this is an emergency! His next race is coming up in a few days and if he is trying to tell us something, we would like to know what it is and do whatever we can to help him.”

I must admit he was the most unusual racehorse I had ever “met”. I am fortunate in that, before my time as Head Instructor at Monty Robert’s famous Flag Is Up Farms in California, I was able to exercise the racehorses on the property. So I already had a good understanding of the regime horses go through to become successful in their chosen careers.

He opened our session by sharing images of his trainer’s facility. He shared the very lay-out of the barn together with all his neighbors, particularly the one’s he liked. He described two nearby bay fillies who advised and supported him. He also described a dark, testosterone driven stallion known to be rather aggressive, opinionated and ego-driven who was stabled on the same aisle. This stud had literally told him that he didn’t have what it takes to be a winner. He said a racehorse has aggressive drive, expresses through challenging behavior and needs to be respected, but not trusted. This four year old was just too mellow and carefree to withstand the circuit.

Bouie and AnnaSome of the scenes he described about the stallion were so specific that the trainer was able to easily identify the culprit (even down to the purple racing colors!). During our initial session I advised him that not all leaders acted in this manner, true leaders led through their mere existence. I told him that respect was earned and not just given. Here was a chance for him to change the industry and show everyone he could be the first charming Gentleman to win great races. He was quite taken by this idea.

That same day the trainer moved the stallion to a new location further down the aisle where he could no longer fill this poor horse’s head with negative beliefs.

Once we had resolved that issue, he explained the exercise route he and his trainer took every morning, including the colorful and aromatic flowers along the path, the tree lines and the scenery he admired. He spoke fondly of his career and rider, describing her riding style, methods and even the training schedule down to minute detail.

From his point of view he made great efforts, showing his fitness and enjoyment during these outings. He won most mornings and everyone admired his stride as he remained effortlessly out in front. Each image he shared was like a movie playing right in front of my eyes. I could experience the love and compassion that this truly unique individual has for all living-beings!

We began to explore his mental, emotional and physical state to rule out any discomfort or concerns. We delved into his daily activities, nutritional intake, and saddle fitting to eliminate any further cause for his whinnying. So far nothing jumped out to explain this unusual behavior.

Now that he and I had a chance to get to know each other it was time to go to the races – in our minds. Systematically I was taken through each of his 7 races, showing me his racing colors to be blue and dirty white. I experienced ground conditions, weather patterns and his positioning within the races. It was extraordinary, as though I was running the race myself.

Finally I just flat out asked the question: “Why do you whinny during the races?” And this is what he told me. He said, “I come around the final clock-wise left corner, I’m on the home stretch, positioned in the front 5, slightly on the outside. My stride matched by no other, unstoppable strength and stamina. The ground is perfect, the climate warm, but not too hot.& To my right I see the grand stands full of people standing up, cheering, shouting, waving, clapping, calling and whistling. I can feel the tension and excitement. I realize that they are calling to me, they are cheering for me! How can I not answer them? So I answer the crowd.

We had finally got our answer! The only thing left to do, which as it turned out was to be the harder of the two, was to convince him that his act of kindness really wasn’t the answer or our idea of success.& I expressed his guardians would prefer he wait until later to whinny and certainly until he crossed the finish line. He didn’t understand this need as he just enjoyed running, he hadn’t paid attention to a particular point on the track. I thought a different approach may be better and suggested he wait until after the finish line for his jockey to cue him to slow down to a walk or even remove his saddle to celebrate a victory.

My idea wasn’t all that well received. For him there was no better time than the present to acknowledge the audience’s encouragement. Coming to a mutual understanding was proving to be rather more complicated than I had envisioned.

Finally, it came to me that far more effort was required to slow down, take in a deep breath, focus on the audience and then call to them, only to have to catch up to the running herd. He agreed with me, I had hit the mark, but to what level had yet to be determined.

The day after the race my husband called me during a film shoot. It’s the only message I took that day as I waited in anticipation to hear the results of the race. He said he had gotten an email with some great news.

“ The horse finished 3rd in his race today, beaten only by 2½ lengths! He had drawn an outside post position in a field of twelve. He was carried extremely wide in the turn but never gave up. He did whinny, but it was well past the finish line. He earned $1,375 for his effort today. Since his session with you last week, I have noticed a positive change in him. He seems much more confident and you should have seen him in the saddling paddock this afternoon! The way he walked and carried himself had winner written all over him! We cannot thank you enough, his “owner” was so happy after the race she was crying tears of joy. After his session with you, I took him to the track and went through the race with him as we were galloping around the track. He ran his race exactly like we had practiced it. If he had not been forced all the way out to the middle of the track, there is no doubt that he would have won. We are so proud of him!

I felt just as proud with tears of joy running down my face. I felt I knew this kind-hearted racehorse, albeit from a distance! I have received many messages from that trainer since then, sharing in her continued joy. His odds have risen from 115 to 1 in the race before my consultation to 5 to 1 in his last race. In less than 2 months he has gone from being a long shot to one of the favorites.

He is a very unique individual and continually amazes me and his trainer. He is the only race horse I know to doze off while standing in the starting gates. In a later race, a couple of horses were acting up at the gates, delaying the start by 5 minutes. He stood like a statue in the gates, patiently waiting for the others to be loaded and the longer he stood the sleepier he got. When all the others were finally loaded and ready to go, his head was close to chest level and his hip cocked with his eyes half closed.Anna Twinney He startled when the gates opened, stood there for a second as the others raced away and then promptly trotted out before realizing the race had begun without him…what’s next I wonder?

About Anna Twinney:

Anna Twinney is an internationally respected Animal Communicator, Equine Specialist, Natural Horsemanship Clinician, and Reiki Master. She has been featured on TV, national and international magazines and travels the world educating people and horses working in the horse's own language.

As the founder of the Reach Out to Horses program, she remains on the cutting-edge of genuine, gentle communication techniques with all our planetary companions.

For more information on Anna and the Reach Out to Horses program click here.

 

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