RHT HAS SURGERY

louis finochio · Postby **louis finochio** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:10 pm

RHT had surgery on Thursday to correct his problem. We will wait to see what how RHTcomes out of this to determine his racing or breeding status.

austique · Postby **austique** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:13 pm

He has been retired according to the Thoroughbred Times.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:10 pm

*@#! it... and I was hoping...

... is *anyone* going to make it to the end of the season????

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:35 am

hi guys

Now that Rock Hard Ten has been announced as retired, I expect that a Big deal will be accomplished very soon.

I am extremely confident that numerous TOP stallion facilities will find this guy very appealing.

Since Three Chimneys seems to have (at least for now) all but closed the door completely on pursuing Afleet Alex...I expect they might take a suitcase full of unspent cash to the table and throw themselves into the mix of those going after Rock.

Respectfully

Skipitgirl · Postby **Skipitgirl** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:04 pm

What do you think the chances are of them letting me breed my Warmblood mare to him for a VERY reduced fee?

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm

Skipitgirl wrote:What do you think the chances are of them letting me breed my Warmblood mare to him for a VERY reduced fee?

nil.

You could always offer her up as a "test mare".

Skipitgirl · Postby **Skipitgirl** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:07 pm

Gee Sam my dreams are reduced to rubble LOL!

StrawberryFelidos · Postby **StrawberryFelidos** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:45 pm

But, you know, they might be all for it if you agree to pay the full fee :wink:

Hey, money is money, right?

As far as Rocky goes, it seems like the owners were pretty open to the idea of retirement from the start. According to the BloodHorse article they did that nuclear scan to see if they would find any evidence of a problem so that they could decide if it would be "better to retire him" rather than risk a dissapointing 5yo campaign (aka, if you see a nick on this horse, he's done. Stud deal, baby!!). Hey, what can you say? If his 5yo campaigh had been less than perfect they would've been kicking themselves. Hard. Money is money...

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:19 pm

hi Skipitgirl

Sam's idea sounds ingenius to me, IF my recollection is correct that the breeder of Rock Hard Ten (Madeleine Paulson - who is still a part owner of the colt) owned the American Holsteiner Warmblood Horse of the Year.

Voila...a Rock Hard Ten and warmblood connection.

Why not give the standing farm a jingle immediately upon an announcement that a Rock Hard Ten stallion-deal has been completed.

Who knows...Madeleine P might find the concept interesting...you'll never know unless you ask.

Go for it.

Respectfully

austique · Postby **austique** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:54 pm

One thing about the Mrs. Paulson-Pickens is she is a sportswoman and trust me married to T. Boone she didn't need the money from a stud deal. They did what was best for the horse plain and simple. He is a big horse and big horses can be hard to keep sound and having earned nearly $2 million in the course of his career, he didn't owe anybody anything.

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:28 pm

FOS wrote:IF my recollection is correct that the breeder of Rock Hard Ten (Madeleine Paulson - who is still a part owner of the colt) owned the American Holsteiner Warmblood Horse of the Year.

<snip>

Who knows...Madeleine P might find the concept interesting...you'll never know unless you ask.

I was sort of kidding, but I think FOS is right. I think I do remember hearing something about her owning a couple of top caliber warmbloods or something. I know she did some jumping but I can't remember if it was recreation foxhunting or what.

It might be worth the effort to track down a contact for MPP and draft a letter offering your mare up for the test breeding or even at a reduced fee. Offer to list her as co-breeder of record as well. Make sure you include a picture/pedigree and performance record of your mare so she doesn't think you are just some flake looking for a free breeding to the horse just so you can say "I have a Rock Hard Ten baby". I'd even try to draw an analogy to Secretariat/First Secretary (Red's appy son that had a major impact on the appy sporthorses).

If you can't get to MPP, try sending it to her care of Mandella.

Skipitgirl · Postby **Skipitgirl** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 3:07 pm

Sam

You know it never hurts to ask! All they can say is no right? (as they laugh hysterically LOL!). :lol:

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 3:50 pm

hi Skipitgirl

I am confident that the powers that be (re: Rock Hard Ten) would not only hear you out (re: your thoughts about breeding your warmblood mare [under the banner of being a test mare] to Rock)...but would probably also deliver your thoughts and inquiry to Madeleine (Paulson) Pickens (you might increase the chances of that happening if you ask them to do so).

Or why not take the bull by the horns right now and without delay...and as Sam recommended, how about if you "...track down a contact for MPP and draft a letter offering your mare up for the test breeding..." etc etc etc.

The chances that this dream, of yours, will come to fruition might be slim...but then again, you might just be surprised...in a good way.

Respectfully

Intrinsic Worth · Postby **Intrinsic Worth** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:38 pm

Madeline P. owned a Grand Prix jumper named America 1 (I think that's what his name was.)

austique · Postby **austique** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:55 pm

I think Intrinsic Worth is right and don't forget that Hap was named after Grand Prix Rider and my mom's object of lust Hap Hansen.