Thoroughbred Tales

Karen Feldgus is a dressage rider and riding instructor.  We met at Claremont Riding Academy in Manhattan where Karen taught individual and group lessons.  Many of us learned about classic seat and quiet hands in her classes and we adored hearing about her work with her young thoroughbreds.  For our website Karen kindly agreed to share her experiences with exceptional horses.

Karen With Truro

“Thoroughbreds are my greatest love and I am more than happy to share my stories.”

My first thoroughbred was Noble Finish; son of Noble Dancer who was English bred and became quite famous in Europe and in the U.S.  I renamed Noble Finish Manhattan Skyline and nicknamed him Manny.

Karen with Manny

I purchased Manny from the barn I was riding at. Manny came from another well-known Hunter/ Jumper trainer who sold him since no one at his barn could ride him.

Manny was quite young when I got him, only 6 or 7 years old, big at 17 plus hands, and a bolter. He was very beautiful (aren’t they all?), seal-bay in color. Manny had been with me for 17 years when he died from penicillin shot.

My Vet recommended me to a horse rescue place on Long Island called New York Horse Rescue. It was run by a woman named Mona Butler and her husband Dr. Butler, a horse Vet.  Sadly, Dr. Butler has recently succumbed to injuries from a horse he was treating at the track that July.

At New York Horse Rescue I tried only one horse and bought him right away. He was 3, coming 4, also big like Manny and jet black.
He was stunningly beautiful and very sweet and had impeccable manners. His racing name was Perpetual Peace and I renamed him Truro. His racing lines are quite impressive and he did well on the track. His kind owners felt he had done enough and retired him from racing.  When I found him, Truro had just come off the track and still had his racing plates on. He had only been gelded a few days before so I left him for a week to heal.

Truro

I trained him to be a Dressage horse and he was a beautiful mover. I took him to his first show this last summer and we did very well. I knew we were on our way and my work had been correct. Three weeks later he colicked and died. To say I was heartbroken and totally devastated is an understatement. He was such a big and loving part of my life and I adored him. I was overwhelmed with sadness and became very depressed. I knew the only thing to do was to find another horse as I had done when my horse Manny died.

So, when Truro died in September, I went back to NY Horse Rescue but they did not have what I was looking for. A friend was doing some riding for a horse dealer that I knew and she encouraged me to try some youngsters that had just come in. Here I found my beautiful filly Wellfleet.

Two Beauties: Karen and Wellfleet

Her racing name was Shorty’s Epitome. She seems to appreciate having a loving home and she became very quickly closely attached to me. She is not as big as my boys were but she is bigger in the body like a warmblood and at 16.3 hands certainly not small. She is the most beautiful mahogany red bay and shines like she has been simonized.

Once again, I am happy as can be. She is the greenest horse I have ever had but she is so kind and willing to learn. She has come so far in less than 3 months and is quite amazing. She has a great mind and I can hack her anywhere as I could my last horse.

Horses keep me happy and loving them gives the greatest return. To be loved by your horse is a gift and while I am strict about discipline Wellfleet knows she is adored.

If you are interested in the pedigrees of Karen horses please check out the following links:

Manny

Noble Finish aka Manny

http://www.pedigreequery.com/noble+finish

Perpetual Peace aka Truro

http://www.pedigreequery.com/perpetual+peace

1. 

   Kyle Moreno says:

   July 21, 2010 at 4:25 pm

   I am very proud to say I am Karen’s daughter. Anyone who knows her can see her unbelievable committment to her horses, her riding, her teaching and to horsemanship. I have never seen a more dedicated horsewoman and her horses give her so much love in return. I am grateful that her story about these wonderful horses is being shared. I also want to add my congratulations to Mom and Wellfleet on Welly’s recent approval by the Oldenburg Society and her inclusion in the Main Mare Book.
2. 

   jacqueline margolis says:

   March 25, 2010 at 4:11 pm

   I have studied horsemanship with Karen many years and enjoyed my lessons and her company . I have a great love of animals and find horses sweet and pleasent, and touch my heart, so we do spoil them with little goodies. For the first time these last few months i have been at stables where i get a chance to groom and saddle, which has brought me closer to them . Now if I could only get a perfect canter depart every time on every horse my dreams would almost be forfilled, but than theres always more. jackie M
3. 

   Susan E. Naruk says:

   March 12, 2010 at 7:08 pm

   Karen -
   Thanks for turning me on to this website. Although I have known you through your ownership of all three of these horses, I had not known many of the details of their stories and enjoyed learning about them.
   Ride on and I’ll see you at the barn!
   Fondly,
   Susan
4. 

   Julie Walawender says:

   February 28, 2010 at 11:27 pm

   Hi Karen,

   I met you at the Race Breed Fair in Goshen, I work for TRF. You were still greiving over the loss of your lovely gelding. I am so thrilled to see you happy with your filly. How wonderful.

   All the best,
   Julie Walawender