To the editor/web master:

 

The article concerning Presidential Sugar and the "Power Cart" did not fully explain the full story. My partner and first time horse owner, Caroline Dunn, has been introduced to Maine harness racing as the co-owner of a wonderful cheap claimer who had not won a race since July, 2006. However, the ownership of a horse who made us less than $3000 has been a most enjoyable experience because we have been welcomed into the warmth and friendship of the Athearn Stable. Sugar would not even be racing without the daily care by Gretchen Rohr (Soon to be Gretchen Athearn). She treats him like a million dollar horse and watches over him like her own child. There would be a lot more horse owners in Maine if there were more Gretchen Rohrs. Mark Athearn is an incredibly gifted trainer. He has worked with Sugars' shoeing to improve his gait and give him the ability to leave and get good racing position. Obviously Shawn Gray has got some good performances from him recently also. Leaving from the eight hole with an old pacer, and one with a hopple length of 49 and 1/2 inches, is doubly miraculous. Caroline and I are still celebrating.

 

Now, as to the Power Cart: I believe resistance training can help most horses. However, most stables would probably not put up with a strange owner who brought a home built contraption, noisy, to use on a horse they are training. Mark and Gretchen have allowed me to do this and let me jog their other horses. Sugar is the only horse in the stable using the Power Cart. An old. sore horse can get an excellent work out just walking or at a slow trot. 35% of Hambletonian winners have been trained using this device. There are 4000 of these carts in Europe, but just a few in America. Jimmy Takter won the 2006 Little Brown Jug with his Power Cart trained Mr Feelgood. 

 

The article on the USTA site was limited by space and I would be remiss if I did not give credit where credit is due by using this Maine Web site to give the credit to the trainers who keep this horse healthy and sound. No one who is not a horseman should use a device like this without the oversight of trainers like Gretchen and Mark.

 

Misty Time Stable

Caroline Dunn

Gaylord Boutilier