United States Eventing Association

A retired couple from Western New York and their two young horses are leading the Beginner Novice and Novice divisions of Career2, the new program created to promote eventing as a second career opportunity for registered Thoroughbreds, many of which come off the racetrack.

Linda and Jack Walnes of Avon, N.Y., are topping the leader board as Career2 heads into the Grand Finale championship at the Millbrook Horse Trials next week. Up until Fitch’s Corner, Mr. Walnes also held the No. 1 spot in the Training division. He has ridden The Country Gentleman, a six-year-old Thoroughbred he has owned for two years, in both divisions. His wife is competing on True Valor, a five-year-old Thoroughbred in what is the gelding’s first eventing season.

The Career2 program kicked off in June and includes eight horse trials on the New York event circuit, including the championship at Millbrook. Career2 is funded by the New York Racing Association and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which represents racehorse owners and trainers.

Well over 100 Thoroughbreds are participating in the Career2 program this year. Riders of registered Thoroughbreds accumulate points for winning and placing in sanctioned events and receive prize money. First-place winners in all divisions of the Millbrook championship will receive $700, second place receives $300.

Career2 is “an absolutely great idea to get people more interested in the Thoroughbred because the Thoroughbred is a tremendous athlete,” Mr. Walnes said. “These horses can do anything.” To be sure, nearly 15,000 Thoroughbreds have been registered with the U.S. Eventing Association since 2000.

Mr. Walnes started eventing over a decade ago on a Quarter Horse before switching to warmbloods. “I’ve learned a lot over the years. Warmbloods are not the way to go,” he said. I’d much rather ride a Thoroughbred. It’s so nice to have a horse that enjoys this type of job.”

Both Walnes horses came from A&C Stables, run by Aaron and Charity Donnan out of Piffard, N.Y. The Donnans work both ends of the Thoroughbred business, running horses on the track as well as training and selling Thoroughbreds to eventers and other riders. Their most well-known horse is Courageous Comet, who the Donnans purchased in a claiming race. Courageous Comet went on to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Equestrian Games, both with Becky Holder.

Courageous Comet was like many great Thoroughbred event horses – mediocre at best at the track, where he won just four out of 36 starts, but a superstar at eventing. The Donnans picked him up in a claiming race when he was four. “He was an amazing mover and so intelligent,” Ms. Donnan said.

Though every Thoroughbred is bred for racing, not all Thoroughbreds make it to the track. Neither of the Walnes’ horses raced.

“Career2 is a great avenue for the Thoroughbred,” Ms. Donnan said. “For people who buy them and use them, they will have a best friend. And you can participate at Beginner Novice and move right through the levels.”

Topping the leader board in the Training division is Carol Connors;

Barbara Allen, Stephanie Baer, and Buck Davidson are tied at the Preliminary level, and Kathryn Reed is leading the Intermediate division.

The Millbrook Horse Trials runs from Aug. 2-5 in Millbrook, N.Y.