Gate crew - Pace and Cap

Tim Y · 08-11-2008, 06:08 PM

I continually hear bad comments about gate crews. Let me tell you after two years of working with them they are "crazy" brave and without fear.

Saturday in the nightcap, we had a baby flip and try to crawl out the back of the gate and the starter ran over while hooves were waving over his head, opened the back of the gate, laid over the frightened animal quickly grabbing up both front legs so he wouldn't thrash (all the while he was keeping the animal as calm as possible directing the others to get the adjacent stalls empty). He then signaled that he was going to let the animal up and got kicked for his attempt while almost being thrown in the air. I asked hm if he was a bit sore the next day but he only grimaced at me.

These guys have a very tough job climbing into that narrow step beside an 1100 pound animal 9 to 10 times a day in the afternoon after doing the same thing for morning workouts.

Needless to say just about all of them are under 30.

08-11-2008, 06:08 PM	#1
Tim Y turf historian Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,455	Gate crew I continually hear bad comments about gate crews. Let me tell you after two years of working with them they are "crazy" brave and without fear. Saturday in the nightcap, we had a baby flip and try to crawl out the back of the gate and the starter ran over while hooves were waving over his head, opened the back of the gate, laid over the frightened animal quickly grabbing up both front legs so he wouldn't thrash (all the while he was keeping the animal as calm as possible directing the others to get the adjacent stalls empty). He then signaled that he was going to let the animal up and got kicked for his attempt while almost being thrown in the air. I asked hm if he was a bit sore the next day but he only grimaced at me. These guys have a very tough job climbing into that narrow step beside an 1100 pound animal 9 to 10 times a day in the afternoon after doing the same thing for morning workouts. Needless to say just about all of them are under 30.