Lexington Kentucky Equine Photographer | Ronan the Thoroughbred

Ronan, Triple Down, is a 3 year old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding. He is foaled by Exterior out of Triple Kiss by Rubiano. He was bred by Everett Hammond and Mary Hugo. He resides at the Austin Equestrian Center in Cedar Creek, TX.

April shares that “Ronan is easily the most talkative horse I have ever owned or been around. He nickers to me constantly. It tickles me to death because he will even stop eating to nicker at me when I walk back in the barn (even if I have already walked in and out several times in a short period of time). He is very goofy and will mess with you when you are trying to groom him or tack him up. He doesn’t really bite, but is very nosy and wants to be right in the middle of what you are doing. He is also a typical baby thoroughbred and has to put everything in his mouth. Every part of the bridle goes in his mouth before the bit actually does, and he likes to knock stuff over in the cross tie bays.”

April is currently training with Catherine Campbell and they are directing Ronan towards Eventing. April’s favorite part of riding Ronan is how level headed he is for his age. Even when Ronan is startled by something, he quickly reverts back to course and gets back to work. He responds very well to calming words from mom.

April found Ronan “on Amy Paulus’ Facebook page, Paulus Racing and Performance Horses. I have owned him since the beginning of September. I bought him on an impulse sight unseen, save for a couple short video clips and some pictures. He was shipped here from Indiana. When he arrived, he was awake and looking around for about an hour, and then he laid down in his stall and just sacked out.”

April says that Ronan is Goofy and his favorite treat is Mrs. Pastures, and he patiently expects one as soon as April opens her tack locker. April is most impressed with Ronan’s old soul demeanor.

April says that “I was lucky to have been raised with horses. My mom likes to joke that I rode before I was even born, because she rode into her pregnancy. I have had horses my whole life and could not imagine it any other way. My favorite thing about owning horses is the incredible bond you can build with such an amazing animal. I love when my horse is just as happy to see me as I am to see him. The barn has this magical power of cleansing my mind of worrying about anything else while I am there and keeps me focused on being in the moment. It is so relaxing and so rewarding.”

April and Ronan will be competing in the  Retired Racehorse Project at the Kentucky Horse Park in October. April is  excited to be a part of an opportunity like this. She says “Ex racehorses have so much to offer, and an event like this shines a light on how talented and amazing they really are.”

Aprils favorite memory of Ronan is slightly embarrassing, she shares “I am famously uncoordinated and I was lunging Ronan in the indoor arena. I tripped and dropped the lunge line, and before I could grab it again, he realized he was free and bolted. Instead of doing the logical thing and running back to the barn, (which is far, far closer) ,he took off toward the open gate and highway 21. Catherine and I were watching him in horror, hoping he would stop before he got to the road. Thankfully he did, and as he came galloping back, he spotted me and let out the most relieved whinny I have ever heard. It was like he was saying “Oh mom, there you are!!! I got up there and there were no horses and you weren’t there and I didn’t know what to do!!”

Karinda K Equine Photography is a Lexington Kentucky equine photographer located in Montgomery, TX. Karinda creates timeless portraits of you with your beloved horses, and other farm animals. Serving locally Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas communities. KEP also serves Wellington and Ocala, Florida, Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, Aiken, South Carolina, Tryon, North Carolina, and Norco and Woodside, California and their surrounding communities.