I was lucky to buy Mohikan, a thoroughbred in 2009. He was 3 years old, very slim, had a stomach ulcer and was very afraid of racing. He was sold because of his bad results. I bought him and got a 90% discount. As a yearling he was very expensive - like the price of an awsome cabriolet. Most of all Read more...

I was lucky to buy Mohikan, a thoroughbred in 2009. He was 3 years old, very slim, had a stomach ulcer and was very afraid of racing. He was sold because of his bad results. I bought him and got a 90% discount. As a yearling he was very expensive - like the price of an awsome cabriolet. Most of all, it was for me, the realisation of a dream that came through the aquiring of a horse and in the learning more about daily care and training a racehorse.

Mohikan is, and has always been a very kind and sensitive horse, who perhaps never quite found his place among the very best. He needed love and care to feel comfortable with his tasks and more importantly, he actually needed time.

Our little Fellow team, with Tollef as coach, Sabine as exercise rider on the track and myself in charge of recreational riding out in the woods during weekends, Mohikan gained new confidence and I learned a lot of valuable information about a horses' primary needs and instincts.

Today's horse is just as wild inside as its predecessors. That's because the horse is a prey animal. Understanding this, and taking it to heart seriously, especially from the horse's point of view, means that a horse must identify hazards, react and defend themselves at a glance. It is important for all of us to remember this when communicating with them.

With this important and fundamental knowledge, I attempt to focus on all signals Mohikan communicated. It was very difficult at first to remember to give credit for every challenge that he resolved. We are usually better at giving attention when things go wrong.

Sometimes I walk him for hours around our neighborhood - and he is more connected to me than any well-trained dog. I almost lost him once when he over-reacted to a loud sound and started to run away but then turned and came back to me.

A vegetable basket, with carrots, broccoli, corn on the cob and apricots has been a pleasure to have with me in the morning, as a sort of study. I've documented and filmed as he chooses every single vegetable after his own priority, - this only a small contribution to the well-being of our project. But I really think he appreciated these new additions.

We always have a precious time. Mohikan needed what I could offer him, and he gave me everything I was looking for - a horse that needed me.

Now it looks like he enjoys competing and racing again. His physique has greatly improved and he has never shows signs of being very tired after competing.

He has already won three races this autumn and paid back all his bills. I am incredibly greatful and proud of him. There are amazingly many dimensions to owning a racehorse.

My one and only fellow, Mohikan!