Behind the Gate 
     
    
   
   
    
     Iody Hennessey, Paul ‘"Spec Doyle Mike 
     
     Campbell Ron Gass and Brian Andrew. 
     
     In Ontario, they had five with Biian Lee. 
     
    
   
   
    
     What might a typical day entail for the 
     
     manager of such a huge operation as 
     
     Meridian Farms East? Brian detailed with 
     
     enthusiasm, “Every day is a little different 
     
     but I do put in reasonably long hours. I 
     
    
   
   
    
     enjoy it and wouldn’t have it any other 
     
    
   
   
    
     way. I usually arrive around 7 a. m. We 
     
     have three great workers here with us. 
     
     John Duffy has been 
     
     one—half years and he is Al. Mike Doyle 
     
     and Ron Neill come in a few days a week 
     
     to assist with the various chores. They 
     
    
   
   
    
     here for two and 
     
    
   
   
    
     are usually quite busy when I arrive." 
     
    
   
   
    
     “We are into the breeding season and one 
     
     of the stallions we are standing is 
     
     Astronomical. I would transport him 
     
     from Winsloe to Milton and after collect- 
     
     ing his semen I would return him to 
     
     Winsloe that same day. Also at this time, 
     
     I would check to see if any of the outside 
     
     horses needed round bales of hay and 
     
     attend to that. We often take one or more 
     
     of the four horses we are training to the 
     
     C.D.I’. for a training session. We jog and 
     
     train on our own half mile track when 
     
     weather and track conditions permit.“ 
     
    
   
   
    
     “There is a number of mares that have 
     
     foal alerts on them that must be checked 
     
     because they are due to foal in the next 
     
     week or so. I visit the Ron Gass Farm in 
     
     Cornwall two or three times a week and, 
     
    
   
   
    
     talk to Ron on the phone on a regular 
     
    
   
   
    
     basis for updates on our horses located 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Brian;- J 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     there. We are also prepping 19 yearlings 
     
     which can be time consuming. Each day 
     
     is different, challenging and rewarding.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     Carol Andrew, who worked for Agri— 
     
     cuture Canada for 51 years was always 
     
     extremely supportive of her husband in 
     
     his endeavours with the horses. Brian 
     
     explained‘ “I would not be involved in 
     
     harness racing today if I had not had the 
     
     complete support of Carol for over three 
     
     decades. I used to be on the road fre— 
     
     quently and I put long hours in with the 
     
     horses. Through it all, she has been 
     
     completely supportive." 
     
    
   
   
    
     This couple permitted their two children 
     
     to develop an interest and love for the 
     
     equines but insisted that their education 
     
     came first. Blake jogged and trained 
     
     horses but, at age 29 was completing a 
     
     graduate degree at McGill University. At 
     
     16. Rachel was a grade 11 student at 
     
     Bluefield High School. She loved to 
     
     come to the track and paddock a horse 
     
     on race night. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Outsiders have difficulty in understand- 
     
     ing how horsepeople can be so passion- 
     
     ate about their sport. It is difficult to 
     
     explain the bond that develops between 
     
     a horse and groom. Brian attempted to 
     
     explain. “A horse is a veiy kind and intel— 
     
     ligent animal with an excellent memory. 
     
     I believe that a horse can bring out the 
     
     best in a person. If you respect and care 
     
     fora horse, he will reciprocate. I believe 
     
     horses communicate with us in their own 
     
     inimitable manner. I love the challenge 
     
    
   
   
    
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