OTTB: Double Mi Trouble (Liath)

Agile on her feet, compact in build but feisty and brave in mind, Double Mi Trouble (now known as Liath), has become popular in the Canadian polo pony ranks thanks to her owner Dylan Foster, a native of Okotoks. Alberta.

Now an eight-year-old mare, Double Mi Trouble was retired from racing in 2009 after only 11 claiming races, two of which she won. She raced in low-level events for owner Al Strumecki, Shawna Vigneau and Dennis Hymanyk, earning just over $14,000.

Equine sports therapist Kathy Butkovic remembers “Trouble” in 2008 when the filly was a newly turned two-year-old in Strumecki’s barn at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, getting ready for the races.

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“Al has always been a believer in alternative therapies as part of his racehorses program,” says Butkovic. “I started working on his horses every two weeks and I got attached to “Trouble” because she was an adorable, small and fluffy grey two-year-old who was sassy as all heck from the get go.”

The filly had some pedigree power, too, as a granddaughter of Canadian star Runaway Groom, an American Grade 1 winner. She proved to have some ability and a lot of desire as she won her career debut in August of 2008.

Her racing career was short as she was unplaced a couple of times at low levels. Strumecki retired her and worked with Butkovic to find a home for the filly.

“I knew she would be ideal for polo,” offers Butkovic. “She was small, quite correct, sound and her gritty personality is generally favoured in the polo world. She was also very pretty and a dark grey: polo players love grey horses.”

Foster, a friend of Butkovic’s, was looking at prospects at the time and did not need much convincing to pick her up. With Strumecki’s blessing, “Trouble” was on her way to Black Diamond Polo Club, near Millarville, Alberta, where Foster is polo manager and where she learned the skills of polo.

“I liked her conformation and her temperament,” notes Foster, who has been playing polo for 15 years. “I watched her last race on TV; she didn’t do very well as she was bumped coming out of the gate, but I like how she responded.”

Renamed Liath (Irish for “grey”), the filly was a natural on the polo field. In less than four years off the track, she is quickly becoming a polo star.

“She played in the 2013 Canadian Open Final in Calgary,” says Foster. “She also played in a couple 20 goal matches that season. She is an excellent polo pony, she did very well in the 20 goal matches and I don’t believe she has peaked yet.”

Currently, Foster and Liath are playing polo at El Dorado and Empire Polo Clubs near Indio, California, during the frigid winter season in Canada.

And there is a chance that Liath may not have to even see winter again as Foster has been entertaining interest in the filly from potential American buyers in Florida. “She’s sought after at the moment. I have a sale pending, but it is not complete.”

While both Foster and Butkovic would be sad to see Liath head off to greater heights in the polo world, they are comforted by the fact that they got together to make a great life for a retired racehorse.

“I love helping trainers and buyers come together for off-track thoroughbreds,” says Butkovic, who has helped Foster purchase three other former racehorses in the past. “Sometimes [trainers and buyers] just need help with the communication between parties or help with getting functional, clear photos of the horse to be placed.”

With a little bit of time and effort, any former racehorse deserves the same type of chance that Liath has received.