Muri Cole Triantafilo: Pilot/Horse Trainer
More racehorses end their careers without making it to the winner’s circle, than do. Even with an impressive pedigree and a bloodline that includes being a great granddaughter to Secretariat, there is no guarantee for a champion. But what do you do with a horse that has been bred to race and isn’t winning?
War Candy was one of those horses. A five-year-old mare whose short racing career ended having never won a race, War Candy became a graduate of the Thoroughbred Makeover program. Instead of being put out to pasture, the beautiful little bay was given another chance.
Just over a year ago, Candy was placed under the ownership of Muri Triantafilo (tree-an-tah-felo). Muri acquired her through a friend who adopts retired racehorses and retrains them for other purposes. The pair connected and have done amazing things together.
Muri was born and raised on her family’s ranch outside of Joliet. She enjoys training horses when she’s not flying with her career as a commercial airline pilot. When Muri received Candy, she planned to train her to do what she knew best, to work as a ranch horse.
“Candy’s done well,” Muri said. “She was bred to be fast, but she just didn’t have that competitive edge. She’d be out in the lead doing well and just furloughs before the finish line, it was like she’d let the other horses catch up! She’s been easy to train because she doesn’t have the hot temperament that a lot of thoroughbreds have.”
Candy seemed to prefer cows to racetracks as she showed a real aptitude when Muri used her to work cattle on the ranch. As she continued training her, Muri became confident enough in Candy’s ability that last fall she entered her in the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover Competition in Kentucky.
The purpose of the competition is to showcase the Thoroughbred breed and see them succeed in a non-racing environment. In addition to the ranch work division, the event also includes dressage, competitive trail, and barrel racing. Muri and Candy won the ranch work event which incorporated events typical to the ranching lifestyle including roping, opening a gate, crossing a bridge and sorting cattle.
“It was the sorting that won it for us,” Muri said. “Candy worked quietly and did well enough to put us in the lead for our division.”
Muri has continued using her for ranch work, but enthused by Candy’s ability to learn quickly, she is also training her on jumping and dressage.
“Candy really does whatever I ask of her,” Muri continued. “She doesn’t get rattled and seems to take everything in stride. She’s been very fun to train.”
“I love to fly. I have a fulfilling, well-paying career that will help set us up for the future. But here’s where we want to be,” Muri said from the front porch of her Montana home. “We love it here.”
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Muri flies for Delta Air Lines and has flown around the world as a 737 captain. Her husband, Glehn, is also a commercial pilot. From Australia, Glehn had never ridden a horse, nor spent much time on a ranch before he met Muri. He’s adapted well.
When the couple isn’t flying, they spend their free time at home, living in the original homestead house on her parents’, Steve and Pat Cole’s place. Muri has a corral full of horses at various levels of training and Glehn is learning to help her with their care and training.
“Glehn and Candy are both quick learners,” Muri said. “Glehn’s become a very confidant rider and really enjoys the horses. He’s starting to understand why when we get home at 2:00 a.m. that the first thing we do is check on the horses!”
The young couple is fortunate to be able to combine their careers with their hobby and do both well.
“I love to fly. I have a fulfilling, well-paying career that will help set us up for the future. But here’s where we want to be,” Muri said from the front porch of her Montana home. “We love it here.”