Tuesday, April 29, 2014

How Did OTTBs Fare at Rolex?

Essa is doing fine, just enjoying spring and whatever grass she can get.  She may have lost a few pounds from all that shedding.  I'm pretty sure Rolex isn't on the horizon for Essa (or me), but it was great to see this feature.

How Did OTTBs Fare at Rolex? | Eventing Nation

Congratulations to Rachel McDonough of Canada and Irish Rhythm, who placed 25th in their first Rolex.  Irish Rhythm also came from Fort Erie Race Track!

Irish Rhythm Has Brought Rachel McDonough From The Beginning to Rolex Kentucky - Chronicle of the Horse

I can barely manage crossrails, but I can dream...




Friday, April 25, 2014

Introducing the rest of the crew...


Essa continues to do well and is filling out nicely.  Her mud wallow has mostly dried up, which makes for more flattering pictures.



She has discovered grass!  They've all been easing onto it as it comes up, and the paddock is big enough that she won't eat the grass faster than it grows.  So she's getting lots of stretching and strolling around as she grazes.  A couple of people have suggested starting to lunge her before she gets too fat and sassy, so I hope to do that in the next week or so.  I'm really curious about what, if any "apps" she has installed.

And who are "they"?  Time to introduce the rest of the herd!


Cody is a 17-year-old OTTB (off-the-track Thoroughbred) gelding, and my first horse.  I've had him for 4 years.  Unlike Essa, Cody was pretty much a failure as a racehorse.  That's OK because I don't have a burning need for speed.  He is pretty lazy - if I tried to get closer to take his picture he would wander off to avoid being caught.  The story that came with Cody was that he was a Hurricane Katrina rescue, and his previous career was doing Civil War reenactments.  No idea if any of that is true but it's a fun story.  He's described in dressage tests as "handsome" and "sluggish".  My handsome slug.


Honey is a 3-year-old Clydesdale mare that we've had for two years.  She is sweet and obliging, but has no idea what you're talking about.  Her training for the last year has mostly been about manners and handling.  She was in her own paddock until we got tired of repairing the boards she would push through to be on Cody's side.  Now they're together, with no issues at all.    She is something to behold when she's excited and running around.  

There's a couple of dogs too...

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Today's fun trivia

Essa sold for $3700 as a yearling in 2005, and earned almost $86,000 racing over 58 starts!

In comparison my other Thoroughbred Cody sold for $4200 in 1998, had 5 starts, and tended to finish 11th.

It's amazing what you can find on the interwebz.  It's also a testament to the fact that I should be doing something more productive.

She's officially ours!


Two weeks in - looking better already

The previous owner even had her Jockey Club registration.  OK, it was a corrected duplicate issued in 2006, but I'm kind of surprised that it's stuck with her for this long.



The farrier was out on Wednesday for a much needed trim.  Her feet weren't in bad shape considering they were last done in December.  She looks better and I'm sure she feels better for it too.  Yesterday was an inside day, so she got some extra grooming.  It's a rare picture without her head in the feeder!  Aside from the "zombie eye" I'm amazed at how much better she looks.  She's getting a little grain and beet pulp now, which is a huge hit.  I'll increase it after the weekend.