OTTB Success Stories

Archive for the ‘Christian's Hope aka "Bobby"’ Category

You probably remember when I said in my last email that Vilas County and I are still miles away from competing.

That was around 3 weeks ago. We made quite some miles in the last few weeks. From my last email till now he improved a lot and I decided to give it a try and entered in the Poplar Place schooling show last weekend. And I can tell you he was great…I had entered us in a 2′ jumper class and the Intro A Dressage Test.

When we arrived at the show and I got Vilas County off the trailer, you could really tell that he was the MOST excited and nervous guy around there. I think that he guessed we are going to race – even so I took him to other places three times before – he was still very nervous. He didn’t want to hold and stand still, but somehow I was able to get him tacked up and ready for the class.

Mounting up wasn’t also the easiest thing since he was ready to go – too ready. But just after 10 minutes of walking in the warm up arena of the show jumping (I always talk a lot to my horses) he instantly calmed down and I was able to work with him. He now understood that nothing bad is going to happen to him. I warmed him up and he was getting better from minute to minute. Finally our number was called and we entered the ring. Read the rest of this entry »

OTTB Christian's Hope aka "Bobby" place 3rd out of 7 at the Poplar Place schooling show.

I’m pleased to report that “Bobby” (Christian’s Hope) finished 3rd out of 7 in his schooling class today in the schooling show/combined test at Poplar Place. I’m attaching a photo of him in the dressage ring with Taylor.

He had a good dressage test, and had he finished it as well as he did the rest of it, he might have finished 1st. When he went down the center line the final time and Taylor asked him to stop and stand, he decided he wasn’t finished yet and wasn’t ready to stop and stand. Ultimately, Taylor got her way and he did stand for the finish, but that of course hurt his score.

He did have a clean round in show jumping, and then Taylor took him for another show jumping round at novice height, which he did well also.

So overall we considered it a very positive schooling experience for “Bobby”. We were especially impressed at how he stood quietly and calmly when waiting his turn to go in, or afterward while Taylor stayed mounted to watch some of her students go around. He seemed to just enjoy standing there watching all the comings and goings.

Sincerely,
John

“Bobby” was a Prospect Horse in 2007 on the Bits & Bytes Farm Web site. He was purchased as a project horse to train and sell by John Parker. Bobby has had two solid years of training and he would make a great young prospect for eventing or dressage. If you have been watching our sites but don’t feel comfortable buying a horse directly from the track, then this might be your horse. Some one else has had the fun of starting him and now you can earn the awards in competition.  Contact John Parker for more information: 770-502-1272. – Elizabeth

Christian's Hope aka "Bobby" is ready to show and ready for sale.

Hi Elizabeth — It’s been awhile since I’ve sent you an update on Christian’s Hope aka “Bobby”, and since he’s in a schooling trial/combined test this weekend, I thought this would be a good time to report in.

He is doing well, and in fact has a new trainer, Taylor Schaepe. Taylor is an experienced event rider, and she and Bobby have really hit it off. When she goes to the pasture to catch Bobby for their daily rides, he comes to her, something he has rarely done for anyone else. In fact, he went through a time when he was very difficult to catch. His willingness to come to Taylor tells us that he enjoys rather than dreads their time together, and Taylor says the feeling is mutual.

His training has advanced well since Taylor took him on last November, and as a result “Bobby” will be in a schooling show/combined test this Saturday, February 14 at Poplar Place. Taylor took one of our other horses to 2nd place in a Novice Horse division of 13 horses last weekend, so we are looking for big things from Bobby at the schooling show!

After taking Bobby off the market pending Taylor’s getting to know him a bit, we feel he is ready to be considered by the right rider, so have placed him back on the market. His training and entries in competitions will continue until the right rider and home come along for him, and hopefully his competition record will reflect his obvious talent.

Christian's Hope aka Bobby is for sale at Summerwind Farm in Newnan, GA.

We continue to enjoy his fun personality — every young girl who visits the farm focuses on him and his “cuteness” first. For myself, he makes me laugh frequently, and I enjoy watching him having a good time in the pasture or rolling in the ponds — he is in fact a “mudder” !

I hope all is well with you and everyone at Bits & Bytes. Come down to the schooling show if you get a chance, or to the point-to-point races at Bear Creek Farm in Moreland on Saturday, Feb. 21.

All the best,
John Parker

Read more Christian’s Hope Success Stories on the Bits & Bytes Farm Web site.