OTTB Success Stories

Archive for the ‘Fast Commander’ Category

I was hoping to get some pictures of Fast Commander today at a lesson, but my husband was needing the digital camera for something he was doing. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some soon to send. “Commander” is great and seems to retain everything despite erratic schedules. He has jumped up to 3ft in lessons. He has really become more coordinated & athletic as he has matured, and he has gotten quite good in his lateral work. Anywhere we go, someone asks, “How big is he?” (17HH & still all legs.) He’s a pleasure to ride & I think he has a ton of talent. Of course, we still have lots to learn as he is not truly five yet. We are starting to think about Spring show schedules and wish for the end of a cold Winter.

I hope all is happy & healthy with you guys.
Stephanie

Fast Commander did three days of our local “A” show over the past two weekends.  We competed in the Long Stirrup division to stay at two feet.  This was all in the indoor arena, which seems to have a very soothing effect on “Commander”.  He acted like he had been doing this his whole life, despite a crowded warm up ring, judges, clapping, lots of flowers and fill on the jumps.  The only conflict we had was over braiding. He is not a fan of this, so he only had a braided mane one of the days.  We will have to work on this more when time allows.  He really was a pleasure to show.

He won two of the over fences classes, got a 4th in the flat, and had a variety of other ribbons along the way.  The best thing is that he seems to enjoy being ridden and enjoy jumping.  We are already jumping a bit higher at home and working on flying changes.  He now practically hops in the trailer by himself if I crinkle a peppermint wrapper and then stands there with his mouth open for his treat!

Stephanie

OTTB Fast Commander wins a first and two seconds in his first horse show. Click on this image to see his photo gallery.

Fast Commander did his first schooling show this last weekend! We trailered about an hour & 45 minutes away and arrived to find a huge attendance at what is typically a fairly small show. As I parked the trailer, Commander started getting antsy in the trailer after riding quietly all the way there. I am convinced he was sure we were at a track with all the trailers. After he walked around & watched from the side of one of the rings, he was calmer but not totally convinced.

We started with two flat classes in an outdoor ring, with at least 15 horses per class. He had to be lead in & then was nervous & about twice as fast as everyone else, but basically did what I asked (except stand in a line up). This was an awful lot for a horse who has been at most getting ridden with one other horse around on my property.

So next, we went into the indoor arena for the over fences classes. Yet another new experience. Luckily, we were able to school in there. He was surprisingly perfectly happy in the indoor with less commotion & suddenly seemed to figure out we were just doing our regular things. We did one pile-of-poles & two crossrail classes. He couldn’t have been nicer or more rhythmic, & I couldn’t have been more proud of him.

We pinned in all three, with two seconds & a first out of 18-20 horses. We then trailered just a few minutes from home the next day to a local stable to ride in the ring with other horses again & he acted like he’d been doing this all his life. What a fun weekend!

Stephanie

Congratulations! Former Thoroughbred race horse Fast Commander pins in all three of his first horse show classes with a first and two seconds! Not bad for a four year old Thoroughbred just ten months off-the-track! We are proud of both Stephanie and Fast Commander.

Fast Commander was bold and brave on his first trail ride in Colorado. Click on this image to see more photos of Fast Commander.

I am attaching some recent pictures of Fast Commander out in my front pasture & on his first real trail ride this past weekend. It was beautiful weather, so there were lots of people walking dogs or riding bikes on these trails – it’s a public park. He looked at lots of things at first, but then settled nicely. He even crossed the stream twice without hesitation. We cantered & trotted along slowly with no attempt to race my husband on my other horse. Fast Commander definitely doesn’t have any innate need to be first.

Fast Commander had no desire to run fast.

Lucky for me, as that got him out of the racehorse business. We are planning his first schooling show experience next weekend if the weather cooperates. He turns four on March 12!

Stephanie

Fast Commander was a well bred three year-old COLT who was not showing promise as a race horse when he was listed on the Bits & Bytes Farm Web site as a Thoroughbred Horse For Sale. Bits & Bytes Farm helps place sound and sane Thoroughbred race horses into new homes as sport horses.

Snow is no problem for Fast Commander. Two blankets an he is good to go.

Fast Commander looks more soft and mature now. He is getting much more balanced. We actually jumped a mini course of little cross rails very respectably a couple days ago. Commander really seems to like jumping. He thrives on any and all human attention, which is quite a contrast from how he was prior to gelding.

Fast Commander has to be coerced with food to come in out of the snow. We had about eight inches today. Both of my horses seem to feel immune to the cold. Of course, two layers of blankets help.

Stephanie

Fast Commander has really put on weight, in a nice sport horse way and looks so good. He doesn’t look like a racehorse anymore!

Stephanie

Elizabeth’s Note: It sometimes takes a few months for an OTTB’s system to adjust to a new lifestyle and feeding program. They take on a totally different shape and with exercise their muscles develop in new ways. The sport horse Thoroughbred looks very different than the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Fast Commander is doing well. I think he looks great, having put on a lot of needed weight and starting to develop some muscles with regular work under saddle. He is so big already, it’s hard to imagine he’s only three and has more growing to do.

He has progressed nicely in his flat work. He easily walks, trots and canters in a fairly balanced way in both directions now, though he is still right-handed. He seems to enjoy being ridden and worked with, and actually is very pleasant if I can ride almost daily. If we have skipped riding days, he can be a bit more pushy and seems to pull out some of his stallion prior personality traits, like not respecting my space or deciding he doesn’t want to do what is asked of him. We continue to work on this and it is much better.

Unfortunately, we have had disruptions to our riding schedule, mostly due to difficulty keeping shoes on him. I have a great farrier who is working hard on this issue. Hopefully, time and supplementation will help. I really think he is a wonderful horse, and I am so happy to have him. I would like to register him with USEF this month.

I wanted to give you a quick update on Commander. I have been back from our trip to China for about three weeks and trying to ride fairly regularly as work allows. Commander has recovered from being gelded & from a laceration on his left buttock (a failed attempt to meet the mare next door two days prior to being gelded). All of that was pretty stressful for him, & he lost some weight just not eating well. Once he started feeling better, he began to eat normally and now enjoys his meals though he is a very slow eater. He seems to especially like beet pulp.
He now lunges nicely at all three gaits.

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Fast Commander, happy horse

Commander has had a personality change for the better almost immediately after being gelded. I’ve been on him once on the lunge line, just walking & trotting. That didn’t seem to bother him in the least. I’ve mostly been working with him on the ground & lunging. He’s still pretty swollen though he doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort. He & my other horse will go to stay with a friend who raises Fox trotters, while I am gone. They will be the tall guys there.