OTTB Success Stories

Archive for the ‘Vilas County’ Category

Dear Elizabeth,

Last Saturday we went to the Poplar Place schooling show. Vilas County was awesome.

As soon as I had him tacked up and we went down to the warm up arena he immediately knew that he had been there before. He was totally relaxed, calm and the easiest horse ever.

He went his first round clear and placed 2nd in the 2′6″ jumper class. Sadly he had one rail down in the 2′11″ class. But anyway he was my superstar. I’m so proud of him. He handled everything so easy and was absolutely well mannered. We had lots of fun! Read the rest of this entry »

Vilas (Vilas County) is doing great. I’m planning on showing him the end of May at the Poplar Place Schooling Show in a few Jumper classes. He really loves Jumping, but still has to improve his technique. He is very bold to the fences and there’s nothing that could scare him – he jumps everything – which makes it so much easier.

My long-term plan is to show him in the jumpers. I think he’s to good to “waste” him for the Eventing. And also since I’m more a show jumper than an Eventer, I would love to go back to the Show jumper circuit. So, I’m putting a lot of hopes into him…and hopefully it will work out…

He has gotten so mature over the last few months…I definitely have to send you some new pictures. He also finally gained some weight around his rips and hips…he just looks fantastic. Everywhere I go, the people tell me how nice he looks and how they admire him. Which makes me really proud.

Read the rest of this entry »

As planned we were going to Poplar Place Farm yesterday to introduce Vilas County to his first xc-jumps. It was a beautiful day with lots of sun – perfect weather.

He was awesome, he jumped everything right away and it seemed to really make him fun.

He understood directly what the game was about and as more we jumped as more he wanted to do. At the end he was really paying attention to see where the next jump is. I had great control over him and he never wanted to rush before or after the jumps. We jumped most jumps out of trot as this gives him more confidence right now.

I had a great time and I’m so proud of him…I’m so anxious about seeing him going his way!

Please watch the video and let me know what you think!

Best,
Katharina and Vilas County

Vilas County is doing really great. I’m planning on taking him to his first x-country schooling next week and I hope to get some nice pictures or even a video.

I know he loves water as he starts to splash even in the tiniest puddle or even in the wash rack. He even puts his legs in the water bucket on the pasture. So I hope you doesn’t want to lay down in the water complex.

He makes me laugh almost every day. He really is a special boy and a real character. His stall doors open to both sides and they are secured with a latch (we don’t have bars so he’s able to reach over with his head and I actually like it better for the horses to communicate). But the other day I forgot to lock the front door Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

Katharina is an experience rider and trainer from Germany and she knows the importance of bringing a horse along slowly. Free jumping is a great way to for a horse learn how to jump -  without the interference of a rider. You can see that Vilas County trusts her and enjoys being with her. We look forward to lots of great stories from this pair. Just look at how he bascules over the fence and tucks his knees. Katharina better worry if he gets as good with that whip! Be sure to watch the whole video. What a character!

OTTB Vilas County fearlessly clears his first jumps

Just wanted to quickly update Vilas training progress. He is doing awesome and I introduced him to his first jumps under saddle and I can tell you he loves it!

This was his first time ever jumping barrels and the tree. We definitely have to improve his technique with a lot of gymnastics but the first headstone is set. He can’t get enough when I jump him; he has so much fun, no fear at all which is really wonderful.

There’s still a long, long way to go but I’m very proud of him and I’m looking forward to working with him.

Katharina and Vilas
P.S. I totally forgot also to tell you that he has no, really no issues to go over my blue tarp, which should serve as a little liverpool.

He totally amazes me with his attitude – never thought but always hoped that he will turn into such a great horse! We build up a lot of confidence in the last months.

Vilas County and Katharina are making progress with their training. Additional photos of their first jumps are available in Vilas County’s photo gallery.

Elizabeth Training Note: I am not surprised that Vilas has no issues. That is a common thread in all the Success Stories. Once they adapt to life off the track and settle in, they are willing partners and enjoy learning new things.

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Vilas. I told you that we took his shoes off and his feet already improved a lot. I started feeding him Biotin already back in February and now his feet start to show a better quality. He really does pretty well without shoes.

I also started riding him again – he is getting bored from just sitting on the pasture. He does wonderful!

Katharina is happy with Vilas Countys response to basic training and plans for more advanced work outs

We now have reached the point where we can start with the real training. It took him well over half a year to settle down and get used to everything.

I’m very happy about how far he has come and I’m looking forward to a great time with him. Maybe I will take him to a local schooling show the end of the year.

For next year I’m planning on attending some more schooling shows and maybe towards the end of the season even a recognized show.

I’m also planning on leaving his shoes off for some more time – it is very relaxing not to worry about if he will loose his shoes the very next second.

Katharina

Click here to see Vilas County’s Photo Gallery.

Beautiful Welcome Farm in Georgia is Vilas Countys home and training center

Katharina and Klaus married in August and shared their special day with Vilas County and friends

Vilas is actually doing pretty well. We had some issues over last couple of months with his front feet. The shoes didn’t want to stay on and he lost them over ten times. Very frustrating and nerve racking. So we finally decided to let him go bare foot for two to three months, so that his hoof wall can recover. That means no riding in the arena, but at least riding on grass. He is doing pretty well with his feet, better than I thought. Since he probably was shod all his life, I figured he would be very sore. But he’s doing ok.

He has gotten so pretty over the last two weeks, since his coat is now turning dark again. He was a little bit sun bleached from being outside. Now he is dark like back in January. He muscled up so nicely, even though I didn’t do a lot with him. It’s just hard to keep three horses in training when you still work regularly every day.

Vilas County spent the summer mastering ground work and good manners - next summer, blue ribbons!

But anyway, he’s a great. His ground manners changed a lot and I now can even groom him untied – which was impossible before. He just had to have his nose into everything. Was pulling around and couldn’t stand still.

I also did a lot of round pen work with him. He now lunges perfectly. I did let him also jump over a cavaletti in the round pen and he took it like nothing. Just a big canter step over it. So, we will see what the time brings and maybe we are able to go to our first show middle of next year.

I took him on a little ride to our neighbor’s pasture two days ago and he was just so ready to go – running wise. I think he thought there must be a racetrack somewhere – I did let him gallop, totally under control – but he wanted to get more and more. He will never forget how to run…somehow it was a great feeling.

So, hopefully when he is ready to get his shoes on again we will be able to work again.

Katharina

Elizabeth’s Note: It takes a year of good nutrition to get a horse’s feet to see any change in diet. Letting a horse go barefoot is a great way to get the foot aligned. I highly recommend Boa boots for everyone. They stay on a horse’s foot and are suitable for riding in as well. They are easy to put on and off and are perfect to protect a foot if a shoe is lost. They can be also be used to hold medicines in case of abscess or cuts in the frog. Bye bye baby diapers and duct tape! We have even jumped small fences with Boa boots on our horses. I will never be without several pairs.

OTTB Vilas County takes to his second career with enthusiasm

I have pictures from Vilas under saddle. Actually I just started to ride him again beginning of last week.

Since I got him in January he had more or less some time off. He needed to get used to be 24/7 outside, get used to walk on the hilly terrain of our pasture and to learn some ground manners. Sounds weird, but you know better than I that for an OTTB this kind of life is something complete different. I also had the chiropractor there as I told you before and I think she did an amazing job on him.

The time he had off was really helpful for him and his brain – to forget the racetrack and to start a new life with. He now acts like a young boy who wants to get worked and explore the world. He isn’t scared or spooky of anything, which really makes all easier.

I’m very proud of him as he already canters now on the right lead within a couple of days (we don’t get it every time but are working on that) and I can even lunge him both directions (just walk and trot) without any problems.

To teach him easier how to canter on the lunge line we are just building a round pen. Yeaahhh!!!

Elizabeth’s Note: Katharina is an experienced horse trainer. It will be great fun to watch the progress of Vilas County under her expert tutoring. One note – please always wear a helmet! Recently an experienced dressage trainer was found unconscious and later died because of major head trauma. He was alone on the farm, working with a young horse. His death is directly attributed to the fact he was not wearing a helmet. Helmets are not just for jumping. Be ride safely.

Katharina and Vilas County have been a team since January. “Vilas” was a Prospect Horse FOR SALE. Click here to read their other success stories. And to see Vilas County’s pedigree, please click here.

Vilas County has a Photo Gallery.

Vilas County was a Prospect Horse in 2008. He was purchased by Katharina Berner Huenermann of Roopville, GA. Click on this image to see more photos.