Posts Tagged ‘Bargain Barn Horse’
Top 10 List of Best Things in My Life
Thank you again for a great lesson this morning…it was the perfect way to celebrate my 2-year anniversary with Stevie Loverboy. It seems like yesterday I showed up at Bits & Bytes to see my very first horse for the very first time…praying that even though he didn’t pass his vet check, with enough love and patience, we could have a lifelong partnership. Well, it has certainly been worth every bit of effort and, good Lord willing, “Loverboy” and I will be together for a very long time. He is just like the other 3 boys in my life, strong-willed and stubborn…and I wouldn’t have any other way!
The past year I have really seen the trust deepen between us. It is truly an awesome feeling to know that such a huge, powerful, beautiful animal is so willing to give everything he has to you and only ask for love in return. The experience of owning an OTTB definitely makes my “Top 10 List of Best Things in My Life” and I encourage everyone to give these amazing athletes a chance to become their partner. Once you win their hearts, there are no limits. I look forward to all the things I still have to learn from “Loverboy” and I continue to be thankful every day to you for making this journey possible for me in the first place. It is one awesome ride and I hope it never ends!
As Always…with a very grateful heart,
Stevie Loverboy had gotten cast in his stall at the race track and he was muscle sore and could not pass the vet check. We knew his history and even though the vet could not promise he would be sound, he did not see any reason why he should not be sound – given the time to heal. Missy took a chance and did chiropractic and therapy to help Loverboy heal. He was a free Bargain Barn horse. She got the bargain of her life! Stevie Loverboy is now learning to jump and he has been on hunter paces and trail rides. We are very proud of this pair!
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Tags: Red Hot to Handle is “Hotzie” to Trotzie
I wanted to give you a quick update on “Hotzie”. She is doing really well. I have had been dealing with a fungal infection in her eye for about two months. She has been an angel about the treatments though (sometimes up to three times each day). I have not been able to work her much this summer because the weather has been miserable. It is either too hot, or it is raining.
“Hotzie” loves to work! Even if she has had some time off, she bounces right back to work mode (after a few HAPPY laps in the round pen). She is a gorgeous mover and I cannot wait to show her off at a dressage or hunter show. Has To Be Good’s mom, Melinda, told me last night that I am not allowed to compete against them in a Flat Hunter class. She said that “Hotzie” is such a pretty mover that the judges would not look at anyone else. I cannot stop thinking how lucky I am to have “Hotzie”.
Elizabeth’s Note: Eye infections can go bad very quickly. Our vet recommends keeping triple antibiotic eye ointment on hand at all times. At the first sign of swelling or pain in the eye, add the eye ointment and call your vet if you do not see rapid improvement. NEVER put an eye ointment with steroids in your horse’s eye without first having the vet scan the eye for scratches or abrasions. You could blind your horse. When a horse has pain in the eye, the eyelashes will drop lower to protect the eye. They normally stick almost straight out. Look at your horse’s eyelashes now and learn what is normal so that you will be able to recognize signs of pain.
Breaking the “Icy” with Mares is Tough
Another story for you…Icy is getting along fine and does well with Coin, Dudley and the Appys. I think there is a consortium of mares (led by Leslie’s big chestnut Thoroughbred) to keep him from really getting into the herd yet. I found him down in the stall (our barn has a section of wash rack to stall to paddock) with a “where are those mean girls?” look on his face. It’s so funny. His not being very dominant is good for us humans in being around him. I think he is right up there with Coin for being really sweet.
Alabama Elf – SOLD! September 2008
SOLD! Congratulations Melissa Dabestani!
OTTB Alabama Elf will take a few months off before starting his new career
This was his Bargain Barn Horse FOR SALE information:
Alabama Elf aka “Elf” is a 16′3 hand, 2005, bay gelding with tons of growing left to do. He has an 8% tear in his tendon. He was stopped on immediately when the tear was discovered. He will need six months off. He is currently being hand walked and cold hose twice a day. No turn out for another three months. He would make a great hunter. He is kind and gentle. Never had much talent on the track. This horse is going to grow and fill out to be a big horse and if his injury is given time to heal he should be sound for any career. This is your chance to get a gorgeous almost 17 hand horse for next to nothing.
Pulling Shoes No Biggie for “Icy”
Just wanted to brag about Icy again. Yesterday we did a little round pen stuff, and he was very calm. I also pulled one of his front shoes since he lost the other one in the pasture. It takes me a lot longer to pull a shoe than it does for the farrier to do it, and he just stood there very patiently. I also did the Reducine and put sugar/iodine (not water!) on a couple of little scrapes. He didn’t bat an eye at anything and didn’t fidget or worry at all. I can’t believe what was going to happen to him (had he not found a new home) – he’s obviously a great horse.
Elizabeth’s Note: An old horseman’s trick to treat a wound is to make a paste of sugar and iodine. It will harden and protect the wound. Disclaimer: we are not vets and you should consult your vet before giving any treatment for a serious injury.
Icy Event – New Home, New Friends, New “Freedoms”
Icy spent the night in the stall and cleaned up every bite of hay. I put him back in the same pasture this morning and put Coin in with him. They said hello and started eating grass like they’d been best friends forever. It was so nice. Thanks for helping get him to us (and for helping all those other horses, too).
Later in the afternoon – another update on Icy:
When I got home, I didn’t see Icy and Coin in the pasture, and when I got farther down the driveway I saw why. Apparently, the horses staged a “free Icy” campaign and popped the electric fence off its’ posts. They were all grazing happily together, so they made the whole get-acquainted process quick and easy. Our little Appy mare has glued herself to him, and he lets her eat out of the same feed dish he does.
Icy Event – Bargain Barn Horse Finds a Champion
Congratulations Georgia Champion of Milner, Georgia!
Icy Event with his new mom Georgia Champion of Milner, GA
This was his Bargain Barn Available information:
Icy Event is a 6 yr old gelding who is 16′1 hh. He is in dire straights for a home. He does have a splint on both front legs but other than that he is clean legged. He is very well behaved on the ground and great to ride. He has very back sore and will need some chiropractic work done. Nothing else is wrong with him. No vices. Would make a nice hunter very quiet and laid back. Icy Event is well bred. Icy Event has a photo album with more images.
Bargain Barn horse Icy Event has a new home!
Icy Event Warms to New Pastures
Former Bargain Barn FOR SALE horse, Icy Event enjoys a hardy jaunt in new surroundings.
Icy Event enjoys the sunshine and new surroundings
Quick break to catch his breath and
Off he goes again
Happy One Year Anniversary Missy & Loverboy!
Stevie Loverboy and Missy are confident jumpers
It is hard to believe it has already been a year since Loverboy came into my life! I can still so clearly remember the first time I laid eyes on him, that sense of pure joy and wonder that I was actually realizing such a long-held dream. I am happy to report that I still feel the very same way! He and I have been through so much together, I feel that we have grown together and earned one another’s trust. I look forward to every moment I spend with him, whether it’s a morning spent free-lunging, riding in the arena, or his most favorite… a walk in the woods. Any time I’m with him, it calms my mind and soothes my soul. I guess you could call him my “four-legged soul mate”.
This Loverboy loves Missys kisses
Once again, I will never be able to thank you enough for all that you have done. In the past year you have been (horse) match-maker, nurse, cheerleader, babysitter (!!), encyclopedia of all things equestrian, teacher, Zen-master, counselor, and most importantly… friends. I know that this past year will be pretty hard to top on the amazing scale, but Loverboy and I are sure going to do our best to make every year better than the last. We look forward to continuing this journey with you and all the amazing people at Bits and Bytes Farm who have come to mean so much to us. I not only gained a horse, but wonderful new friends who share my passion. Everyone has not only embraced me, but my children as well. They have enjoyed this experience almost as much as me! To be able to share this joy and have my kids see me doing something that I truly love, it is beyond rewarding. Thank you for your never-ending love and support. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for us!!
The Ironman Cleans Up
Sometimes words are not necessary. Enjoy!
Ironman helps clean around the barn
There are never enough toys or enough time in the day
