OTTB Success Stories

Posts Tagged ‘Bits & Bytes Farm Horse’

Veterinarian, Rebecca Kestle, fullfills her dream of owning a horse again.

Having a horse and riding again after many years  is  a dream come true.  I was so lucky to have a wonderful horse growing up, I rode just about every day from middle school through high school.  I even was able to take my horse to college with me.  When I went to veterinary school, I gave up riding and started showing dogs.

Every five years or so I would try and get back  into riding but it just never panned out.  There was so much going on in my life, raising children, running a business, showing dogs.   A high school friend bought a horse two years ago and invited me to go riding at Bits & Bytes Farm.   I finally found a place I could go and ride, unwind after a busy day, and totally get into a better state of mind.

I rode a few horses and fell in love with Foxy (Pride of the Fox).  He has plenty of get up and go but he is the ultimate gentleman.  He has the kindest eye that just look right through you.   We have just started taking some basic dressage lessons and what a transformation he is making with just minor adjustments in my hands and seat.  We also love riding in the woods, love jumping small obstacles and we are looking forward to a hunter pace or maybe more.

I can’t thank Elizabeth and Barry enough for such a wonderful horse/friend.  Now I do have to tell you that I at first considered Foxy like a big dog because he is just so sweet.  I am having to relearn horse behavior and having a good time learning Equine Veterinary Medicine.  Life is just one HUGE lesson and I am a willing student.

Rebecca Kestle, DVM

Austin's Wolf is successful at 3'

Hi all!
This weekend Austin’s Wolf and I did our second 3′ show to get more experience under our belts.

We were not as fit as I would have liked – holidays and family visits through off our schedule and we did not have a show in December.

Started with a Friday night schooling in gale force winds with about 15 horses in the ring all jumping every which way…..  took us longer working than I wanted to settle.

Saturday was a nice day and we had a couple good rounds….

Sunday we were both tired and had two flat classes and a couple more over fences.

We placed, but not as well as I would have liked the second day……

Attached are a couple of pictures from my resident photographer Josh.

Hugs to everyone!
Laurie

Austin’s Wolf now has a Photo Gallery with Albums show all his winning pictures.
Be sure to read all of  Austin’s Wolf’s Success Stories.

Former race horse, Pride of the Fox, has a new mom - Rebecca, Kestle, DVM

Congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Kestle on her purchase of Pride of the Fox! One of our favorite horses at Bits & Bytes Farm, Pride of the Fox, has a new mom. His former “Friend” Rebecca Kestle, DVM has fallen totally under his spell and so he has now become her special boy. She has been “Foxy’s” special friend for over a year at Bits & Bytes Farm. Rebecca was smart to buy him for herself before someone else could fall under his spell and take him away from our farm. They will continue to board at Bits & Bytes Farm. “Foxy” loves Rebecca and they have enjoy trail rides and riding in the arena. We look forward to their future success stories as they begin getting off -the-farm to do more trail riding and maybe some dressage or eventing and hunter paces.

Hi Elizabeth,

Here’s the latest in our series of Wolfie & Laurie videos at horse shows. Wolfie continues to improve and develop, and the team earned 3 blues and 1 red plus division champion at a local show. It was their first competition at 3’!

See Austin’s Wolf’s video on YouTube.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and Barry.

Joshua

Elizabeth’s Note: Gloria was a beginner rider when she came to Bits & Bytes Farm looking for a horse. She is tall and needed a larger but still very quiet horse. She found Fame For A Day! Read their success stories from the beginning and read more of their current success stories. Gloria and Fame are the reason we even have success stories on the Bits & Bytes Farm Web site. Gloria was so in love with her boy she kept sending updates! We now have so many OTTB Success Stories (not just from Fame), we have created a Web site dedicated to the horses we have placed so they can tell their stories. Thank you Gloria and Fame For A Day! One person CAN make a huge difference.

Just want to share our news–prob not that exciting, but further proof of your often stated philosophy of slow and steady with these guys.

Brett’s only ‘hole’ has been head shyness–especially his ears. Joan and I have spent three years on this issue, slowly but consistently exposing him to more and more head/ear contact. I’ve ‘clicker trained’ him, and that’s how he learned to tolerate having his muzzle clipped–took me a good 3 months, but we got it done. The ears have been a much more challenging issue, as it took a full year until I could hold one, and it’s taken another year + to get to the point that I can grab an ear (gently) and he drops his head and turns it to me.

Friday, Joan and I were chatting as I clipped his muzzle. I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so Joan trimmed the hairs along his jawline. She then slowly sneaked the clippers up to his bridle path…and he stood there. A few minutes later he dropped his head and turned it to me. I quickly gave him a treat, and indeed, Joan was clipping his ear! No twitch, no drugs, just consistent rules and cookies when he offered the trained behavior. He now has two beautifully trimmed ears, and he looks like the fancy show horse he is. I’m pretty darn proud–not of the neatly trimmed ears, but rather of the trust that those ears represent.

Of course, this is Brett….so he is now facing nearly daily ear trimming until we are sure we have installed the new behavior!

Patience and consistency win again!

Hi E,

I was catching up on your website and on all the news and saw that you needed a refreshing reminder of the beauty and love these thoroughbreds bring to our lives. I wish we could save them all too, I would have many if I could. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for finding Irish and giving him the chance you did. I don’t know where I would be without him.

Irish Morning Mist & Megan Brown

Although it was journey for him, he is still the light and happiness that keeps me moving forward through hard times. I have never bonded as much with an animal, or person, as I have with Irish. He seems to tell me “its OK” whenever I feel lost or sad. I recently went through a bad break up with my boyfriend of two and half years and Irish was the one person there for me (well horse.. same thing). I would just go out to the barn and bathe him or hand walk him up and down the drive way, even just sit in his stall, and he would just put his head in my arms and helped me release all the anger and sadness that had piled up inside of me. I haven’t felt like training so I would just get on with halter and lead rope and walk around and he would step carefully and take care of me.

He is my precious jewel. The light in my darkness. I know we all lose hope and strength and break down every once and a while. But horses like Irish Morning Mist and So Romeo are the ones who push us to stride forward.

I thank you again for saving Irish and every other horse that you have helped give a second chance. And I know for a fact Irish thanks you too. For giving him the chance to know that there is good in this world and to know that one person can care for him more than anything else in the world.

I think these low moments make us stronger and show us the kindness and friendship these horses bring to our lives.

God Bless,
Megan and Irish (Best Friends)

This is one of the most special success stories on this site. Irish Morning Mist was a handful when he came off the track. He had to mature and grow up and while he did this, Megan did also. She lost Irish once and got him back again. Megan and Irish will always be very special highlights in the Bits & Bytes Farm success stories. Thank you Megan for turning the tables and helping me get through a rough spot. – Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth and Barry,

We did our usual Hunters on Saturday and Equitation on Sunday, doing well in light of the fact that riding has been hit or miss for a couple of weeks due to work and weather.  Despite only getting in one ride this week leading up to the show, Wolfie was a good boy.  He put in a great schooling round on Friday night and solid rounds on Saturday.  For some reason he was very leery of the show photographer set up.  Not our best day, but we still won reserve.  Sunday we redeemed ourselves with a blue in the flat class and reserve there as well.

He has matured now – being 7….  (I can’t believe it!) He had no problem with any of the show today….  Worked through the left over water from a monsoon yesterday afternoon that flooded everything.  No problem trotting or cantering through it.

I think he is ready to move up to 3’….  And we will most likely target some rated shows this season.

The trot shot is our warm up for the eq. – yes it is still HOT here….

The jump shot is nice of him doing his job… looking in pretty  good form I think but I may be a tad biased.

Hope all is well…

Laurie and Wolfie

Heather's Best and Joe Bear loved playing the the pasture todgether.

I have a funny story for you. When the vet was here doing spring shots his phone rang. Well his ringtone was the bugle call to post from the track! Heather heard that and went nuts! He was like “holy s…! The race is starting without me!” The poor guy could not figure out how it was possible that he was missing the action. I could not believe he had such a reaction to that tune after all this time. He is a true competitor!

He looks better than ever and just seems really relaxed and happy. You won’t believe how great he is!

Love from Jennifer and Heather

Joe Bear and Heather's Best loved playing in the mud.

Heather’s former pasture mate, Joe Bear had a similiar reaction to the “Call to the Post” ringtone on my phone. Joe Bear was in the wash rack while Paula was hosing him off. I received a phone call from my Louisville track contact. Her ring tone is the “Call to the Post” bugle sound. Joe Bear’s eyes got wide. He looked out the barn door to see where it was coming from. His heart started beating so hard people sitting across the hallway could actually see it! These horses remember their time at the track. Becareful what you expose your horse to. Make sure they have positive experiences because these horses DO remember. – Elizabeth

Irish got a new figure eight bridle, breast plate, and girth for his birthday!

Well Irish Morning Mist and I had a fun filled weekend attending the progressive show jumping horse show in Aiken. It was “I-Man’s” first show back and our goal was to just get use to the atmosphere and all the commotion. He was very behaved and seem to enjoy the courses and jumps that he was faced with. Although he still has some kinks to work on, like the camera guy isn’t going to attack him and that the timers aren’t scary monsters, he is steadily progressing. We did the 2′6″ and 3′ classes to raise his confidence and as something he could easily handle. All the trainers had their eye on him and think he will be a real competitor within a few months. We plan on taking a break from showing till the end of August just because the heat is awful. I will definitely keep you guys updated as we continue down the road of success!

Happy riding!
Megan and the I-Man (Irish Morning Mist)

See more photos from the horse show.