So excited!

I was asking one of our friends (he's kind of like a surrogate father to the fiancé and I) at the track if he knew of any horses for sale for a friend that's looking. He told me about a gelding, that I really like, then came back the next day and said he wants to sell his mare. I told him that I would come get some pics and video of her. I did that today and asked what he would do if my friend wasn't interested and she didn't get sold. He said he really wanted to get her sold, but would board her in Phoenix until he got back from vacation if he needed to. Throughout the conversation, he decided that he would send her to my trainer's in Albuquerque for me to ride and see what we could get done with her in the dressage arena. He knows how bad I don't want to go to the Downs at Hellbuquerque and figured it would be healthier for me to have a project. Ride my misery away and such instead of moping around. I agree with him. Three horses to ride will keep me out of trouble and plenty busy. Having his horse will ensure that I don't get in a rut and hide from the world. I'm not going to let him spend the money on his horse to just sit there, so it gives me more motivation to get off of my ass and get my horses ridden. I'm not getting paid for this and I don't want any commission if she sells. I'm just looking forward to the challenge of it. I love retraining OTTBs. So if my friend that might be interested ends up with her, great! If not, I have something to look forward to. It's a win/win situation either way :)

*No, this isn't a for sale post, I'm just excited about her. The for sale post will come a) if my friend doesn't buy her and b) once I've been able to ride her.

Anyway, meet 'B':

Her owner/trainer bought B last winter. I didn't know he had bought her. I was up on the rail watching horses go and was immediately drawn to her. B just stood out, the way she carried herself and moved. She screamed dressage to me. Then I saw his saddle towel on her and questioned (okay, interrogated) him the first chance I got. I've liked her from the first time I saw her and I am not normally a chestnut mare fan. For me to even notice B, she REALLY had to have a commanding presence.

I can't wait to get to Albuquerque (who would have thought those words would ever come out of my mouth) and start riding her! Having her, Beefs, and Indy at my trainer's is going to make being there soooo much better! 

Transitioning

You just bought a horse off the track. First of all, thank you! These horses are amazing athletes and deserve a shot at a second career. I love seeing them being given that opportunity.

So now comes that transition period. In the first few weeks/months of being off the track it is easy for them to go from looking like this horse:

A.

To looking like this horse:

B.

Nasty grass hay belly and coat. Loss of muscle over the top line, on the hips, and on the neck. Needs wormed.

B.

Shows the loss of the muscling over the top line and the long coat better.