How are all the Finger Lakes Alumni doing? [Archive]

IslandGirl

Jan. 13, 2009, 01:03 PM

Flash! How are you??!!!

Jet is doing GREAT!!! He's been getting ridden regularly, W/T/C, and we've started walking over poles and a few very small X-rails. Still having a bit of trouble convincing him that he CAN pick up and hold a right lead canter, but it's coming to him slowly. It's actually easier to get him on the right lead by asking him for a lead change!

He had a "light-bulb" moment the other day about bending to the right (he discovered it's actually easier to bend correctly than to counter-bend) and he's been wonderful about it ever since. He has the most amazing brain...virtually nothing bothers him, and he is SMART. Picks most things up very quickly, and happily obliges when you ask him something that he understands.

He's an absolute treat-monger, in-my-pocket, sweetheart. His coat has blossomed with all the grooming he's getting, and most of the crud on his legs is gone. I just can't wait to see his coat this spring after he sheds!!! With his movement and his brain, I think he's destined for the hunter ring and, with his coloring, he's going to get noticed!!!

FlashGordon

Jan. 13, 2009, 01:15 PM

I was hoping you would see this IG! Jet was one of my favorites!

Sounds like he is doing very well, and in very capable hands! I loved the last pictures you posted, he looked fabulous. I'm glad he has settled in so well and is enjoying his new job! I bet he is a real character.... ;)

Trevelyan96

Jan. 13, 2009, 02:08 PM

Oh yes... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! There are so many I want to know about, and please have pic too!

IslandGirl

Jan. 13, 2009, 02:59 PM

I'll try to get some new pix of Jet in the next few days, with some of him under saddle. He truly is an amazing horse! Everyone here just LOVES him.

FlashGordon

Jan. 13, 2009, 03:12 PM

I'll try to get some new pix of Jet in the next few days, with some of him under saddle. He truly is an amazing horse! Everyone here just LOVES him.

That "something special" shone through in all his pictures....

I am so glad that he ended up with you and that you both are having so much fun!!

Now I know there are other FL beasties floating around out there... let's hear about them!

BEARCAT

Jan. 13, 2009, 03:24 PM

He has the most amazing brain...virtually nothing bothers him, and he is SMART. Picks most things up very quickly, and happily obliges when you ask him something that he understands.

I second that about my guy as well.
Devil's Whip aka Pilgrim is doing fantastic. Weather has been crappy, but even in 20 degrees with the wind blowing sideways, he remains a gentleman on our hand walks around the neighborhood. He might whinny for his new buddy - my Mustang who is a shrimp compared to him, yet totally bosses him around - but does not act up and listens well.

Last week, I was able to haul him to an indoor a couple of times, and he was great. Even in there by himself, he behaved, and when other horses showed up that was fine too.

He got his shoes pulled 2 weeks ago, so I have been taking him easy with him, but he seems to be doing well with that too. Farrier commented how he now has "horse feet instead of duck feet!!!"

He is a sweetie for sure!

FlashGordon

Jan. 13, 2009, 09:27 PM

Bearcat, I've loved reading your updates! Pilgrim seems like such a good, sensible sort.

I love it that he went all the way to Colorado... the pictures you had posted with mountains in the background were unbelievable! :)

All the retirees are lucky to have found such nice homes.

Louise

Jan. 14, 2009, 08:13 AM

I'm so glad to hear about both of these guys. Unless either of you object, I'm going to copy your updates onto our "Success Stories" forum on the Trainer's Listings.

I'd love to have more stories to put on that forum, so, post away!

IslandGirl

Jan. 14, 2009, 08:18 AM

Go for it Louise! Let me know if you want me to email you some photos.

caryledee

Jan. 14, 2009, 10:19 AM

I don't have much to report on my two...we are just waiting for some decent weather since I don't have an indoor ring and the ground here varies between ankle deep mud and frozen ruts. :rolleyes:

Will (Will He Call) put on weight quite quickly and looks like a stocky quarter horse. He is quiet and easy to handle, but definitely has a playful streak in him. He loves his food, but I still can't get him to eat peppermints.

Blue Ice is putting on some weight, but not as quick as Will. She frets a little more than he does. She has settled down quite a bit from her first couple of weeks here though. She loves her turn out time...not so much for the freedom, but she likes hanging out with her field buddies. She is a very serene mare when she is out...bottom of the pecking order and perfectly satisfied being there.

Both are barefoot now and seem to be adjusting well to that. We can't wait for spring!!

I'll try to get some pics soon...

maunder

Jan. 14, 2009, 10:19 AM

:cool: It's so wonderful to hear how much many of our favorite Finest are doing! Louise and I just KNEW Jet was a special guy and it's so great to hear that you love him and he's doing well.

Pilgrim continues to please! He sounds like so much fun.

My guy, Number, is busy just being a horse. He loves his turnout so much and is eating well and looks good. I'll be starting him over in the spring when we will be doing lots of trail riding. He's quite the pretty mover so he might find himself doing a little more dressage than I'd originally planned. ;) I'm also going to try my sidesaddle on him - if it fits him then we'll go that way too. :yes:

FlashGordon

Jan. 14, 2009, 10:31 AM

Maunder, I loved the pics of Number that are posted in the Success Stories forum! Looks like he is enjoying his turnout, and the snow!

Carly glad your two are settling in also. I am sure they are enjoying their time off!!

cgn38

Jan. 14, 2009, 10:38 AM

Hanoi and Online Intime are just busy getting fat and flabby for now. They both raced heavily (Online has more than 120 starts, yes, that number is one hundred twenty), and I don't have an indoor, not to mention that I reside in the snowiest belt east of the rockies, -enough excuses I know - so I won't be riding until Spring.

Hanoi enjoys supervising the work that I am still doing on the new barn addition. Loud power tools, hammering, or retracting tape measures don't phase him in the least. He just wanders around munching hay and stealing my tools.

Online Intime lives in the first stall in my main barn, so he has become the official farm greeter. He loves crunchy horse cookies, and he deserves them since he is the most gentle horse ever.
Both of these FL boys enjoy their hot beep mashes and their turnout with their new buddies (all of which are also FL boys).

Thank you Louise and maunder for helping all of these guys!

Secretariat2

Jan. 14, 2009, 12:14 PM

How is Two Regal doing? I wish she could have come home to me, but I already have 8 horses and no room.

FlashGordon

Jan. 14, 2009, 12:17 PM

Cgn, Online Intime was an older fellow, wasn't he? I'm so glad he found a nice cushy retirement home where he could hang out and enjoy life!

It is really cool to hear about how the horses transition. And to see the new pics of them, and remember their track pics.... so great that they have gone on to new careers!

3mares

Jan. 14, 2009, 03:58 PM

Inky (the Dinkster) is doing really well. I love this guy to pieces. He is about 15.2, so a bit taller than the trainer thought - he is very solid and feels bigger to ride. I rode him once - we have no indoor and have had horrible weather. He was so amazing - I could have taken him right up the road and onto a trail ride. He was very relaxed. When I got him he had racing plates on front and they had pulled his hinds. His hind feet had gotten pretty chopped up so we had him shod all around so his hoof wall can grow more on his back feet.
He gets along great with the other horses and is just an all around nice guy.
He settled in very well and very quickly.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/3mares/Inkylookingatview-3.jpg

BEARCAT

Jan. 14, 2009, 04:15 PM

Just got done riding Pilgrim - he was great. Didn't flinch when the road grader came by, blade down, making an awful racket!

My friend who has a more, hum, typical OTTB ;) jokes that he must be blind and deaf because not much bothers him - noise, Alpacas, new places...

I rode him for over 1 hour in the arena - nice canter on both leads, trot over ground poles, shoulder over, hip over, back up. Once he understands what you want, he is VERY willing!

caryledee

Jan. 14, 2009, 04:43 PM

FlashGordon

Jan. 14, 2009, 05:45 PM

This is a fun thread!! I would love it if everyone could post pics of them (either the track ones or new ones.) I am recognizing the names, but having a hard time putting the faces and names together.

I spent so much time pouring over the website that I feel like I know each horse personally!! :)

I know carly, I'm the same! I used to check that site often... it was like there was so much potential in each horse, I could picture each one in a new job!

Good to hear all the updates. :)

Trevelyan96

Jan. 14, 2009, 06:05 PM

So nice to see updates on FL finest!

3M, glad to know Inky is doing so well! He was the one I was the most drawn to on the listings. He just had a look about him that said "I'm a great guy!"

But then again, they all do!

Angela Freda

Jan. 15, 2009, 04:29 PM

bump!

BEARCAT

Jan. 15, 2009, 08:57 PM

... I took some today.

First, I tried to feed him his first PEEP:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/20987296/351332961.jpg
He just eyed it suspiciously...

When in doubt, have a good roll!
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/20987296/351332926.jpg

We had a good lunging session:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/20987296/351332511.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/20987296/351332531.jpg

But man, the boy can sweat!!
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/20987296/351332880.jpg
This was NOT after very hard work - mostly walk/trot, a little canter, lots of transitions...

I cooled him off, rode my other horse, and then saddled him up for a ride. He was great. BIG BREAKTHROUGH - he figured out 2 reins were not something to push against or root, and actually came up with a very nice trot - good boy!!

3mares

Jan. 15, 2009, 09:09 PM

aaaawwwhhh he is cute! How tall is he? He looks like a nice solid boy - I remember that from the website when you first got him. Wow - he really grew a nice coat. Where is your snow?
: )

BeastieSlave

Jan. 16, 2009, 07:18 AM

Sorry, I missed this thread earlier. My FL beasties are doing great!

Eddie (Played On) is looking for his forever home. I've had a couple nibbles, but no firm bites yet. He really needs/wants his own kid to love on him all the time because he is a total pocket pony :yes:

Reggie (Two Regal) is still 'letting down' and doing a fine job as companion to my blind Appy. They are very sweet together. She's been ridden, but things are busy and the days are short, we'll wait until spring to really get her going.

I've got to run - but I'll post more later......

Louise

Jan. 16, 2009, 08:21 AM

LOL, BeastieSlave. I was thinking that it would be hard to wait until Spring to see how Reggie goes. Then I remembered that, in your neck of the woods, Spring probably comes about mid-February. Not so long after all.

Those two aren't going to know what to think, when the flowers start to bloom two months before they are "supposed" to.

3mares

Jan. 16, 2009, 09:20 AM

So Beastie-
Does that mean your friend doesn't get his mare? Is Reggie staying with you?

relocatedTXjumpr

Jan. 16, 2009, 09:59 AM

Lola (formerly Rexy) is doing well. I've been on her a number of times and actually had a nice routine going until it decided to rain for two weeks straight...then get cold!!!

Two weeks ago I took her to the lesson barn and she was great! Started off a little excited but settled in as soon as we got to work. she did her first "course" of poles and cavalettis! We are still working on our upward canter transitions, but, over all shes getting it.

Shes putting on weight and loosing that track look. Its been two weeks since I have done more than groom her, so I'm sure once we get back in the swing of things she may be a wild child for a little bit, but, thats expected...she is almost 4 after all!

Oh, and she loves the mud...LOVES it!!!! I think shes secretly upset that its all curently frozen and doesnt make a mess when she rolls in it. :lol:

caryledee

Jan. 16, 2009, 10:15 AM

Pilgrim looks great, Bearcat!! It's amazing how quickly they change after leaving the track. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

BeastieSlave

Jan. 16, 2009, 01:02 PM

So Beastie-
Does that mean your friend doesn't get his mare? Is Reggie staying with you?

;) The jury's still out on whether or not he'll get to borrow her uterus. It's doubtful at this point, but she's definitely staying with me (and Candi)!

BTW, my farrier is another Reggie fan. His jaw just about hit the ground when he saw her. Even wrapped up in a blanket, she's a beauty. He's already an Eddie fan, but he just gushed about Reggie.