Man, I LOVE my FL's Finest - how 'bout you?

[BeastieSlave]

I don't usually post about specific beasties and I have been pretty quiet about my Finger Lakes horses, but I just want to brag about Eddie :D
My little black TB who came off the track last fall is THE COOLEST horse! He's a total love bug, sensible, and sooooo quiet and easy under saddle :yes:

I was planning to send him to a trainer but he's been so easy, I've been bringing him along myself. That doesn't sound like such a big deal, but it is. I can't say I've been very consistent :uhoh:, and Eddie has been the same horse when he's worked 4-5 days a week as he is when he's skipped a couple weeks and is only worked once or twice a week. He's fabulous! My daughter has nicknamed him Steady Eddie.

We're working on ground poles and cross rails right now and I've had to make myself go slow because nothing phases him. Today we were cantering around the ring and I just casually pulled him off the rail and aimed him at a small vertical. He didn't bat and eye: just marched along without changing a thing and hopped over like he'd been doing it all his life.

I don't know if you picked up on all the "I"'s in this, but that's kind of significant too. You see, Eddie was going to be a project for my girls (if we kept him ;)), but I've been the one who rides him. He's not even my type.... I like BIG horses and Eddie is trying to be 16hh, but I'm not sure he'll make it. He has just totally won me over and I'm actually considering taking him to our trainer's for some lessons. Maybe I'll be the one taking him out to shows this summer :)

So, how are the other FL beasties? Do you love yours as much as I love mine? BTW, Reggie is still delightful too, she's just a bit farther back on the burner.

[Angela Freda]

I do! I do!

Mine turns 24 tomorrow.
It's doubly exciting because this time last year I wasn't sure he would make it and here he is to enjoy his carrot cake muffins!

I've had Yo 18 years this August and it has been the most incredible ride.
I envy you very much being at the beginning of your time together.
Enjoy it. Savor it. Learn from them.
It goes by very, very fast.

[FlashGordon]

Oh Beastie I am so glad you started this thread! I have been wondering how all the FL babies have been doing.

Sounds like Eddie is quite the trooper! I think it is awesome that he has become "your" horse. Lucky you... and lucky him! You will have to post some pics one of these days.

[BeastieSlave]

I am really enjoying Eddie, but I'm not sure I'll be his forever home. I honestly expected to be looking for his forever girl right about now. I bought him thinking I'd be a soft place for him to land (he needed to be off the track in a pretty big hurry) and get a good start on the rest of his life. We'll see how kid #1 does with him when she comes home from school in a few weeks, but I don't think we 'need' him and he's way too fancy to be an extra horse for us. He deserves to be someone's main ride and I can see him as a small jr. hunter :yes:

Maybe Eddie & I will enjoy each other while I wait for my baby to grow up. Even though he's already bigger than Eddie, it'll be another year before I back him and probably another one after that before he does any real work....

[Maple Shade]

Oh Beastie I'm so tickled to see this! I've been thinking about You, Eddie and Reggie for the last few days!

Final Resolution, aka "Finn", was just sold to a lovely old customer of mine in PA. He's headed to do great things as an event horse. I'm so excited and cannot wait to watch his career! He turned out to be SUCH a sweetie. And you could not ask for a better minded baby. I only got to sit on him 3 times! :lol:

[BeastieSlave]

Wow MS that's great! What a handsome boy - let us know when he becomes a star :winkgrin:

[maunder]

I'm so glad that Eddie has fit in so well with you! We could tell that he was a much-loved horse for his owner/trainer and groom there at the track!

And the gorgeous and talented Finn is going to go BIG TIME! He's the cutest scamp too!;)

My Number has been taking it easy and adjusting to being barefoot for the first time. At eight and with 70 starts he is a quite a bit more the "seasoned" racehorse than Eddie and Finn but is very polite and sweet. He has learned to play in the pasture and loves his turnout. He has also felt happy enough to do little squealie-bucking things when I ask him for a trot under saddle. Interesting for this old lady who hasn't ridden since her old Morgan retired in 1993!

We are planning some basic dressage for communication assistance ;) and then out to the trails we are going! He has shown himself to be quite willing to just walk happily out into the woods and fields in company or alone.

We volunteers are starting a new season at Finger Lakes this Saturday and I'm sure we will find many more FINEST for folks to love!

[BeastieSlave]

"little squealie-bucking things" :lol: I bet that was fun!

I totally see why Eddie was a failure at the track. He's not just slow moving, it's hard to get him worked up about anything. That works to my advantage because thankfully, he's one of the most laid back beasties I have. My days of preferring the hot ones are behind me :yes:

[maunder]

"little squealie-bucking things" :lol: I bet that was fun!


heh! :lol: It's rather ironic because back in the eighties I had a Thoroughbred gelding that looked much like Nums and he did the SAME THING. I called it "humpty back". It's a rolling, hopping, good-feeling kind of.....well....bucking thing. The vocal accompaniment is simply a nice bonus! :cool:

I do laugh - even though at this point I don't have any balance or strength...and he doesn't do much more than that, which is a relief! :yes:

[BEARCAT]

Well since you asked...

I rode my guy yesterday for the 3rd time since I broke my leg (or HE broke my leg to be exact), and the first time in exactly a month.
Needless to say, I was a bit apprehensive, but he was FABULOUS!!!

He stood stock still while I got on from the off side (still can't get on on the regular side with my leg), waited for my cue to go, we walked, trotted and cantered in the arena, and he was so good we hit the trail after that!!
I'm even thinking of taking him to a little Dressage show on the 2nd!

[DLee]

I have had my FL boy now for about three years, he too was a resell project, he also needs to be a hair bigger for me (I'm 5'9"), he too has turned out to be so darn good that I am selling another horse of mine instead of him! :yes: Haha, joke's on me. He is Ace (Fifty Three Cards) I had shipped from NY to Az about 3 years ago, then brought him here to KY, then started riding him etc. to get him sold... turns out he has a GREAT jump, a super fabulous attitude, kind of laid back (how did he win at Saratoga, Aqueduct and Belmont??), uncomplicated... etc! He is over 16 hands but a little bit small bodied for me, so I'm just trying to make him as fat as possible. :) Going to go do the O'Connor event camp on him in June, been taking some jumping lessons, who knows what we'll do? So good to hear of the other FL beasties!!

Here he is doing his first gymnastic (http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/dianad1/?action=view&current=Ace084.jpg) last summer (and my first in a longgg time, no critiques please!), he has been such a good boy. :)

[jeta]

We love ours......Got him in Nov. 2005....He is supposed to be my daughter's horse ( and he is ), but she is off to college, so you know how that goes;)...

He is 15.1ish and a perfect fit for my DD....I prefer a little taller, but he is big bodied so it works.....I have said on here before that "Whoa" is his favorite gait, but when you can persuade him to get out of western pleasure mode, he can actually move and use himself...We don't jump very much, but he has gone over everything we ask like it is no big deal......He is not really my kind of ride, but his personality more than makes up for it.....He is bossman of his paddock crew, but he is a sweetie with his humans...I have to laugh at him when we go to bring him in.....He is busy bossing around the other geldings, and then sees us coming with a leadline and his expression changes to, "Oh, my mommy is here to see me, gotta go" as he clears a path to the gate.....( Yeah, he's tough ).

I just looked up my old mare from my teen years and if I read her papers correctly, that she was a FL Lovely as well....She came off the track in '69 I think, and I got her in '77....She was my once in a lifetime horse.....Didn't realize it then, but I do now...She was the sweetest redhead with the biggest trusting heart who took great care of me.....

Love to hear more success stories....Keep them coming...

[Trevelyan96]

Inky's still mostly just hanging out, eating his head off! He really is a doll baby, still a little jumpy, but so sweet, friendly, and kind and getting better every day. I'm focusing on ground work, leaving the riding up to DD and trainer for now, and generally he's Mr. Cooperative after the first minute or so of just trying to figure out what's being asked. All in all, he's just a big lovable baby that's ready to be turned into a great horse with a little more work.

[Midge]

I bought Midge in 2001. She had 65 starts (yes, 65) at Finger Lakes, then had a baby. Was open the next year so they sold her. I sold her in 2005 and sadly have heard she is for sale again. She is 19 now and I wish I had a way to get her back.

[BeastieSlave]

[QUOTE=jeta;4043296]"Oh, my mommy is here to see me, gotta go" as he clears a path to the gate.....QUOTE]

Eddie too! Though he's kind of socially awkward and near the bottom of the pecking order. He definitely drops everything to smooze with people :yes:

DLee I can't believe it's been 3 years :eek:

Thanks guys - I'm loving these updates. Hopefully our experiences will inspire others to take a chance on a FL beastie this year :)