Really.. Someone Ought To Buy This Horse!

[EqTrainer]

"Glorytothehighest"

http://www.ac4h.com/BrokerOwnedProgram.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbtsBPK4H1s

Mr. Prospector on both sides.

And for those chesnut mare folks..

http://www.pedigreequery.com/posse+to+go

Deputy Minister! Blushing Groom!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anotherchance4horses/sets/72157622218552336/

[rhymeswithfizz]

Cute horse - but sorry I just can't get past the helmet-less, stirrup-less, pants-less rider in the video. And I'm a pretty open minded gal. But riding in a dress and sneakers???? The spot where the horse trips, I thought she was going over the horse's ears.

[yellowbritches]

I believe she is either Mennonite (my guess) or possibly Amish.

[BestHorses]

I believe she is either Mennonite (my guess) or possibly Amish.

That was my thought too, although I wonder who's driving the truck and tractor in the background if she's Amish? Interesting chute/ring.

[kookicat]

Eh, it could just be because I've viewing the video on my phone, but he looks off behind to me.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I believe she is either Mennonite (my guess) or possibly Amish.


Mennonite was my guess too....there was a related video where she is jumping a chestnut. A bit rough...but she actually looks like she has some natural riding talent. Fairly good prospects who are probably right off the track (hence moving very tracky)....hope someone buys them. Especially that chestnut mare.

ETA: By good...I didn't mean fancy world beaters...they would be a lot more expensive if they were. I meant nice minds and would likely be easy to bring along. I like the chestnut better of the two.

[yellowbritches]

That was my thought too, although I wonder who's driving the truck and tractor in the background if she's Amish? Interesting chute/ring.
Mennonites would use trucks and tractors.

Personally, the horse just looks like every other skinny, ho-hum bay OTTB to me. Maybe if it was presented differently or I actually saw him in person.

[Coppers mom]

I agree with the others. He looks like a good soul, but is pretty average in every other way.

I too though there was something a little off with his movement, but that could be a plethora of things, given the situation.

[EqTrainer]

Yes, the little girl is either Amish or Mennonite. Riding in a skirt. Sneakers and no helmet. Yes, she is. Pretty good little rider considering her disadvantages IMO.. she may not have ever even had a riding lesson. Not what we are used to seeing tho', is it?!!

I think the bay is a little better than average considering what he does NOT do. He does not do anything dirty and he does everything he is asked to do. He is cheap and on a dealers lot. So is the chesnut. Yes, they both are tracky.

I don't have a hard time looking past those things, guess I didn't realize how hard it is for others to do so, sorry. Nevermind! :lol:

[Coppers mom]

EqTrainer, no offense, but the bay is very, very average, and it has nothing to do with us not being able to "look past" anything. He's not a fantastic mover, and his conformation is average. I'm not saying that he won't be nice with a little work (he's such a good boy, I wouldn't mind having him), but I don't think he's going to be a stunner.

[EqTrainer]

I am not so sure that his mind is average at all :)

No offense taken tho'... I did think the person saying they could not see past the little girl was funny! "Cute horse - but sorry I just can't get past the helmet-less, stirrup-less, pants-less rider in the video"

[Platinum Equestrian]

The young lady riding the horse is a white cap mennonite, so everyone is aware.

I don't think anyone claimed the horse was fabulous, but rather the OP was trying to help find him (and others) a good home, since he is recently off the track.... hence the not-for-profit status.

[BeverlyAStrauss]

I love the way he uses his front end and shoulders over the fence- and yes, she is a Mennonite and will hop on any horse.

[enjoytheride]

This horse is in a dealer's lot, the rescue only advertises his horses for him so be aware of that.

[clivers]

Seriously??!!! This horse walks, trots, canters, reins back, and jumps willingly without argument, and with very little after-track training. Not average in my books at all!!!
He looks like a nice, generous, game little horse who probably wouldn't say no unless he thougth his life depended on it and I don't give a crap what the rider is wearing!

[Coppers mom]

You realize that horses still on the track are able to walk, trot, and canter, right? It's not like they gallop to the track, scurry around, then gallop back to the stall breathing fire the whole time. I've ridden horses at the track that are still in training that behave just like this.

[archieflies]

Just out of curiosity... I understand the skirt for a Mennonite girl (although I have seen some ride with leggings under the skirt, which seems much kinder on the skin!), but is there specifically a problem with wearing a helmet for a Mennonite? Or paddock boots instead of tennis shoes? It seems like if tennis shoes are ok, paddock boots would be too. Not sure where helmets would fall. Nothing against this girl in particular, I'm just curious if these things are allowed. We don't exactly have a plethora of Mennonites down in East Texas, so I don't know much. :) I do know, though, that it takes guts to ride any kind of horse with bare legs. She must have some serious callouses built up!

[yellowbritches]

Really, I just don't find it all that spectacular that a horse who has had a little time off the track does these very basic things without issue. It shouldn't be a miracle! My own horse (who IS above average...no bias or anything) was barely off the track and could do all that AND was hacking out through the woods, jumping logs and coops and crossing creeks. He's not that unusual, either. I've known plenty of OTTBs who come off the track and do all these things. He's not unusual, he's just average. I'm sure he's a very nice horse who'll make someone a nice, fun little horse. I just don't think he's that fantastic.

[onthebit]

^^ Very much agree with YB's post.

I think I'm very capable of looking past the rider and surroundings to the horse. He seemed like a good guy but nothing spectacular by any means, even his brain. There are lots of sweet horses with good brains in the world that have little athletic ability.

[StrawberryFields]

i like them both.... think they look like two nice horses. they may not be above average but there i no reason to degrade them like that. Plus, its just a video. you can never fully tell until you see them in person:)

[shawneeAcres]

Watched the bay horse and probably she is mennonite and I felt she did a good job, considering, she obviously has a feel for horses. AS to the bay horse, I really disliked the set of his neck and feel it would be very difficult for him to learn to get round and bring his back up, however he has an outstanding walk and canter, trot was so-so, but then a lot of OTTB's don't really know how to trot until they get some serious work under their belts. THink he isn't anything special just to look at but might make up to be a nice guy, just don't like the neck personally

Oh just looked at the next video of the same horse and girl jumping, he looked pretty decent jumping, obviosuly not finished, and the girl does seem to have talent, she jumped a lot better than some riders I have seen!!!

[SEPowell]

Just out of curiosity... I understand the skirt for a Mennonite girl (although I have seen some ride with leggings under the skirt, which seems much kinder on the skin!), but is there specifically a problem with wearing a helmet for a Mennonite? Or paddock boots instead of tennis shoes? It seems like if tennis shoes are ok, paddock boots would be too. Not sure where helmets would fall. Nothing against this girl in particular, I'm just curious if these things are allowed. We don't exactly have a plethora of Mennonites down in East Texas, so I don't know much. :) I do know, though, that it takes guts to ride any kind of horse with bare legs. She must have some serious callouses built up!

I'm speaking from assumptions I've made from living around PA mennonite country, not from actually asking these questions. The tack store near me is run by a Mennonite family and they are aware of all of the riding equipment for safety and have sought out this information in order to run a successful business. In the case of this young woman, my guess is that these things are just totally irrelevant to the matter at hand. I know she's seen these things at New Holland where she often rides horses through the ring, but I doubt if she thinks about them at all.

At New Holland, I've seen her hop on totally unbroken horses and stay with them until she can get them through the ring, riding them the whole time on cement. She's very balanced and determined, to say the least.

[Coppers mom]

Watched the bay horse and probably she is mennonite and I felt she did a good job, considering, she obviously has a feel for horses. AS to the bay horse, I really disliked the set of his neck and feel it would be very difficult for him to learn to get round and bring his back up, however he has an outstanding walk and canter, trot was so-so, but then a lot of OTTB's don't really know how to trot until they get some serious work under their belts. THink he isn't anything special just to look at but might make up to be a nice guy, just don't like the neck personally

Oh just looked at the next video of the same horse and girl jumping, he looked pretty decent jumping, obviosuly not finished, and the girl does seem to have talent, she jumped a lot better than some riders I have seen!!!

1) His neck is clearly that way because of muscle, not because of conformation. A couple months of correct riding would fix that.

2) The neck has nothing to do with whether or not they can use their backs. The head and neck come down because they're using their back, the back doesn't come up because the neck is round.

[archieflies]

SEPowell- Thanks, I guess that does make sense to me. :)

[EqTrainer]

Hmmmm.. yes, some horses come right off the track this quiet and biddable BUT many do not and most of the time, you get no proof that they are or will be (ask Mapleshade, who has had more horses off the track than all of us posting on this thread, combined).

I didn't say he was a fantastic mover. What I see is a horse who is extremely willing to do what he is asked to do and does not seem to be bothered by his environment. I posted it here because I would assume that was really important to event people and hoped he might find a good home because of those qualities.

That's all.

[Coppers mom]

EqTrainer, sorry, I can almost guarantee that I could go to the track today, see 200 horses, and only a handful wouldn't be able to do this in some shape or form. It's basic training. Trainers aren't going to take the risk of having a horse who can't stop, won't change direction, etc.

He's a sweet guy, no doubt, but he's not all that special just because he's not the fire-breathing dragon stereotype.

[ADM7040]

Cute horse - but sorry I just can't get past the helmet-less, stirrup-less, pants-less rider in the video. And I'm a pretty open minded gal. But riding in a dress and sneakers???? The spot where the horse trips, I thought she was going over the horse's ears.

I had to go back and look at the video again after reading your message and I would suggest that you do so as well. That young lady's position barely changes when the horse trips, her hands simply move forward to allow him some freedom for his head while he regains his balance. Additionally, she maintains her composure and remains totally relaxed. She never looked in any danger of "going over the horse's ears."

From your short statement, I find it very hard to believe that you are a "pretty open minded gal". It reads to me as though you are actually being very closed-minded (is that actually a word?) toward her because she is different than what you are used to seeing as a rider. In reality, she is a very nice soft rider who, as pointed out by another poster in this thread, probably comes by this as natural talent because I believe it is very likely that she has not had any "formal" training (meaning what we think of as formal training.)

The horse does seem like a good minded soul. Perhaps not the most amazing talent, but like he would make someone a very agreeable partner to event at the lower levels and that he would do his job safely while producing a minimum amount of melodrama for his rider. That is something that many riders would like to have and I hope that he finds a new partner to love and appreciate him.

[Lori B]

Exactly, ADM. He looks like a very sensible soul who moves and jumps decently under what I would imagine are less than optimal training / footing / concentration conditions.

I'm a big chicken, but I'd get on him. :-)

[EqTrainer]

EqTrainer, sorry, I can almost guarantee that I could go to the track today, see 200 horses, and only a handful wouldn't be able to do this in some shape or form. It's basic training. Trainers aren't going to take the risk of having a horse who can't stop, won't change direction, etc.

He's a sweet guy, no doubt, but he's not all that special just because he's not the fire-breathing dragon stereotype.


Well, I have considerable experience w/OTTB's. And I don't believe the fire-breathing dragon stereotype normally touted on this board, not for one moment. But I also don't think most horses off the track will do what this one does on this video so quietly and willingly.

But we will have to agree to disagree and that's ok.

[Lori B]

Also, I wish I rode with as quiet and balanced a seat as that Mennonite young lady. I've seen video of her on a wide variety of critters, and she always seems unflappable, even when cantering bareback on a horse that is likely unfamiliar to her.

[Pallas]

I am not so sure that his mind is average at all


Seriously??!!! This horse walks, trots, canters, reins back, and jumps willingly without argument, and with very little after-track training. Not average in my books at all!!!
He looks like a nice, generous, game little horse who probably wouldn't say no unless he thougth his life depended on it


EqTrainer and Clivers, these videos (and perhaps your posts) were seen by a wonderful horse-rescuer who brought him home to her farm in September. Since then she has invested her time and care, brought him back up to weight and full esprit, and now thoroughly enjoys his remarkably affectionate and playful personality, as well as his, indeed, game and generous disposition under saddle. All to the end of finding him a home.

So much so, that what she wrote about him on her website caught MY eye, and I visited him last weekend. Love at first nicker. As soon as the snow melts, I will see if he is as gracious to me as a rider, and what the world looks like from his back...and hope then to bring him to his home with me.

Thank you for your kind yet discerning eyes.

[Lori B]

PIctures!!! I can post 'em if you e-mail 'em to me. We demand pictures.

And hooray for you, by the way. :-)

[clivers]

EqTrainer and Clivers,

So much so, that what she wrote about him on her website caught MY eye, and I visited him last weekend. Love at first nicker. As soon as the snow melts, I will see if he is as gracious to me as a rider, and what the world looks like from his back...and hope then to bring him to his home with me.

Thank you for your kind yet discerning eyes.

That's such wonderful news!!! Yay!! Thanks for posting,
and Welcome to the board!!

[HeyJealousy]

You realize that horses still on the track are able to walk, trot, and canter, right? It's not like they gallop to the track, scurry around, then gallop back to the stall breathing fire the whole time. I've ridden horses at the track that are still in training that behave just like this.

I've galloped horses for years, and there sure aren't many that will w/t/c that quietly without being tough as hell. Once you begin your jog (trot) they latch onto the bridle and it's up to your arms to hold them. Same with the gallop. The only ones who w/t/c on a loose rein are the babies who don't know how to gallop into the bridle yet, or horses that have no ambition to be racehorses whatsoever.

[Pallas]

PIctures!!!...We demand pictures.

Reader, I partnered him.

The world from his back is a much better world. He is as winning as he is willing, and as much a character as he has character.

This past Sunday, in the space of six hours, he

(1) Diffidently followed a playmate in the free-ring being led into the round pen, stopped politely outside (awaiting an invitation that was not forthcoming) and then spent ten minutes stock-still at the gate, taking in the lesson;

(2) Dozed off while I was cinching him up;

(3) Walked as calmly as a lead-pony alongside a nervous mare on the trails, taking the lead only when it came time to coax her by example over a bridge he himself had never seen;

(4) Seized and dunked my discarded sweatshirt into the water trough while I was cleaning out his paddock, then hoisted it and shook-shook-shook it with his head raised and eyes pressed shut, savoring the shower on his face. Rinse (into the trough) repeat (hoist, shake, shower) X 3: then dropped the sweatshirt, stepped on it, and

(5) Called it a day: lay down in his paddock, placed his head in my lap and raced in his dreams, rear legs thrusting and forelegs reaching.

The Rescue Girls re-named him Zion, which fit him to a tee, I thought...but yesterday, while he was running fult-tilt in the free-ring, I called out, "And Glorytothehighest comes out of nowhere...!", and he craned his head around and snorted. I called him Glory and he nickered, then trotted over to stand face to face with me, as if his world were also suddenly an even much better place. I called him Glory and he nuzzled my face, then sank his head onto my shoulder and dozed off again.

Glory it is, then.

[ThirdCharm]

It is not that hard to find a failed racehorse that is quiet W/T/C with a moderately competent rider. I have gotten a couple dozen TBs off the track, and ONE was hot. Ages varied, from 3 to 7, least raced was five races, most was 50-something.

Jennifer

[ellebeaux]

Oh Pallas, congratulations, sounds like you have a winner!

And pictures are in order, methinks?

[Pallas]

You mean I have to learn how to ride (again) and learn how to download digital pictures (for the first time), at the same time?

Well, maybe not both at the same time...Glory already knows I weigh more than a jockey; adding a saddle-mounted PC to the mix might trouble even his equable nature...

Okay. Disposable camera to make disc to make download to send to Lori B, who has graciously offered to post. Methinks you are right.

[Lori B]

Yes! Send 'em on to me.

I am so happy for Glory and for you. He sounds like such a smart boy.

And despite all the counter claims in this thread, I think a greenish off track horse with a gentle, relaxed and willing mind is not entirely typical. They are often happy to work but have more go than is initially safe or comfortable for an ammy. Rateableness, right off the bat is so nice, and a sign of a kind mind.

[EqTrainer]

I couldn't be more thrilled, for both the horse and his new owner :D

[IrishWillow]

Well, thats a new one. Gracious.

And yes, hock issue (most likely) in the right hind.

[Chall]

Nice horse. And the girl is riding without stirrups ;)

[Gry2Yng]

Didn't really watch the horse for being so captivated by the rider. She is GOOD! If my daughter shows that much natural talent I will die a happy woman.

[Pallas]

EqTrainer: Your thrill is my thrill. I'll pass it on to Glory, who despite his innate diffidence, is not displeased to be the subject of a thread in Chronicle of the Horse. If you've read "Horse Heaven" by Jane Smiley, he is the equally modest but self-respecting Justa Bob: "Justa Bob knew exactly how much horse he was..."

Kathryn (IrishWillow): Thank you. Would you suggest I call in a vet to check his hock? That right rear foot is the only one he ever hesitates to give me, and the other day, while standing free, he did with his right hind leg that low arabesque that can only call to mind Barbaro, after his injury. I felt the leg and hock for heat and asked an experienced owner to have a feel and take a look. She saw nothing but that means little. To my novice eye, that ankle is built larger and harder (as if with something "healed" wrong) than the other three. He's moved early and often after that, and not repeated the gesture, but still...

Chall and Gry2Yng: I know, that rider!, with her soft hands and firm seat and serene air, that had Glory following her around the chute like an acolyte, not to mention, tending her every suggestion and pulsing over jumps. Up the thread, Lori B has pointed out that you can see her riding other green horses on the AC4H link, including a pinto saddlebred she rides bareback. And bare-butt, in the same dress, or one similar.

In the jump videos, I can only think that Glory is thinking, "But don't you see, there's a great big -- all righty then!"