Thanks for all of the ![](nterest.
For those of you who are interested, let me tell you how this came to be.
About 3 and a half years ago, me and my wife purchased a house on 6 and a half acres. It had a barn out back. Neither of us had ever owned, been around much or had any thing but a passing interest in horses. With the empty barn staring at us from the house we started to discuss the possibility of maybe getting a horse. We wanted to find one that could REALLY use a home.
Every year we would watch the Kentucky Derby because of all of the fuss that is made about it. Then we started to think about maybe finding a Thoroughbred. When I started to research the breed online, I was appalled at the bleak future that so many former racers face when their racing careers end.
At that point I decided that somewhere out there was a couple of horses that were NOT going to wind up heading to Canada by way of New Holland.
I talked to different " horse people" along the way and was warned that “you don’t want a Thoroughbred”, “what are you crazy, with no experience you’ll get yourself killed”, “why not a nice Appaloosa?”, “they are wild, have bad feet and all are broken with injuries.” , and my favorite, “they love to bite”.
Of course this only made me want to prove the these people wrong. They were contradicting what I was reading online about some Thoroughbreds making great horses and since I never owned a horse at least I couldn’t tell a good one from a bad one anyway.
We started to fix up the barn and I started to look around. I volunteered at a local horse rescue for 1 day a week for about half of the summer. I told the owner that it was my intent to learn about these horses and then adopt a couple when I learned enough to handle them. When the person that was working with me had to leave I left too as the owner was worried about me being around the horses by myself or so I was told.
All along we were continuing to fix up our barn. We regraded the property and installed frost proof hydrants and new fence.
As we were getting closer to being able to save a couple of horses I started to contact some different Thoroughbred Rescue organizations… That was when the next doors got slammed in my face. Basically the response was" You never had a Horse? And you want us to adopt out to you one of ours? Aint gonna happen." Well okay then… I just spent all of this time and resources installing new fence, rehabbing the barn. Regrading the property. I am willing to hire a trainer to get us through the initial stages. But your right. I’m not in it for the long haul. Thanks for the 5 second evaluation.
I then started to scan Craigslist ads. Last April an ad popped up for a Thoroughbred, free to a good home, must sign a no slaughter contract. I called the person and a nice younger guy answered the phone. We talked for awhile and he told me that he owned Tempesta Di Neve, Sly Diamond Jim and Ashtonofun. He said that he used to race them but started to feel sorry for them and retired all 3 at the same time. He kept them at a boarding facility for the first year and then bought a house with some land and put up fencing and moved them there. He was just overwhelmed with caring for them and really wanted to place them in a better situation. I made plans to see them that weekend. When I arrived to meet them, this is what I saw.
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20140524_100818_zpsvtsgpggv.jpg)
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20140524_100805_zps3cuipwce.jpg)
I brought my wife back the following day and we immediately decided that we would take Ashton first as he was the thinnest. He is the bottom of the pecking order and just wound up getting less food than the other 2. Here is the day he arrived.
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/Ashtonsarrival_zps3bcf8e5d.jpg)
I was then going back almost daily to help the owner care for the other 2 as he had many other commitments and I wanted to help remove some of the load of caring for the horses from him. After a couple of days my wife thought that Ashton looked lonely and asked if maybe we should get Jim. I said yes since they are herd animals that would probably put Ashton at ease. So I made plans to pick Jim up. Here he is the day of his arrival.
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20140529_201604_zpsfhmppqnx.jpg)
But then this was bad because it left Tempe alone in a field. We really didn’t want three horses as never owning a horse we thought it would be too overwhelming. So I got to work trying to find a home for him. The first person that wanted him let me visit their farm. Between the 4 horses that were way behind on hoof care and the 3 foot tall manure piles in front of the stalls we said probably won’t work. Then the next person actually saddled and rode him. They said that they would like to take him. They assured me that if he went lame that he would never be sent to slaughter. He would be humanely euthanized. I then asked to define lame. I was told that meant no longer able to be used in their riding program. Just for the sake of clarity I asked if that meant if he was pasture sound would he be put down? I was then told and at that point was the first time I heard the term he would be a “lawn ornament”, an expensive one and would cost too much to keep around. That is when I told them to get the ****out of here you ignorant **********. After what this horse has been through, that is your answer???
So now the reality that we would be owning 3 horses started to sink in LOL.
Then the fun began. The first 2 horses were moved on a step up stock trailer. We went after Tempe and he refused to load. 2 hours worth. Tried everything including the strap around the but. Wouldn’t budge.
Then someone suggested a ramp trailer as this is what race horses use. After 3 weeks of frantic searching I come up with a ramp trailer, Well he wouldn’t budge. Did rear up and go over backwards though. Scared the crap out of us and himself. I’m shaking my head as I’m up to my armpits in all of this and have been a proud horse owner for all of 2 months.
My wife suggested maybe have another horse on the trailer. Sounded good to me. A friend of mine found a woman with a 4 horse trailer that would bring one of her horses. It is now September by the way. We got there and he hopped right on as soon as he saw the other horse. Have to give my wife credit.
Anyway, I have to stop for now as I have to go do a barn check LOL. Tempe goes through a whole bucket of water between 7pm and midnight. Thirsty little bugger he is. Will try to write more later. Will show you some more pics though.
By the way so as not to panic here is Ashton now.
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20141221_115124_zpsirvedbjk.jpg)
Jim now
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20141221_103747_zpskz6hlb23.jpg)
And Tempe now
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/20141221_103759_zpsxhavmgpf.jpg)
I think Jim loves me:)
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/1129141042_zpswf08bnfk.jpg)
And for a real pick me up, the boys getting a little playful on this past Sunday…enjoy
[IMG]http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/skilliam/th_20150207_141603_zpslyy7n4wj.mp4)
Here he is enjoying the sprinkler.
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