Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Finger Lake Race Track -- End of the Season -- Many New Homes -- Warmest Thanks

Off Course
#1001

I love happy endings…and it doesn’t get much happier than this! So many wonderful horses enjoying wonderful new homes!!

Ishi: Those dapplies on Somewhere - Margie trotted her for me and they just POPPED in the sunlight! If they’re that impressive with her winter coat, just imagine how lovely they’ll be next summer…congratulations, I’m so happy for you both.

Up-at-5: so glad you made it home safe and sound. You had a looonnnggg 24 hours :slight_smile:

This thread was addicting - as a lurker until the end, I always checked this thread several times a day (get a life right?). I sure hope the Roll Call thread stays half as active, or I’ll definitely be going through withdrawal :lol:

#1002

Me too! Need updates! Lots of updates and pictures! This has been soooo much fun!!

Suzanne, I am beyond delighted that Chequer Cat and Red Tail’s Wish are safely kept on your beautiful farm. They are two lucky caballos!

#1003

I would also like to give a HUGE thank you to foundationmare, maunder and louise for their unending devotion to these horses. It is amazing the time and energy they give for the cause. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You gals ROCK!

#1004

Oh Margie, can’t tell you how much we love them both. Such different personalities makes them so interesting. Everyday is like Christmas as we learn something new about each one. It’s like opening a tiny present and being surprised!

#1005

My cup overfloweth! I just knew that Red Tail’s Wish had to be on your trailer, stinker though she was that morning! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the ability to whisper in their ear and convey the importance of just such a situation. “Hey, little filly, you don’t want to get on this trailer because you’re distrustful, and, lord knows, there’s probably no reason for you to trust one single human being. But, listen to me: your life is going to change for the better to the nth degree. You have no reason to trust me or understand what I’m saying, but, please, please get on this trailer because you’ve won the lottery! You have no idea what paradise is, but, please, if you get on this trailer, you’ll find out!”

Fortunately, she was eventually loaded while I stood in the background. Sorry Suzanne, I didn’t end the attempts early, but couldn’t bear what may have happened to the little gal.

It’s all good now and I’m overjoyed that Chequer Cat and “Gracie” are safely ensconced in their new home, which looks and sounds to me like the horsie version of The Plaza!

#1006

Oooh, did someone here get Pleasant Trick?? His sire is my baby’s great-grandsire, and Pleasant Trick looks JUST like my boy (only over a hand shorter, lol). If that guy is half as sweet as my boy, whoever got him is very VERY lucky.

#1007

sprite, Me Me Anna is going to be a combination of both a riding horse and a broodie. And, the gentleman who got her says that he keeps his horses for life, so she, also, has had a super safe landing.

#1008

Hi everyone!
Louise PM-ed me, concerned at the lack of updates on Thunderstormer. I think that just goes to show you how lovely these ladies really are, as they care so much that the horses are doing well at their new homes!
Thunder is doing great! He has quickly learned that going out and eating grass all day long is a pretty sweet gig :slight_smile: His trainer warned me that he is a very picky eater and drinker, and boy, has that proved to be true. However, as he has been turned out for longer and longer each day, his appetite had been improving and he will now eat almost all of his dinner when he comes in at night (good boy!). I cannot believe how wonderfully sweet and quiet this horse is. He’s not dull at all–in fact, his curiosity and need to explore EVERYTHING cracks me up every day. But despite all the changes in his life recently, he obviously still believes that humans are pretty good, dogs are better, and life is alright :slight_smile:
I FINALLY got some good pictures of him today in the daylight. I promise to post them soon, as you all must see the one of him touching noses with our resident zebra. Yes, we have a zebra named Zipper. Most horses freak out when they first see Zip, but Thunder just thinks he’s another buddy. I know they say racehorses are pretty used to new and unusual things, but a Zebra?!?! How many of those do you find on the racetrack? :slight_smile:
Anyway, life is great with Thunder home, and I feel so lucky to have found him. I can’t wait to watch him grow and develop…
Thanks again to everyone who has been following this thread for your continued support and interest! :slight_smile:

#1009

Virginia’s Finest Home and tucked in

It’s been a LONG day !! We met the shipper at ISHI’s place and unloaded the horses for a little bit to let them have a pee and a good roll. What a gorgeous place she has !! You have to check out her black stallion Brewster…what a baby doll !!!
Since we had to find a shipper via USHIP.com last minute, we had to scramble to find a 3 horse trailer to make the run from New Kent to Marshall, and my neighbors got shangaied ! Terry Lipscomb and his wife Kelly (he’s a Champion Roper), loaned us their trailer and we all drove up. Emma Kuhn came with us, she was Devilshire’s new owner, and her dad is getting “Birdie” (Rockalady by Birdstone) as a pet. My big boy stepped off the trailer like a king, walked in the stall and had several rolls and bucks, he feels good ! After a little breather, we guiltily led them back on our trailer for the 2 hour ride to New Kent. Devil and Birdie were brought to the Kuhns and we unloaded everybody again, but because today was the county food pantry, which they host at their house, we had to unload the horses in the filed with the llamas, donkeys, geese, Hamilton the pig, several chickens, and Belle the retriever. NONE of the horses batted an eye.
We then reloaded Spirit to take to the Lipscombs, who will babysit him while I’m in Texas for my son’s wedding at Christmas. Unloaded him there, in the barn where the roping cattle are hanging out, and he didn’t bat an eye either. Got him all settled in towering over the little 14 hand cowponies and came home. THANK YOU MARGIE I am drinking a big Kahlua and coffee and will sleep well tonight. I’m going to try to attach a pic of Spirit getting some love at the Sheetz in Opal Virginia .

#1010

BIG thank you to ISHI

Just to let all of you know the generosity around here… When our shipper canceled, I found a shipper on Uship that made the run for a decent amount because they were in the area, BUT, picking up that night, planning on being in Marshall at 7 or 8 am. NEEDING CASH on arrival. That meant we would have had to leave New Kent at 4 or 5 am to be there to pay for our horses, BUT, MIchelle offered to pay the shipper so we wouldn’t have to hustle up that early. SHE DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. There’s a LOT of good Karma flying around here, let me tell you. Thank you Michelle.

#1011

To the FL volunteers–those of us with new horses owe YOU thanks! I would never have found Lucky without the trainer listings.

For those looking for the update thread, there is a link in my sig file on every post (and I yak a lot on here so it’s easy to find.) I definitely want to hear updates, and I’m glad to have an audience that actually WANTS to hear about Lucky (unlike my poor non-horsey coworkers…and they thought having to listen to me blabber about dancing was bad enough…)

#1012

You know Margie, my heart broke for that little filly that day. The more they tried to force her to load, the more scared she got - I really don’t think she was being stubborn. I kept thinking I don’t want to leave her behind, but what if she won’t get on the trailer? I’m so glad we waited it out! Thanks to the farrier/trainer (don’t know his name) that came along to offer her a kind stroke on the head and a soft word and Lottalassa’s trainer. I do credit them with getting her on the trailer.

Walked out of the barn toward the trailer earlier in the week and as soon as she realized where we were headed, she stopped short and started to shake. Poor girl… Good thing we’ve got lots of time, cuz we’ve got our work cut out for us.

#1013

Skee Love

Skee arrived safe and sound at 1pm and she has been nothing but perfect. From the time she got off the trailer she has been so well-mannered and calm no one believes she just came off track. Her favorite thing, the window in her stall, she will stand there and just watch outside, such simple pleasures. I went to the farm ths morning early to get her stall ready with every intention of going home to get my camera, but I spent so much time fluffing up the wood pellets and weighing each individual AM and PM feeding for her, yea I am a little OCD with my horses, that she arrived before I could get my camera. I will bring it tomorrow and post some pics on the roll call thread.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this possible for all the horses that have found homes.

#1014

Such good news from all of you!
Post pics when you can…

#1015

Wow! I hadn’t checked this thread for a while. You guys are amazing!

Huge props to the trainers, shippers, proud new owners, and especially the volunteers who made all this possible.:slight_smile:

What was the final count of COTH members who got a horse (or two or three!) from Finger Lakes this year?

#1016

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you gave Skee a home. That mare touched my heart, and I was just so glad when you said that you were taking her. She will so enjoy all the love and care that you will give her. Thank you so much!

#1017

[QUOTE=MHM;4553552]
Wow! I hadn’t checked this thread for a while. You guys are amazing!

Huge props to the trainers, shippers, proud new owners, and especially the volunteers who made all this possible.:slight_smile:

What was the final count of COTH members who got a horse (or two or three!) from Finger Lakes this year?[/QUOTE]

We should tally it up, with over 1000 posts on this thread, I bet the number of horses that got placed is amazing!

#1018

A very preliminary list of horses that we know for sure were placed through the Trainer’s Listings so far this year comes to 92. I have asked the other volunteers to check the list and see what they think, so that number may go up or down a bit. Still, that is a super number, especially in a year when the economy was as bad as it was.

I don’t know how many of those horses went to COTH homes, but I’m sure that a very great number of them did.

We still have a couple of weeks to go in the year, and it would be nice to bump that number up a bit.

Thank you all!

#1019

[QUOTE=foundationmare;4552890]
Me too! Need updates! Lots of updates and pictures! This has been soooo much fun!!

Suzanne, I am beyond delighted that Chequer Cat and Red Tail’s Wish are safely kept on your beautiful farm. They are two lucky caballos![/QUOTE]

I would like to make a special call out to FM - She and I have communicated a lot via phone and email… she is a truly special person who deserves recognition for all her hard work… She and I have bonded I think over our own little special miracle 'Willow" - the one who was left behind.

It is a truly a season of miracles and even though none of Finger Lakes finest came home to me - thanks to FM they all are safe and sound with bright futures.

Many special thanks to you Margie… you are an angel. :slight_smile:

#1020

Holy cow! That is fantastic! Let’s hope the number at least breaks 100 by the end of the month. :cool:

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $21.95 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse