In memory of November Rain

[rainechyldes]

[QUOTE=dcm;3814676]
Many useful ageing show horses who are on their way down do not take retirement very well. They want to be busy, they want the attention. Owners place them where they can be used, but things beyond their control happen. You cannot hold the last USEF registered owner responsible unless you know the whole story. You have to remember that Dux was priced above current meat prices, so an effort was being made to find a useful home. He was not an auction/meat truck rescue like so many seen here. His “rescue” is different in that sense, and could be used as an example to people who do not know what to do with unhappy retirees.

So maybe we need to think before we start tossing sticks and stones at Dux’s very public and well known former owners.[/QUOTE]

I’ve read the entire thread, what an awesome horse, and so lucky to have been re-found.

This quote caught my eye, it’s so true. Some horse simply do not retire well. We had such a guy, luckily he was in our family for most his life, but we did end up transitioning him down and down as he aged, but retirement wasn’t in the cards, he was miserable. Over the years, he went from a national level horse down to pony club. And it kept him happy.

The summer before he passed, at the pony club championships, he came off the trailer, looked around, puffed out his chest and said 'HERE I am!!!" at the ripe age of 29.
In the warm up ring, we had to pull my son (7 at the time) off him and my sister had to get on to warm him up because he instantly lit up and was determined to show his flash. People were walking up to say, 'OMG - that can’t be Able! " Horses remember and are proud of who they are. My old guy proved it that day in spades. I still miss him everyday.

[Tazer]

Excuse You?

[QUOTE=Mr. Jig;3824545]
The November Rain with Gary was most definitely a large dappled grey - now white, has been owned by the same person for YEARS, did the A/O hunters as well as all the professional divisions. He is happy and retired. Definitely not a horse that would end up on a thread like this. He’s a lifer for sure!!![/QUOTE]

Dux is a lifer and he should have never been on here in the first place! However, things happen, he did and he’s mine now… and very happy about that.

[Tazer]

I am sorry…

[QUOTE=Mr. Jig;3824545]
The November Rain with Gary was most definitely a large dappled grey - now white, has been owned by the same person for YEARS, did the A/O hunters as well as all the professional divisions. He is happy and retired. Definitely not a horse that would end up on a thread like this. He’s a lifer for sure!!![/QUOTE]

But Dux should have been a lifer too. Glad he appeared here, glad someone told me about it, and glad he’s home, for good.

(at my first reading, I was a bit insulted by - definitely not a horse that would end up on a thread like this - feeling like there was an insinuation that the grey November Rain was more deserving of his retirement, than my Dux. If I am misinterpreting your post, then I apologize, but that was my first thought/reaction. I am glad that this gentleman Gary is the kind of person who would keep his old champion for life, kudos to Gary for that.)

[trubandloki]

@Tazer;3824887

(at my first reading, I was a bit insulted by - definitely not a horse that would end up on a thread like this - feeling like there was an insinuation that the grey November Rain was more deserving of his retirement, than my Dux. If I am misinterpreting your post, then I apologize, but that was my first thought/reaction. I am glad that this gentleman Gary is the kind of person who would keep his old champion for life, kudos to Gary for that.)

I read it that Gary was riding the other November Rain for the horses owner in the professional divisions and that owner finds the horse to be a lifer, not Gary.
I also do not read that this other horse deserves to be a lifer more than Dux just that the owner of this other horse is the type to hold on to them for life.

[Tazer]

Which I recognized…

[QUOTE=trubandloki;3824910]
I read it that Gary was riding the other November Rain for the horses owner in the professional divisions and that owner finds the horse to be a lifer, not Gary.
I also do not read that this other horse deserves to be a lifer more than Dux just that the owner of this other horse is the type to hold on to them for life.[/QUOTE]

and give Kudos to. Didn’t realize Gary/Owner were not one in the same.

BTW, if anyone has spare candy canes they are considering tossing, send them my way, Dux will appreciate them.

[2bayboys]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2bayboys
Aren’t these from Keswick in 2008? This is from the Jr/AO jumper class. This horse does not look like he is ready to be retired. So what happened?

http://www.peggyjsmith.com/14K08FJrA...K08-F3095.html

http://www.peggyjsmith.com/14K08FJrA...K08-F3097.html

http://www.peggyjsmith.com/14K08FJrA...K08-F3098.html

If that is him, that was the very last horse show he was in, and it should have been with Kacey McCann. From what I have been told, he took 2nd on the first day, was sore the 2nd and that was the end of his career.

I believe these pic’s must be of Dux, since this chestnut horse appeared in the first day’s proofs, but not the second. Which would match what you were told. I don’t know Kacey, is this her in the pic’s? What a lovely talented horse you have now!! :yes:

[jumpingmaya]

Give me your address…

Tazer, please PM your information so that I can send you candy canes and anything else that you need for the big boy
Will be a late christmas present from Florida!
Glad to hear that he is doing well by the way… And I would love to see more pics :yes:

[Tazer]

Done!

[QUOTE=jumpingmaya;3825035]
Tazer, please PM your information so that I can send you candy canes and anything else that you need for the big boy
Will be a late christmas present from Florida!
Glad to hear that he is doing well by the way… And I would love to see more pics :yes:[/QUOTE]

Thank you!!!

Now… who wants to break the news to Dux, that these are a seasonal item? :winkgrin:

[War_Admiral]

Will he eat regular peppermints as well?

[trubandloki]

Wallyworld has those ‘soft’ peppermints in the huge tub that are pretty darn reasonably priced. I bet Dex would love those too.

[caffeinated]

@2bayboys;3825025

I believe these pic’s must be of Dux, since this chestnut horse appeared in the first day’s proofs, but not the second. Which would match what you were told. I don’t know Kacey, is this her in the pic’s? What a lovely talented horse you have now!! :yes:

Also according to the USEF page, there were three entries in the Keswick class, which matches the number of horses in the photographer’s album…

He really is lovely and has lived quite a life.

[LouLove]

Have Been Lurking

What a story.

Thank you Tazer. You’ve gotten yourself a solid piece of history. What an outstanding horse.

Pony - stole your post as my sig too. It’s so relevant.

LL

[Tazer]

So Far, So Good

[QUOTE=MLP;3823317]
I couldn’t agree more. It just seems so odd that he was doing that and then was given up. I would love to know from Tazer if he sound because he could have gone a bit further down the line before giving up. I mean these are the Jr/AOs here, so then there’s the child/adult, child/adult low, and then the level 1s… Quite a few more steps. Either way, Tazer, you are one lucky girl and November Rain is one lucky boy. The stars aligned for you both this month and I hope you get to enjoy many, many, many more years with that incredible horse! I want him ;)[/QUOTE]

There is too much snow and ice in the arena right now (fairy godmother has not yet brought me the winning lottery ticket for my dream farm with indoor), but from seeing him move about on his own when turned out, he looks o.k. for a 22 year old horse. We’ll know more in time.

Dux is an incredible horse… and NO, you cannot have him

[TSWJB]

Tazer,
The winter off would probably be very good for this fabulous guy! But come spring if he is sound and feels good you should enjoy him. You deserve it. You bought him not knowing what a fantastic horse he is.
Like the other person, I am envious! But you deserve to own this horse!
From following the story all the way through, sounds like this guy was dumped because he went off a bit. What horse doesn’t risk the chance of getting sore after so much showing. I don’t know what discipline you ride, but you could have a real sweetheart to ride and teach you.
I think as long as they are comfortable and not overworked older horses like to be ridden. I rode one! He was 26 and loved to compete in the 3.6 jumpers. I qualified him for the NAL adult jumper finals, but sadly he died before I got there. I can tell you, this horse loved it. He would stand at the ingate while I was waiting my turn and then he couldn’t wait any longer. He would dash into the ring while another competitor was on course. It was embarrassing!
This horse took me in my first ever jumper class. And that was at 3.6ft. and I had never showed over 3ft before. My very first class I made the jump off. And then I went off course. I was trying to pull this horse up and he said no way!!! We are going to win! And I have it on video, I was pulling him really hard to the right and he was pushing his body to the left and he jumped an oxer backwards with his hind end to the right of the jump and his head to the left! The judge and steward were standing on the other side of the jump not expecting me to jump the oxer backwards. On the tape everyone is laughing as the judge/steward ran out of the way! It was really funny!
You had to be careful not to let this horse catch his eye on the wrong jump or you would be jumping it. I jumped another oxer backwards in a triple combination that I was trying to cut through to save time in a jump off.
He was just wonderful! and his owner so generously allowed me to compete on him for the last two years of his life. But his schedule was managed very carefully. We only jumped at shows his last year. And only in one class plus the qualifying round. If you saw this horse you wouldn’t think him capable of jumping a log. He was an old swayback horse, but on course this horse was all fired up to do the job! He really loved it! He was the best teacher I ever had.
I hope that dux ends up being for you what this horse was for me. Enjoy him!

[SillyHorse]

I’ve been following this amazing story and I’m so pleased that this horse turned out to be such a find. Both he and you, Tazer, are very lucky.

[AHC]

peppermints

If he likes candy canes, he will like the red and white peppermint candies you can buy at most drug stores. He’ll learn quickly that when he hears the sound of the plastic wrapper that means treats are coming his way. Or he’ll make it clear that he already knows all about it…

What a great story, and Tazer wow, you jumped right in to help this horse before you knew his history. Many kudos to you.

Looking forward to ongoing updates.

Angela, did you ever work at Sleepy Hollow? If so, I think we know each other…

[LittleGray]

More pics?!? Please?!?..

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=AHC;3827136]

Angela, did you ever work at Sleepy Hollow? If so, I think we know each other…[/QUOTE]

All I know about Sleepy Hollow is from that book Horse People by Michael Korda.
I’ve worked several TB farms and boarding places, mostly in truly upstate, and then 2 years at ISF.

[Tazer]

Peppermints

[QUOTE=AHC;3827136]
If he likes candy canes, he will like the red and white peppermint candies you can buy at most drug stores. [/QUOTE]

I am sure you are right, and he will like those just the same. But, to see him go gaga over the candy can and woof it down the way he did was pretty funny. He reached over the stall gate, as I was unwrapping, snapped a bite, never really taking his lips off, snapped a 2nd bite and pulled the shaft of the cane right out of the wrapper. I had figured we would share, and he was thoughtfully chewing, so I unwrapped the hook of the cane, and inspected it for horse slobber before I went to put it in to my mouth. Dux’s head comes back over the gate and not mean or aggressive, just quicker than quick, hoovered up the last piece. I guess it was one of those “wish I had that on video” moments.

[shamrocker]

I’ve been reading this entire thread with tears in my eyes. Thank you so much Tazer and all the kind and generous folks who helped her get this old campaigner a new lease on life. You are an inspiration to us all!

Please send a link to some photos. Would love to see him in his new and happy home.