Roxie’s Last Day

It was a bittersweet day on Saturday when Roxie, who was undoubtedly my favorite of foster horses, left for her new home in the Dayton, OH area. I have every belief that Rachel, Roxie’s adopter, is going to give Roxie a fabulous home and life. In fact, I think she’s probably the perfect home as she not only has a great support system that is very familiar with Thoroughbreds, but she also has experience with horses who have quirky behaviors or issues (like her ears). I think all is well, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss her just a bit. Here are a few pictures of Roxie starting life with her new mom!  I’m really looking forward to photos and stories of their experiences together throughout the future.

 

Roxie Has a Pending Adoption

I’m excited to report that Roxie has a pending adoption! Yay! Her would-be adopter visited this past Friday and despite very cold weather (it was only 7 degrees by 9:30AM), was cheerful and excited about meeting Roxie. Roxie was a very good girl about the whole thing. She was a little anxious and fidgety in the cross ties, but this was a little different than her normal routine. Regardless, after some lunging, she settled right in. I rode her, followed by Rachel (the adopter) and her friend/trainer Lori. Roxie did great and Rachel really seemed to click with her. I think it is going to be a good match!

While it isn’t finalized yet, I’m thrilled about it and believe Rachel will provide Roxie with a very good home. Check on the FFI homepage to keep an eye on her status. As of right now, although the board has approved it, the adoption is pending approval of the facility by a local veterinarian. Roxie will be going to an eventing barn SW of Dayton, OH.

 

Show Time

Roxie is really coming along nicely. I’m quite pleased with her! The tenderness of her ears is decreasing despite the fact that her ear plaque is coming back. She also has some funky looking warts on her vulva and anus, so I’ll be having the vet out to check on those. I think part of her tenderness is just plain old head-shyness, but when combined with very sensitive ears, it makes for a difficult time bridling and haltering. The good news is that we can now halter without issue. Bridling has come a long way as well. The first time I tried to bridle her, I resolved to taking the bridle apart after nearly 20 minutes of struggling. Now, I no longer have to take it apart and she stands quietly. I still have to take things slowly with no sudden movements. And I have to talk to her and love on her the entire time. But, she allows me to bend her ears and put the bridle on. It is no longer a huge production. So I’d say that’s improvement!

Under saddle, I couldn’t be more pleased. She is learning to come to me at the mounting block. She pretty much has the “come to me” part figured out. Its the proximity that she needs to work on. That is to say that she gets too close. But still, to have a whip-shy, head-shy horse be able to take direction from someone on a mounting block holding a whip and then stand quietly for mounting is a pretty big accomplishment.

Her gaits and temperament under saddle couldn’t be nicer. She is a very floaty mover with long, stretchy strides. She responds wonderfully to the seat and shifting in weight. She’s doing so well that we’re registered for the February 6th dressage show at Foxton Farms. Part of this is to get her out and let people see her go. Another part is to see how her mind handles going to a new place with new horses. The only other time she’s done that has been to go to the track. She could be just fine. She could be a spaz. We’ll see. We’ll be riding in Intro A & B (just walk/trot). I don’t think it will be a big deal as long as she settles into things. I’m also taking Jewel and riding Training 4 and First 1. It should be a fun day!

 

Roxie’s Breakthroughs

I’m happy to report that Roxie has had a pretty major breakthrough with her ears.  I think she finally realizes that they’re feeling better and that it isn’t going to hurt to have me touch them.  Yesterday, I took the bridle on and off three times without issue! Woo hoo!  What a good girl!

She also had a breakthrough about the mounting block.  She figured out that it is a good thing to stand still at the mounting block.  She is also learning to come to me at the mounting block.  This is going to require a bit more work, but she’s trying.  She’s figuring out that the whip isn’t a bad thing and that when I tap her with it, she needs to move that body part (that got tapped) away from the whip, even if its towards me.  This is a new concept for her, but she seems to be catching on quickly.

Under saddle Roxie is wonderful to ride.  She thinks a lot and gets frustrated if she doesn’t understand what I’m asking.  She shows this by swishing her tail.  In typical TB mare fashion, she would prefer to do what she knows and just take over the situation.  But she’s doing well.  Yesterday, she did very well at moving off my leg laterally.  She is very responsive to shifts in body weight.  She started trotting off of my seat (didn’t even need to use my leg) and then came back to a halt from trot off my seat.  She’s light in the bridle, but wants contact.  She’s comfortable stretching down into contact.  She is going to make someone a very nice horse!

 

Happy Holidays from Roxie!

 

Riding Roxie

I got on Roxie for the first time yesterday.  She is still uncomfortable having her right ear bent when putting the bridle on, but aside from that, she was just fine tacking up.  Dave held her for me for mounting.  She was a little unsure of the whole standing still thing, as well as my legs being down so low on her sides.  However, she quickly relaxed and stretched down into contact (yay) and we walked and trotted around the ring.  It was no big deal.  

I met a young woman a couple months ago at the Octoberfest horse show who had galloped Roxie during her days on the track.  This young woman said that she was thrilled that Roxie had been retired to FFI and that she had been one of her favorites because she was a good horse and comfy ride — “a Cadillac” she said.  Its true from what I can tell.  She has a big, long strides at the walk and trot.  There is a lot of spring in her step.  I’m looking forward to future rides!

 

An Earful from Roxie

Roxie has been doing really well.  She has a wonderfully thick coat (for a Thoroughbred) and has put on weight since we added a cup of Ultimate Finish to her feed each day.  I’m really pleased with how she is looking going into winter.  I’m also pleased to report that she is doing very well in her ground work and prep for riding.  She is consistent on the lunge line (w/t/c in both directions) and works well in both the bitting rig and the side reins.  She is really coming along nicely!

The only thing standing in our path is her ears.  Yesterday, the vet was out to remove aural plaques (believed to be a form of papilloma) from her ears.  This is typically a young horse thing, so we were surprised that at 6 years old, she had plaque in both ears.   While the papillomas are benign, they make her ears incredibly painful and sensitive to touching.  As you might imagine, this makes bridling an issue.  So, yesterday we had them removed.  I was originally planning to ride her today, but we’ll see how she is when I get out there today.  I do have a schooling bridle that is easily taken apart so that I don’t have to mess with her ears.  That may be the answer.  I’ll report back later today as to what I do and how it goes.

Jewel is doing very well under saddle too.  The chiropractic adjustment last month has made a huge difference.  She is really coming along nicely with a lot of power from the hind end.  Right now, we’re just doing strength building exercises.  I started a little bit of collection work yesterday after having doing a few weeks of long and low work to build back muscle.  She still isn’t strong enough for a lot of collected work, but she can do a little bit at a time with frequent walk breaks to stretch and relax the muscles.  I was quite pleased with her work yesterday!

Jewel is also looking great going into winter.  She too has a thicker coat than usual.  Hmm…are the horses trying to tell me something?  I’ve given both of them a modified bib clip so help the dry a little faster after working.  In the past, Jewel has been a little on the thin side going into winter.  However, I think we FINALLY found a good combination of feed and fat supplements because she has PLENTY of excess weight right now.  Of course, she did have most of the summer off due to my schedule, so that allowed her to just pack on the pasture.  Oh well, I would rather have her head into winter being a little overweight (knowing that she’ll loose some) than to have her be thin.

Other exciting news is that I’m planning to attend the schooling dressage show up at Foxton Farm on December 12.  Weather permitting, I’ll be heading up there to ride Jewel in a couple dressage classes.  I’m thinking of doing Training 1 (in the side saddle) and Training 4 in the regular saddle.  We’ll see how things go.  If you’re there, please stop by and see us!

 

New Pictures of Roxie

I took some new pictures of Roxie the other day.  She is fitting in really well and seems to be happy enough.  I’m planning on ramping up ground work this week and next with plans for starting her under saddle at the beginning of December.  Here are pictures of her stretching her legs on Sunday.  Enjoy!

I can just see her galloping with a rider after jumping a XC fence!

Whee!!

Lots of potential here!

 

End of October Updates

Technically its November, but I figured I’d bring everyone up to speed on what was going on with the two ponies.

Jewel is doing great.  She was chiropracted a week ago Monday and it made an unbelievable difference.  She doesn’t have a lot of strength or endurance, but the willingness and the initial thrust is there.  We’ve been riding each day just doing long and low work.  No collection and in fact, didn’t even start cantering again until a couple days ago.  I’m really pleased with her progress.  She is already starting to change her body shape, which really pleases me!

Roxie is pretty much just hangin’ out.  She couldn’t be sweeter.  She greets me in the pasture whenever I go out to get Jewel.  She knows I’ll love on her a bit and stands quietly while I do.  She integrated into the herd fairly seamlessly.  No fuss or fighting, although I have noticed a couple of bite marks on her (and on Jewel), but nothing serious. She’s starting to get a fuzzy coat, although TB fuzzy, not “normal horse” fuzzy.  TBs just don’t seem to grow shaggy coats.  Well, none of mine ever have.  We’ll re-evaluate her in a month or so and see how she’s moving and how her feet are.  Hopefully I can get on her soon. I think she’s going to make someone a really nice horse!

 

Tweet This: Roxie’s on Twitter

Have you ever wondered what the horses are thinking?  Now you have a chance to know!  Follow Roxie on Twitter for regular insight into what a new exracer is thinking as they transition to a new life.

Here is Roxie’s twitter page!

https://twitter.com/2003Roxie