Success Stories:

I wish I had it on video!! We were working working working, both in a sweat, me huffing and puffing, and then all of a sudden I thought--- what horse am I on?? All of a sudden Wish was carrying himself, relaxed, straight, and responsive. We had the most incredible left lead canter and not just once but over and over and over again- that is the lead and direction that has always been hard for him- I could just sit up and let him carry me. He felt like a fancy dressage horse. The right lead was not as balanced but still very good- the up transitions were very good, the down getting better- the walk was more relaxed and straight- trot more balanced- halt he stayed underneath himself-and he actually cooled down as we kept working.·

Jeanne, my instructor, was thrilled- she said "finally, there is hope!" Of course I never for a minute felt there wasn't! It hasnt been easy for him with his years of racing, and then who knows what during that time the lady had him who sent him to NH.·

Needless to say, the big horse was very pleased with himself! Our next and last event of the season is at the end of this month in Unionville and we will move up to Novice.....·

From the president of the fan club......·

Hi Erin,

Here are some recent pics from SNER Fest (Southeastern New England Pony Club Region Fall Festival) and Ben's 1st 3-phase school trials competition at Apple Knoll Farm, Millis, MA with Rachael. He came in 3rd out of 8. He got a 38 for his dressage score doing the Intro A test. Rachael was thrilled. He's a very calm, reliable horse. The only thing that got him spooky were these geese in a pen over by the cross country warm-up. They got me flustered, too. Right when we walked by them they started honking LOUDLY & flapping their wings. But, when they quieted down, I took him over to them & he got used to them. He's a good boy.

bye for now, Laurel

Erin,·

I just wanted to send you an update about Prospect. Well, I guess I should tell you first that he is now known as Apollo...his attitude didn't seem to quite fit Prospect. He has also been shown under the name J.W. Troubadour (JW are my dad's initials). He has been so much fun, he truly is a unique horse, who has taught me so much, and made me laugh even more. He has attitude for days, which I love, and he has really gotten attached to my dad, which is something else I treasure about him. Every time I walk to his stall, I'm greeted by his puppy dog eyes and perky ears at his stall door, and I always get a "hug" or "kiss" whenever I go into the stall. He also loves his job. I really believe he enjoys being worked almost everyday, he almost gets grumpy when you give him a few days off haha.

He has turned into a beautiful hunter, we school over 3' courses, and he is one of the most honest horses I have ever ridden, even when I make mistakes. Although, my hands down favorite part about him is his extended trot, which is the biggest, most powerful trot I have experienced in almost twelve years of riding.

Apollo really is a fantastic horse, my dad and I love him with all of our hearts, I couldn't begin to tell you how happy I have been with him.

I can't thank you enough for everything you did for Apollo, and I would love to keep in touch with you, and keep you updated with how he is doing. I have a huge soft spot in my heart for rescued thoroughbreds. I've owned two now, and they have been the best horses in the world. Apollo, as I'm sure with all of them, has the biggest heart, and always tries to do right, even if he just doesn't understand. But he never gives up, and always ends up getting it. He is such a sweet boy, and I look forward to where we will go throughout the years.

Thank you so much, and please keep in touch!

Alison Edwards

I just thought I'd drop off a quick e-mail to let you know how Willow is doing! I want you to know that she is definitely an incredible horse and I couldn't possibly be luckier. She is such a little gem, and I love her with all my heart.
We've been riding, but taking it slow. She loves to go on the trails, and boy is she brave! Nothing intimidates her! She's favoring the trails currently more than the arena, and is much more concentrated out on the trails. She's responding very well to my voice commands, and is always looking forward to pleasing me.

She's doing excellent on the lunge line. Much more collected and balanced, and she's listening to me great. When I ask her to walk or say "whoa", she listens! She slows right down, and turns and comes right to me. I'm so happy to say we've been establing a great friendship and bond. When I let her off the line, she follows me around, and if I trot, she trots after me! She even follows me over tiny cross rails, which speaking of which, she's been poppin right over! I've been lunging her over small rails, and she's doing excellent, she loves it! She goes over them like a pro, hasn't refused a single one yet. I look forward to the day I'll be sitting on her going over these jumps.·

She certainly is a horse with character! Oh my GOSH! She chews everything in sight! She loves mowing on her lead rops, and she's play with the strings on my hoodie. Last night I was studying in pasture, and she was hanging out with me. When I left to get a hoodie and came back, she had my papers everywhere! I couldn't stop laughing, it was like something out of a movie! I wrote a poem about her for English, and while I was reading it, she took it from my hands and ripped it in half. I was in shock, but I laughed. She's a precious girl, and certainly knows how to make me feel good!

And man, does she have the royal treatment. Nothing but the best for her :) She is spoiled!

I thought you'd like to see how she's doing, and hope you enjoyed reading up on her. I enclosed a couple pictures so you could see her.

Thank you Erin! Talk soon!
Nikki and Willow

Babar (Absolute Fortune) - 15yr old TB, rescued from New Holland
I first met Babar at Saratoga, where he had been shipped up for an adoption weekend with eight others.· He was the oldest there by far.· At the end of the weekend, all the others had found homes except him.·

I’m not sure what it was about this horse but something in his eyes said he deserved a lot of TLC for the rest of his life.· So I told Erin she did not have to come get him, I would keep him.· I didn’t need another horse but he has become part of our family and has a home for life.

Since I have had him, I have given lessons on him to two girls that had never ridden before, and an 11yr old that can ride a little.·

He takes care of my husband, who only rides once every few months, when we go for trail rides.· Once I was on a green horse and wanted to follow my husband on Babar over a jump, (one small problem my husband had never jumped before).· I told my husband, "Honey, just point and hang on to his mane!"· Babar just hopped over the jump and stopped on the other side.

He is the fearless leader on all trail rides leading the other horses through water, mud, hills, and woods, basically wherever we want to go.

Yet when I ride him, we can jump anything or simply go for a flat out gallop in the fields.· I can ride him bareback with a rope around his neck or in full dressage mode. I even took him fox hunting and of course, he behaved like a star.

I firmly believe this horse was a gift to us.· Even after all that he has been through, he just keeps on giving.· I have yet to find anything he won’t try.

Thanks so much for saving this amazing horse.

Sarah & Tom Scudese

Iron Boogaloo - Nice Catch


The four-photo sequence of an outrider catching a loose horse at the Oklahoma Training Track earlier this week stopped more traffic than the light at Lincoln and Broadway at 6:47 on a Saturday night.·

The only problem was we didn’t know much about the man, Robbie Rios, or the horse, Iron Boogaloo doing the catching – the loose one will remain nameless for now.· Rios and his 10-year old Thoroughbred stand guard at the Oklahoma gap throughout morning training hours at Saratoga.· Like police officers at a Dave Mathews concert, they wait for action.

And act fast when it happens.

"That was a nice catch, one heck of a catch really – for me and for your photographer," said Rios a few days later.· "But this is not your average horse.· He’s just good at this.· He’ll stand here all morning, and then go like that when I need him to."

Rios acquired Iron Boogaloo from Aikendale Farm, a Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation facility in Pawling, N.Y., this winter.· Unraced, the bay gelding with the face-long blaze spent time on the racetrack before hock problems forced his retirement as a 4-year-old.· He spent the better part of six years at Aikendale.· "I was looking for another horse and just fell in love with him when I went there," said Rios.· "He had long hair and didn’t look like much, but his personality is special.· From the beginning, he’s been willing to learn and happy to do his job.· It’s beautiful when they find something else to do." – Joe Clancy

Appas
A long time ago, I ventured to Woodbine Racetrack to watch the afternoon races-in ope of finding my first horse to ride.· I had made this drive many times... in search for the my new horse!·

This particular day in May 2005, the ninth race was about to begin and I was about to leave as I stil hadn't found anything hat caught my eye.· As I stood there deciding weather to head back home, out came a beautiful gelding in a claiming race.· I stopped in my tracks, went to grab a program to find the name of this lovely mover!· I said to my friend-who new nothing about horses-we can't leave, I must see this race.· As I stood focused, I fell in love.· As he loaded into the gate, I watched with keen interest.· The race started... my heart was pounding and... he won!· Not in my interest!· He was so proud...i t was love at first sight and I told my friend· "I will own that horse one day".· His name is Appas Tappas... loved the name and him.· My friend just shook his head as he new what I said, I meant!·

After contacting the trainer I realized I just couldn't afford him at that time.· Then began my journey of following all of Appas Tappas' races!· I was teaching at the time and working at a race barn in Aurora, Ontario at the time.· I new how things fell for horses that were starting a decline in purse money for claiming races.· This concerned me as I new how great and how shattering that industry can be for these lovely animals.·

My dad and I would drive to Georgian Downs at anytime to watch Appas race.· As time passed, I purchased another retired thoroughbred-Northern Noah-'Max'.· I realized after a few months had gone by that I couldn't find Appas in any Canadian races.· This also concerned me.· I felt as though he was lost... had he been sold south to a B track or where was he.· Thus began my search.· I worked at Georgian Downs at the time so after searching sites... I finally found him-racing in Charlstown.· This again.. was not good as I new there was a meat plant close by.· Again... I found who the trainer was and contacted her.· This took me back many steps!· She had sold him... to somewhere she would not allude to nor would she be of much help.· She simply said that he was in a rescue somewhere... he wouldn't run anymore... so she 'got rid of him'.... I felt sick to my stomach!· That night I sat on the phone and contacted the three meat plants in the States requesting them to contact me if he came through... no luck.

Thus again... began my anxiety of Appas been sold for meat... in a can somewhere. A fter much searching... I finally found him.. in a rescue in upper State New York... The Akindale Rehabilitation.· I spoke with a lovely lady on the phone... Erin... she said he was in one of her paddocks... she told me of how someone just 'happened' to go to the market that week... of which they were not going to do... and took Appas from one trailor-this terrible trainer-and loaded him directly onto her trailer as he was a thoroughbred with a tattoo so she took him.· This was on a Monday.· He would have been in the Killing Pen the next day...!· She told me he has 'golden shoes'... I new it... he did have an angel looking for him.

Erin and I then discussed how to get him up here to Canada etc... and covered the details.· October 4, 2006, Appas arrived.· Skinny, rain rought, terrible marks on his body from God only knows what, shaking, his eye almost shut... he stood shaking on the trailer as I loaded my one horse Max onto the trailer to go to another farm ehere he would start a new life with his 'brother'!·

Appas was let out in a small paddock of which he really did not know what to do in it.· I had never dealth with this before... so I did what I could... I sat for hours with him and talked to him...

We have since moved a couple of times with the boys and are very happy where we are.· Appas battled a very bad case of Cellulitce, gut problems, immune deficiency, muscle degeneration and the list goes on and on.·· Appas was destroyed... and now... he is happy, ears forward and just wants to be loved... which he is by my family and all in the barn.· I give much thanks to my very close friend and world reknown - Dr. Huw LLEWELLYN-Equine Throat Surgeon-who through patience and love nursed Appas with myself and my sister Alison, back to life.

He now goes on the bit, moves lovely, has jumped... which he loves, hacks, hangs out in his paddock with his brother Max, is on a great feed program and is just the most precious guy!

I only hope that this doesn't happen to many horses... the destruction of these God given gifts... but the reality is is that it does happen.· I pray that they find homes like mine have and have a life after their work at the track, like Appas and Max.

Thanks to Akindale Rehabilitation, Dr. Huw Llewellyn, all the barns that tried to get Appas better and loved him and my family for their support!· Appas is now loved and ridden by Alison and myself!

Thanks for this joy in my life!

Kimberley Crowe Barrie, Ontario.

Beau’s Fantasy
Beau’s Fantasy ran in 52 races and won over $168,000 before he was retired from the track at age 7.· His trainer tried to find Beau a good home but like so many others Beau was passed on and on before ending up in the kill pens at New Holland.· Beverly Strauss rescued Beau from New Holland under the auspices of Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue. S he has stated many times that by the time she had found him Beau had almost given up.· Even after his arrival at the rescue Beau was so dejected that the volunteers had to hand carry his food and water out to him in the far corner of his paddock as he refused to move from that one spot.· Beau needed much more time to recover and was sent to Akindale to begin his rehabilitation.·

Not long after Beau had arrived at Akindale, I saw his picture posted on the Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue website.· His kind eye and sweet expression prompted me to inquire about him.· I made arrangements with Erin to visit Beau at the farm.· Erin explained that Beau was recovering but still needed time to learn how to be a horse again.· Beau was in a pasture with a handful of other horses.· He was the first one to approach us as the rest of the herd was grazing at a distance.· Not long after the other horses realized there were carrots to be had and gathered socially around us, Beau wandered off to graze by himself. Before adjourning from the pasture, I returned to Beau to give him some more pats and carrots and knew that he would eventually be coming home with me.·

Beau now lives outside almost 24/7 on 43 acres, enjoys having his "person," has not only learned how to be a horse again but has even bonded closely with a couple of his horse pals, and now runs when he wants to not when he has to.· He does still have a competitive nature.· At feeding time Beau particularly enjoys letting a few horses get ahead of him as the herd runs up to the gate, he then kicks it into gear and passes them all to reach the gate first.· He thrives on his new life as a pasture pet.· Oh yes – Beau has so many old injuries from his former life on the track that he will never be sound enough to ride. He has typical "thoroughbred feet," requires front shoes year ‘round and needs his feet done every six weeks.· He requires a special grain and a high fat supplement to keep in good weight.· He’s opinionated, stubborn and proud.· He’s also personable, affectionate and loveable and I feel very lucky to have him.

Mr Merenda
Hi Erin, just wanted to give you an update on Mr. Merenda.· We've done 2 schooling dressage shows this fall and he has improved by leaps and bounds. This past weekend we went to the Landsmankill Hunter Pace in Rhinebeck. He'd jumped minimally up to this point, a few logs on the ground and cross rails.· At the pace he jumped whatever I pointed him at.· I was able to rate him to the fences and he was a gentleman as always.· I ablsolutley love him, and feel confident that I have a partner for years to come!· Attached is a photo of him from the pace.·
Warmest regards,
Beth Glace

Donut
Hi Erin
thought you might enjoy seeing these pics of Donut and Lois at opening meet hunt on saturday. Lois even rode at the back with the hilltoppers for a short while before heading home. Donut got a little fresh as all the hounds were howling and the horn was blowing but he was super well behaved. Lois just loves that horse!! And as you can see in the pics Donut has quite the life. He had his own fan club at the opening meet, all I could hear was"Donut is here yay"· "go donut" "how beautiful Donut looks" it was so funny.
Hope all good with you, take care Jen

Siseio
I’m sending you a couple of photos of Siseio, (Sean) since either you or someone from Akindale asked me for some. We finished our first horse trial together, (his first), last Saturday. He was 2nd after dressage out of 12, one stop on XC and a clean stadium for 7th. He is so wonderful. I just love him. He can still· be quite exuberant at times, but a total love.
Jay

Can you tell me more about Unique Dream and Cool Smoke. I am just starting the process of moving my son to a horse from his pony. We will be looking for a horse suitable for eventing. I adopted Siseio from you and he won his dressage class at CVDA a couple of weeks ago and he will be doing his first baby schooling horse trial this weekend!
Thanks,
Jay