Harry Canary OTTB

All my life I have loved horses but they were something I had to love from afar. My next door neighbor had a subscription to Thoroughbred Racing Magazine and for a couple of years I got the old copies, looked at the pictures and cut them out to hang up in my room.

I think this was the beginning of my love of Thoroughbreds. 

What's difficult about the multi-million dollar industry is what do you do with these highly breed animals once they're done racing? 

(This is not a debate on racing... Just an explanation.)

When we bought our first horse on a tiny budget, and being in Utah, we basically had two choices. Quarterhorse and an Offtrack Thoroughbred (OTTB).

Some time I'll tell you about Eiger.

But he gave us experience with OTTBs and when he left, my heart hurt.

Don't get me wrong. I adore my Canadian Warmblood/Thoroughbred Cross. She's my future. My funny girl. And my partner.

But I couldn't help looking for another horse.

Enter--Harry Canary. 13 yr. old, 15.2 hh, gelding. A red head. (Never really liked Chestnuts btw.) OTTB who raced for 4 years. The last two he never won, placed or showed. 

 After racing, he was in Montana. But sure how long. Not sure what he did.... worked? Pleasure ride? English? Western?

Six months ago, he was moved to Nebraska. There the family "couldn't keep weight on him."

It was a constant battle with Eiger, but like I said, I've learned few things.)

Circumstances put all their horses for sale.  Word came to me. The price was right. I knew I've have time this summer for a project. We've had some luck taken struggling horses, getting them healthy and teaching them about kindness and love.  So Harry came to us after a long hot trailer ride.

He was kicked in the face the day before he was to come--a vet said he'd be okay.

Evidently, they had to pull him into the trailer.

So will begin a hopefully happy transformation as we introduce Harry to the world of dressage, jumping and spoiling.