That is so cool!  I'm so glad you found each other!  It shows that one rider's "monster" can be another rider's puppy dog.   Should we be looking for you on any of the circuits in the next few years.  And this has turned in to a very interesting topic, so keep us informed on your progress.  It may allow others to see that OTTBs make great horses for any discipline and encourage them to take a look.

And welcome to the forum!

Terry

Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Heh, it's a good thing you rode the last horse - and he's the one that ended up going home with you! That's quite a name he has too. Probably will need a shorter barn name! It's also great to work with good, honest people (like the traiers you spoke to) that care about their horses and not treat them merely as investments - God bless them. I look forward to seeing you two progress!

Thanks for the welcome.  I wouldn't mind to show some low level dressage in local shows but I don't want to do a big show circuit.  Been there, done that with my last horse (he was a World Champion Racking Horse).  I want to do dressage for the simple fact of the bonding/communication relationship between horse and rider.  Other than that, he will be a companion.  I had my last horse for 13 years and just over a month ago, I had to put him down due to advanced Cushings Disease.  The tumor was pressing on a portion of his brain and started to affect his balance.  I hadn't really planned on getting another horse right away but I just stumbled upon Canter's website.  After a long discussion with the hubby..we decided to make the 1st trip to Cleveland together.

His barn name is Fitzer.  I thought his trainer was going to cry when I left with him.  He actually came back to the trailer and climbed in to give him a hug before he left.  He said it was for his girlfriend but I really think it was him.  The trainer intially came of as a gruff grumpy guy but I spent enough time with him that you could really see his heart was in the right place and ALL of his horses were immaculate and well cared for.  He even gave me his e-mail address and asked me to send updates to him.  If anyone is in the Cleveland area looking for an OTTB, I would happily recommend all 3 trainers that I worked with.

I am taking the progress slow but I can see improvements daily.  He was absolutely perfect last night while he was getting new shoes.  I look forward to everyone's comments and suggestions in the future.

Rhonda 

I'm sorry to hear about your last horse. I was doing some reading about the disease, and I know how difficult it must have been. Fortunately, he's had a good life with a loving owner - that's what's important the most.

And Fitzer - such a cute name! - and sounds like a sweetheart!  Aww, he's lucky to have had such a nice trainer - I really liked the part about giving him a hug an saying that's for his girlfriend! And he wants updates too on him so that's really great that he cares that much about his horses.