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We Are Flying Solo

We Are Flying Solo

September 9, 2011

Home » » A Stork Came To My Barn This Morning

A Stork Came To My Barn This Morning

By  September 09, 2011  46 comments
He was delivering red thoroughbreds.  SURPRISE!!!

Yes, the best picture I have so far is a crappy one I took with the farmhouse growing out of his back.  He minored in architecture...

Ok, jokes aside, THIS IS MY NEW PONY!!!

What?? How??? Ehhhh??? You ask -- rightfully so.  My amazing, wonderful mum stepped forward during my abysmal grief over Solo's lingering injury & offered to help find a Solo-understudy.  Yes, I do know how awesome she is.

I started poking around, rifled through my backfiles of all the fantasy shopping I had done over at CANTER's website & snuck down to Southern Pines last weekend to meet this guy.

Crucial Stats:
6 year old Thoroughbred gelding by an AP Indy stallion named Crowd Pleaser, out of an Allen's Prospect mare.   He's about 16.1ish feeling to me right now, might gain another inch with groceries & fitness.

At present he is barefoot & very athletic, despite his pinfire scars from the track.  He ran about 26 races, breaking his maiden at Pimlico as a 3 year old & finished his career at Delaware Park, retiring sound after winning his owners about $80,000. 

His Jockey Club name is Joyous Jester, however, that just doesn't do anything for me, so he is now wearing his new moniker:  Away Again.  In the barn, we'll call him Encore, a tip of the hat to his sire (who has a race at Delaware Park named after him!), as well as to his role in following in the giant hoofprints of the one & only Solo.

Crucial-To-Me Stats:
He is quiet, impeccably mannered, kind, honest, & brave.  Hacks out on a loose rein with a lovely, marching walk & hops over Novice sized logs without batting an eye.  He has jumped all of 3 times so far & is very green but has a heart of gold.  AND HE HAS A FORELOCK.  Don't tell Solo, he might get jealous.

He was picked up from Delaware Park in December of 2010 by Jessica Morthole up at CANTER's Delaware Branch.  He was tired & ready to be done with the racing game & his trainers were kind enough to donate him into a retraining pipeline before he was run into the ground.  He quickly found his way down to NC, where Allie Conrad & Suzanne Konefal did a FANTASTIC job turning his mind & body towards a new career.  He is gaining weight after a hard post-track crash & he is muscling up in all the right places. 

I have to sign off for the moment -- I am now going to run laps of my living room yelling "PONYPONYPONYPONYPONYPONYPONYPONY!!!!!!!"
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46 comments:

  1. jessica mortholeSeptember 9, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    Aw, look at how happy he looks! CANTER is on a roll finding awesome homes for our horses. You are going to have so much fun with him.

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  2. ariesiannaSeptember 9, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Oh my goodness!!!! Congrats! But how is Solo taking the news?

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  3. ValSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Flying Duo?

    Will he and Solo be friends?

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  4. JaiSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Congrats! And what a wonderful Mom you have. How does Solo feel about his understudy? :)

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  5. eventer79September 9, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Jessica -- CANTER is doing a fabulous job, keep up the good work!

    Aries and Jennifer, shhhh, Solo doesn't realize yet.

    Val, I almost made his barn name "Fly" then it would be "Fly n' Solo" LOL, but Encore came to me and it fit too well.

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  6. KyleneSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    Oh my goodness! PONY PONY PONY!!! HOW EXCITING!!! Congratulations!

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  7. Hey JealousySeptember 9, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    You beat me to him ;) I was heading over to check him out the second I had a spare moment and you snapped him up. I'm so happy that I'll still get to follow him on your blog! He's a super athletic guy that is going to be a VERY nice event horse. Good luck with him!

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  8. blueyedhorseSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Awww, congratulations on your new ponyponyponypony ;-)!!!!!! He looks like a total doll.

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  9. Rebecca WhiteSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Yay!!!!!!!! He's lovely! I can't wait to hear about your journey! When I first read "Encore" I assumed it was because the Solo was so good, the world demanded an Encore!

    Best of luck and love for your new friend!

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  10. eventer79September 9, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Thank you!!!

    Hey Jealousy, I had a feeling he would be much sought after so I put my dibs down in a big damn hurry! I'm sorry I stole him from you -- wait, no, I take that back, I'm not sorry at all, but I know Allie and co. will have fresh and totally great prospects coming in on his tail!

    SP, LOVE that quote, I may have to steal that one!

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  11. AlanaSeptember 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Ummm......WOW!!!!!!!

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  12. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Very cute, and oh, so exciting! Congratulations!

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  13. FrizzleSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    *teenage girl squeel* Omg!!!!!! :-D CONGRATS!!!

    Have you braided his mane with ribbons, put glittery polish on his hooves, and covered his velvety muzzle with 1,000 smooches yet?!?!?!

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  14. LisaSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    How wondeful!! I LOVE big red OTTB's - my last horse was one and they are just too super sweet. Although mine didn't have a forelock, lucky you!! :)

    He is very cute!! Can't wait to read more about him!

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  15. FrizzleSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Oh, and once again -- does your mom want to adopt me?! Pretty please? We're the same age, so we can pretend we're long-lost twins.

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  16. SprinklerBanditSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    OMG OH EM GEEEEEE YOU GOT A NEW PONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

    I am beyond excited for you. Can't wait for more info!

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  17. DressagerSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    Oh, this is exciting!!!!!

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  18. SuzanneSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    I can not stop smiling for you!!!! Congratulations! And hip hip hooray!

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  19. Nicku BSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    PONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! This post made.my.day. Congrats to you! He's striking!

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  20. JessSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    I never comment, but read every post! Congrats on the new pony!!!! Very exciting! Can't wait to see him under saddle.

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  21. BarbaraSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Congratulations! That is so cool and a CANTER horse too!!
    Can't wait to read all about his progress. Have a blast with him.

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  22. Gabriella EliseSeptember 9, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    aw he looks GORGEOUS. i'm jealous.

    lol, "flying duo." Val just made my day.

    good luck with him, he looks like a keeper!

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  23. eventer79September 9, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    Thank you thank you thank you all for sharing in my pony squeals!

    Frizz, no glitter or braiding (uh, have you SEEN my mane management?) but I have stuffed about 47 treats in his mouth while cooing "Do you love me yet??"

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  24. Lauren GSeptember 9, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    Hi!

    I volunteer with CANTER at DE and remember meeting him on the track!

    To see him here is soooo thrilling!

    Thanks for posting!

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  25. eventer79September 9, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    Hey Lauren G, that is so neat! I hope that he will be having many adventures soon to share with all the folks who know him!

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  26. jenjSeptember 9, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    OH WOW! CONGRADS!!! That's SOOO exciting! I can't want to hear more!

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  27. Now Thats A Trot!September 9, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Congrats! I can't wait to see how he shapes up. :)


    I like the term "understudy" much better than "stunt double," which is what my second horse ended up being dubbed last year, LOL.

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  28. AmandaSeptember 10, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    How exciting!! I am now out of the country for the next (almost) two years so more than ever I'll be living vicariously through blogs like yours. Can't wait to see how he shapes up!!

    Congrats!

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  29. KellySeptember 10, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Totally wonderful news! So very happy for you and can't wait to read and see more about your new boy :)

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  30. eventer79September 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    AHAHAHA, I kinda like "stunt double"!

    Amanda, I will do my best to entertain!

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  31. JenSeptember 10, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    YAGAH!! So very excited for you! He is absolutely gorgeous and looks like a sweetheart. The big question: will he be sporting a mohawk as well??

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  32. JenSeptember 10, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Also, might you direct the stork toward Minnesota if he so happens to have a 15.1-15.2ish sound cuddly gelding in his beak?

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  33. HeidiSeptember 10, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    I have a big red TB, and I love him. Encore looks very handsome and athletic! Lucky girl! Have you ever worked with a green horse before?

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  34. eventer79September 10, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Jen, I will pass on your request!

    Heidi, yes, I have, in bits and pieces. I'm really excited to apply it all to the new guy!

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  35. Suzanne KonefalSeptember 10, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Love your blog! I'm so glad Jester.. I mean ENCORE is happy and settling right in! Can't wait to see you two out and about at a horse trials near me!

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  36. SqueaksmomSeptember 11, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    OMG with the back to school frenzy I just saw this now. CONGRATS!!!!!! I love him already!

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  37. NinaSeptember 11, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    OMG CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
    Encore is beautiful and I can't wait to follow your journey with him!
    Solo will be able to teach him a lot I'm sure!
    HAVE FUN!!!!!!

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  38. AmySeptember 11, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Wooohooo how freaking exciting!!!! I mostest happy that you are on the ottb band wagon! You know I will be following every step of your journy like a creepy stalker.

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  39. SarahSeptember 11, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    He is just STUNNING!!! Congratulations:) :)

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  40. eventer79September 11, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Thank you! Lol, stalking is welcome!

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  41. K.K.September 12, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Congrats on the new red pony! I have a soft spot for red tb's! Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures together!

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  42. SarahSeptember 12, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    So handsome!!

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  43. eventer79September 12, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Thank you! And yes, Solo has made always a sucker for an orange horse.

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  44. Boss Mare EventingSeptember 12, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Congrats! What a gorgeous guy!

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  45. RiderWriterSeptember 13, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    I can't stand it... I get busy over the weekend and don't check in with you, and JUST LOOK what I miss!!! GEEZ! I am so excited and pleased for you! And an
    OTTB... just what I'm getting some day, so your whole progression will be so fun to watch.

    You'll laugh over how I just got here, too. It went like this:
    - don't look at any blogs over the weekend (you know I'm a regular visitor here, but I actually was watching a horse show so I at least have a good excuse)
    - get new issue of Practical, stay up too late reading from cover-to-cover as I always do
    - be thrilled with yet another positive article about OTTB adoption on back page
    - head over to Jessica's blog to check it out
    - resume reading some of her blog posts this AM
    - start reading the one called "Jester finds a home"...
    - go, "WHAT!?!?!?!" the second I see "Eventer79" and race over here

    What a silly, roundabout way to get your news! :-)
    I'm astounded and thrilled for you!

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  46. eventer79September 13, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    AHAHAHA, RW, hey, I always devour my Practical Horseman's too!

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