Doctor Decherd

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Doctor Decherd's pedigree

Owner: Fans of Barbaro

Breeder: Calumet Farm

State Bred: KY

Winnings: 30 Starts: 6 - 3 - 2, $ 159,069

At 3: Won Aventura S.

Doctor Decherd was on the Derby trail in 2006, and ran against Barbaro in the Holy Bull stakes (click the Holy Bull video), won the Aventura Stakes and had dropped down into the 4K claiming ranks in the spring of 2008. Because of the proactive approach to this horse's trainer, by FOBs Linda & Patty, to offer a retirement home for DD - he was retired from the track in September of 2008 and brought to Texas for rehab and retraining into a second career. DD has sponsors amongst the FOBs all over the country (and Canada), who contributes to his upkeep and all "own" a little piece of this great and friendly horse. Thanks to DD's owners and trainer, who were concerned about his future, this horse will be safe from ever ending up in a bad environment or possibly getting stuck in the auction and horse slaughter pipeline. A HAPPY ENDING FOR A DESERVING HORSE!!

Chance to retire Doctor Decherd This thread explains how it all happened - how we were offered to retire DD, and finding sponsors among the FOBs for him.

Help w/ shipping cost for Dr Decherd? Raising money for transport of DD off the track, from Remington Park, OK to Texas.

DD's sire Louis Quatorze

1 Doctor Decherd's Racing Career
2 Doctor Decherd on his way from track to retirement
3 DD in retirement
4 More updates from DD in retirement
5 Videos
- 5.1 Race videos
- 5.2 Rehab/goofy videos...
6 Discussions/Updates on ABR Forum

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Doctor Decherd's Racing Career

Doctor Decherd Wins Nose Job in Aventura Bloodhorse 1/7/06 Excerpt: In his last race at Churchill he didn't get away very well and that hurt his chances in a big field, Asmussen noted. I was very concerned about the size of the field today. He's a big horse but everything seemed to come together.

Doctor Decherd Upsets Aventura Field Kentucky Derby.com 1/7/06 Excerpt: The stretch duel proved an exciting one, with neither horse giving any ground as they battled to the wire. As they traded leads in deep stretch, Doctor Decherd, on the inside, managed to get his nose in front on the wire to score the win over the unlucky Itsallaboutthechase. The duo stopped the timer at 1:37.75

Doctor Decherd prescribes Aventura victory Brisnet.com 1/06 Excerpt: When we made the lead, he opened up a little bit and I guess he relaxed, but that other horse came up alongside him, and he really tried to go after him, Bridgmohan explained. I went to him left-handed, and he just kept on coming back. It was just a gutsy effort, just like he always gives us.

Asmussen discovers a second ace NBC Sports 1/9/06 Excerpt: “That race was everything you could have hoped for,” said Asmussen. “This horse showed ability in his maiden win but didn’t handle a full field well as the favorite in his last start. Shaun gave him a great ride today. He got passed through the stretch and battled back. Hopefully, he will keep heading in the right direction.

ROAD TO THE TRIPLE CROWN Brisnet.com 1/11/06

Asmussen calls the doctor ESPN.com 1/31/06 Excerpt: I was thinking about waiting longer, Asmussen said. He's always been a tall, light-framed horse. But he's maturing nicely. There's more of him now than there was in the fall.

Doctor Decherd Ships West for Borderland Bloodhorse 2/24/06

Doctor Decherd could rebound in Borderland Derby TB Times 2/25/06

Indy Wildcat takes Borderland Derby Breeder's Cup.com 2/27/06

Another April Fool’s Race Fail To Attract Big-Name Horses Oddjack (Blog) 3/30/06

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Doctor Decherd on his way from track to retirement

We were finally able to get DD on a truck heading to Retama (the race track in San Antonio, TX) with Angelo, who also transported the two Top Bunk listed horses Lights on Broadway and Ask the Lord, to retirement. A very nice lady, Sandy, offered layover at her barn at Retama and also eventually transported him to his final destination, Marble Falls, TX. Some might remember Sandy, from the published story about her "Buster", who was rescued from the Sugar Creek auction and through a series of miracles was reunited with Sandy.

Doctor Decherd coming off of Angelo's truck at Retama, San Antonio, Sept. 30th, 2008

Doctor Decherd, at his temporary stall at Retama, with Linda and Sandy

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DD in retirement

Arriving at his retirement and retraining home in Marble Falls, Texas, on Oct. 5th, 2008

Photos of Dr. Decherd's arrival ABR update Oct. 7, 2008

Mango and DD play fighting - October 9, 2008

DD with his "moms" Linda and Kat - Oct. 12, 2008

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More updates from DD in retirement

October 19, 2008, after a brushing, bath and enjoying some hand grazing

November 12, 2008

DD taking a nap Jan 3, 2009

ON/OFF "FRIENDS"...

X-tie training March 24, 2009

"Hot-wire-training", first day in "real" pasture, March 30, 2009

2009 - 2010 DOCTOR DECHERD IN RETIREMENT

By SmartyFan:

Around the first week of September, 2009, I received a call from one of Doctor Decherd's Texas supporters, saying that Kat was moving out of Marble Falls for a new job. She could only take her own horses with her and we would need to find DD a new home. I spoke to Kat, and though she loved DD & was sad to let him go, she allowed me to help find him a place to live. We began to do intense networking all over the country to find a suitable home. With the crash of the economy, it was slow going. But finally, I found a family who wanted to take him at their farm just east of McKinney. After I checked it out, we decided to bring DD there.

I borrowed a truck & trailer from a horsey friend, Delinda, and Patty Wilson rode with me as we trekked off to pick up DD. Once there, we found out two new things about DD 1) He's really feisty 2) He really hated our 3-horse slant trailer.

Here's a short video from that day, 10/03/09 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhtGR_Zaubw

In just a shade under one hour, DD was loaded, eating hay and on his way to North Texas. And now it was raining. Let's just say it was a long trip, with road construction & rain-related car accidents. At almost 8:00 p.m. we pulled through the gates of Crooked Creek Ranch to a welcoming party of about 10 people standing in the rain under golf umbrellas. The Doctor was in the house.

About a month passed, with DD getting vet-prescibed Adequin injections for his injured stifle. He had daily turn-out in a big pasture and made a couple of new horse friends.

Here's a video while he was at Crooked Creek on 10/17/09:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LThFuCWN0PI

Well the best laid plans sometimes do not work out, and DD's supporters determined that he needed more supervision than he was getting at Crooked Creek. At the first week of November, we arranged to move him to Kristi Canovali's place, just a few miles from Crooked Creek. Kristi is a long-time FOB who has re-habbed two OTTBs for new careers, most notably Gamble Zone, a grandson of Wild Again.

On a Saturday, I met Kristi at her place, Hidden Acres, and we took her truck/trailer just a few miles to Crooked Creek. Once again, DD was faced with the dreaded 3-horse slant trailer. A lot of avoidance occurred, but this time, we opened all the partition bars and made the trailer into a big box stall. Loading DD was accomplished in just a shade under 45 minutes. We're making progress.

We arrived at Hidden Acres with DD happily turning front to back, around in the trailer and eating hay.

Here's a video two days after his arrival 10/9/09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ9tsqJUnRo

During November & December we have been working with Doctor Decherd on his ground manners so he is easier to handle. His feed was changed to a low-starch, low sugar and he is getting a joint supplement and bute-less pain/inflammation reliever in the feed. He has lots of turn-out with free-choice hay. He loves being outside and gets grumpy when he has to stay in the stall during bad weather. His new pasture buddies are mares and that has really puzzled him. "Why are they so testy all the time?" he asks.

Here's a video of a calm(!) DD working on voice commands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh9XOSylIEo

And happily rolling in the sand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYvKDVmhm9o

For the New Year, we are planning to have some chiropractic work done to unlock his shoulders and hips. We think he will be able to move around better once that is done. Doctor Decherd will need ongoing financial support to provide for his board and treatment.

RETIREMENT UPDATE 2011-2013

Doctor Decherd continues to live a comfortable, safe life at the farm where he has been since late 2009. He is bright, happy, playful and he has appointed himself the boss of his little herd of five. He turned ten years old on March 23, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTAobzOY5g

His stifle injury is being successfully managed by his veterinarian, Dr. Kent Arnold of Equine Veterinary Services in Terrell, TX.

http://equineveterinaryservices.com/

He has a stifle joint injection every four months and he takes oral Previcox daily for the pain of associated arthritis.

In March 2012 his book, FRONT RUNNER, was published. In it he tells his life story from his birth at Calumet Farm, through his successes and challenges on the race track into his eventual retirement.

FRONT RUNNER is available here: https://www.createspace.com/3658960

And also on Amazon.com in both print and electronic versions. All royalties from your purchase are used for Doctor Decherd's care.

In April 2012, Doctor Decherd was featured in Esther Marr's blog, "Beyond The Blinkers" on Bloodhorse.com.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/archive/2012/04/02/ottb-spotlight-doctor-decherd.aspx

You can also follow us on Facebook where DD has a page linked to mine.

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.lively.3?ref=tn_tnmn

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.lively.3?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Doctor-Decherd/132930633479284

We look forward to hearing from you!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89117622@N08/8630926533/sizes/z/in/set-72157633197263212/

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