Their NEW CAREERS
From AlexBrownRacing
Tuesday, June 19th... We need to congratulate several of our former horses for ribbons and money won this past weekend. Doing their thing in the show ring. Way to go Half A Decade, Puffers, Fade To Blue, Dungeon Games, Abbie, Dr. Ramos, Tiz A Fit, Elvis, Dakota South, Montgomery, Jason, Butter Ball, and Memories. Abbie had a broken sesamoid, and the race track vet wanted her euthanized. Two years later, and Abbie is jumping 3.5 feet and giving lessons to beginning riders. Elvis could hardly walk, but now you should see him dance. Dakota South is owned by our friend Ryan, and in July the two will compete at a big jumping show in Spokane, Washington. Dakota South came to us from the race track with a huge bowed tendon. Three years later, and Dakota South is winning all of her events. Cathy and I sit at home and watch the videos. Proud as can be...
And a special congratulations to Jessica Williams and her mare Majestic. Her first schooling show, and Majestic arrived with good manners. Who is that horse? On our ranch Majestic was mostly bananas. Full of energey, like she had just swallowed a case of Red Bull. Jessica has done an amazing training job, and on Sunday they won 3 classes. Jessica and Majestic came home with ribbons and brand new grooming supplies. It was Fathers Day and dad Doug was in the stands, cheering them on.
Which leads us to another Jessica. Our friend Jessica Graham, and she wanted us to send a message. Her dad is William Graham, and it was his support who kept Jessica involved in horses. Jessica has always loved horses, and her dad said go for it. When Jessica was 17 she came to us and adopted Bully, a big gray colt who in less than a week became a big gray gelding. It was only 4 months later when Bully died from a ruptured intestine. Jessica was crushed, and we told her when she was ready to come for another horse. Jessica was at a county fair race track last summer, and watched a gray gelding get taken away in the horse ambulance. She asked the security guard if she could go to the barn area, and he said sure, just bring him a coke. Jessica found the trainer of the gray gelding, and asked how his horse was? The trainer said the gray gelding bled into his lungs, and was also badly dehydrated. This was last July, when Northern California temps reached 120 degrees. The gray gelding was in a condition called tied up, which means he was having muscle cramps. Jessica asked the trainer did he want to sell the gelding? The trainer said sure, give him a dollar. He was going to euthanize the gray gelding because he never earns any money as a race horse. And now he is bleeding into his lungs. Jessica called me, and I called Brian Gill who hooked up his trailer and went to the race track. Jessica then phoned her dad William Graham. Told him to please call their boarding stable, and to get a stall ready. She asked her dad to meet her there. A veterinarian was also waiting, and the gray gelding was soon comfortable. And Jessica had a new horse.
And now we move forward to April of 2007. Jessica named her gelding Prism, and he was at his first schooling show. Prism was not entered in any classes. He was just there to watch and gain experience. Prism is beautiful. 16.2 hands, a silver tail, and he had gained at least 200 pounds. You can see how much he loves Jessica. A little girl approached and asked Jessica please, could she pet Prism? And Prism lowered his head, and the little girl kissed his pink nose. Dad William Graham was watching from the bleachers, and Jessica and dad kept waving to each other. Smiling. More waves. I know all of this, because I was in the bleachers also. A man who could basically care less about horses, but he supports and loves his daughter. And a gelding who was about to die, but now he is being kissed by little girls.
Jessica wants her dad to know how much she loves him. For always being there. For letting her find her own way. Happy Fathers Day.
Wednesday, June 20th... Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. Holly Meeks plays in a midnight softball game, and her gelding Wyoming is usually tied to a tree. Wyoming eats green grass and a tub of corn. Softball players bring him peppermint candies. Wyoming loves these summer solstice games...
Yesterday I wrote about former horses who did well at shows this past weekend. Kaitlyn calls to say Magic Avenue has started over jumps, and on Saturday he earned enough points to compete at a later show in Sacramento. Kaitlyn was offered big time dollars for Magic Avenue, but on the phone Kaitlyn says she prefers being poor. Just what in the heck would she do with all that money? And besides, she loves Magic more than anything on earth.
Jennifer Carlisle phones to say Batman has recovered from colic surgery, and Saturday they went for a trail ride in South Lake Tahoe. They saw an eagle, and a hiker gave Batman an apple. Last November at an equine hospital Jennifer was told she should euthanize Batman. But now Batman is strong and healthy, and he loves these weekend adventures. Almost 2,500 horses have been adopted from our ranch. And each one comes with a story...
Friday, July 12th... Catching you up on our circle. Brooke Wrisley reports Outstanding Bill was outstanding at his first show. A first, second and fifth in 3 classes. Teddy Rosevelt was at the same show, and twice he was head of his class. Martin Short can jump. Martin Short also won 2 flat classes, including a biggie in Pleasanton where the grand prize was a dozen red roses. Bel Air Prince took top honors in 3 halter classes at Vacaville. Tiz The Whiz was tied to his trailer at a show in Los Gatos, and in the dust with his tongue he wrote BORED. At least it kind of looked like BORED. Annie Timms phones to say it could have been BOKED, which might be horse talk. And the old gelding Starship is still the number one babysitter in all of California. Starship attends horse shows with a trainer in Santa Rosa, and he is a calming influence on his barn mates. Starship was adopted from us in 2001, and now he is 22 years old. A traveling companion...
Outstanding Bill
earns his first ribbons with Brooke and Melanie. Outstanding Bill was adopted from us in 2005.
Sunday, July 15th... Already the middle of July, and the show season is in full throttle. Half A Decade struts her stuff today in Sacramento. Congratulations to Kelli Chrisman and her mare Fiona, who did well at a jumping event in Colorado. Old Topper was adopted from us in early February, and yesterday was his first schooling show. Old Topper was there for the experience. His owner Madison reports Topper was the calmest of the bunch. And way to go Mr. Magoo, who in a flat class took top honors. Mr. Magoo was adopted from us in 2003, and owner Katie Marshall phones to say she is having a ball. A few shows, a few trail rides, and also Mr. Magoo gives riding lessons to youngsters in his neighborhood. Katie wanted us to know she loves Mr. Magoo like crazy...
Kelli Chrisman adopted Fiona from us in 2004 
Since then Kelli has married and moved away. Fiona is always by her side. Below on the left Kelli and Fiona jump 3/6 at a recent show in Colorado. Good enough for a second and third in two classes...
July 23...Jenna Carlise phones to say Meetings Over did well in all three of her classes at a show in San Jose. Jenna adopted Meetings Over from us in January, and there was a swollen knee to deal with. X-rays revealed no damage, so Jenna began riding her in April. She calls her Maggie. At the show on Saturday Maggie had perfect manners. Jenna wanted us to know how much she loves Maggie. And in the mail she is sending us a blue ribbon from Saturday. I told Jenna the ribbon will hang from our computer screen. And thank you so much for thinking of us...
Then and Now. Theo adopted the gelding Elvis from us over two years ago. Theo has since graduated from Stanford, with Elvis by her side. Elvis loves jumping, both cross country and stadium. Theo is continuing her education on the east coast, so last week Elvis climbed on a van and took the long ride to Massachusetts so he could be with Theo. Below on the left is the day Theo adopted Elvis. Below on the right is a recent picture of the two on a trail ride.
Been thinking a lot about Comet Fun. We called her Funny Girl. I bought Funny Girl from a horse killer at the race track last year, and she was 4 years old. Keep in mind, we place over 300 horses a year. More than 1,000 in the last 3 years. If I have not seen a person for awhile, I forget their name. But I always remember horses. Funny Girl is an athlete, and she was adopted by an event barn in Sacramento. The trainer at that barn has resold several of our horses for very decent money. No big deal, the horses go to fancy barns and enjoy a show career.
Well the trainer resold Funny Girl earlier this year for nine thousand dollars. Funny Girl is a jumper. She went to an event barn in Marin. A few weeks ago I was told Funny Girl was once again sold. This time for even more money, and she went to a jumping barn down south. Down south usually means Los Angeles, or San Diego.
I am only wondering how she is doing? You see Funny Girl came to us sick. Her lungs were filled with fluids, race track gunk, and her temp was 104.1. Night after night I sat with her. We listened to 96.1 on your radio dial, soft rock. I would take her temp and cool her with a wet rag. Funny Girl was on heavy duty antibiotics, and one morning she greeted me with a squeal. Turned and kicked out. Her temp was gone. I put Funny Girl outside in a round pen, and she danced like a ballerina.
And then Funny Girl said Thank You. Nothing mushy. Nothing to write home about in a Hallmark Card. She just stood close, her head near my shoulder, and we stayed that way for several minutes. It was the way she looked at me. The way she made me feel...
Less than 2 months later Funny Girl was adopted by the event trainer in Sacramento. And now she has been resold twice. Big time bucks, and I am happy for her. Instead of doing nothing in our fields, Funny Girl has a career. I know it will be impossible to find her. I was just wondering, thats all.
Gotta quit going through old photos...
There is Maxster and Lu Ann. Simply Heaven and Slew The Tiger. Norah Jones and Norah Bones. Unlimited Trust, we called him Limit. Marcus Welby, we called him Mark. Louisiana Find, we called him Louie. Sly Porter. One Up. Beetle Juice. Gossip Queen. Al Bundy. Force Ten. Shareens Pleasure. Bargain Basement. On and on...
Pictures of horses I loved like crazy, and now we have lost touch. I always wonder if they are happy.
Young girls ask, how can you do this job? How can you watch a horse you love get on a trailer and leave?
If we kept every horse we love, there would be 3,000 horses on our ranch. We must make room for the next horse who needs us. Horses up and down our driveway.
God Bless Funny Girl. Out there somewhere, jumping and squealing. And you should have seen the way Marcus Welby slept. Lying down, his front legs up around his face like a puppy dog. While he was sleeping you could scratch his butt, and his tongue would fall out. Marcus Welby was a hoot...
Joe
