Horse Tales from the LOPE Ranch

Catalissa’s Fans

Catalissa is our most serious rehab case here at LOPE. Read more about his history and injuries.

Recently, I received a call from Laura, a local exercise rider at Texas tracks. She had heard about Catalissa’s injuries and wanted to see how he was doing. Her voice was emotional as she described working with him at the track -- clearly, Catalissa had been one of her favorites. Laura cleared up the mystery of Catalissa’s very feminine name – she said that his breeder named all his foals after his daughter Lissa.

Then, a few days later, an email came to my inbox from Hilary. She is the assistant to Michael Stidham, a very successful race trainer. Hilary wrote:

“[Michael and I] had no idea about Catalissa; he was claimed from us long ago. But we were shocked when one of the outriders here at Arlington told us of his fate. We would love to help and donate.”

Soon, a check for $400 arrived from Michael Stidham’s racing operation. Hilary also told us some stories about Catalissa -- he was the favorite of the racing barn when they had him. He had a big, confident personality -- and liked to make sure he bucked everyone off (but usually just once -- as a kind of “initiation”).

And last week, Bill, one of our favorite adopters (and silent auction supporters), contacted me. Catalissa had caught his eye -- he had decided to sponsor him!

To top it all off, today I received yet another email about Catalissa. Amber, a former vet tech at Austin Equine Associates, had sent LOPE a donation -- and she wanted to apply it to Catalissa too!

Many people assume that no one cares about ex-racehorses -- especially the injured ones like Catalissa. But as we’ve discovered, Catalissa has quite a fan club from both his racing and rehab days. Thank you Hilary, Laura, Michael, Bill and Amber for supporting Catalissa!

Update on Catalissa

Catalissa has been one of the most serious rehab cases we've had at LOPE. In his last race, he fractured his sesamoid on his right front. Catalissa didn't like to put pressure on the injured leg -- instead, he kept shifting his weight to his other legs. He then developed laminitis in his left front.

It was a potentially dangerous situation -- Catalissa had to be kept in stall rest, to limit his movements. And we took extra steps to keep him comfortable: his stall actually has a cushioned stall "mattress," (provided to LOPE with a generous discount from Lucas and Liebe) and we would often keep his front hooves in Softride comfort boots.

After months, Catalissa was then was approved to be in a small pen, only about twice the size of his stall. Slowly, his laminitis receded and his sesamoid fracture stabilized. However, his left front still had a very thin sole, leaving it susceptible to possible abscess and inflammation. So Catalissa had to stay confined in his small pen for week after week, as we waited for his sole to thicken.

Catalissa never once showed resentment or frustration, even during the most painful phase of his rehab. He was always cheerful and calm, making us all into his fans. The other horses also like Catalissa, often crowding around his stall's dutch door to "talk" with him. We like to joke that Catalissa secretly has a tacqueria stand and that's why the horses always hang out with him -- they're placing orders.

Last week, Austin Equine Associates X-rayed Catalissa's hoof. The news was good! His sole had grown out substantially -- and he was approved for a much larger turnout area. Two of our favorite volunteers, Melinda and Tom, came out Saturday and helped us expand Catalissa's space. We tripled the size of his turnout pen and attached it to the barn -- Catalissa can now go out of his stall directly into his deluxe-sized turnout. It's quite the bachelor pad -- the other horses (especially Pogo) seem a little envious.

It was a big weekend for Catalissa -- he seemed so happy, as he walked around his big pen then in and out of his stall. At feeding time, he nearly trotted to his bucket -- after months of tight quarters, his muscles are finally able to stretch and move more.

Congratulations Catalissa!

First Rides at LOPE

I don't always have the opportunity to ride the horses at the LOPE Ranch -- sometimes they get adopted too fast. But usually I'm the one in the saddle during their first post-racetrack ride. Many people assume that these rides must be pretty wild and crazy, with lots of excitement for everyone (me, the horse, any spectators).

It's really not like that at all.

For example, last week I rode Pogo, a three-year-old gelding here. Pogo's last ride was in fall 2008 during his very first race. He chipped his knee during the race and came to LOPE (read about his surgery from Austin Equine Associates).

After a very successful post-surgery rehab and rest period, Pogo was ready to begin work again. As I led him into the round pen, he pouted -- clearly he had become used to the couch potato lifestyle here at LOPE. But after some ground work and free lounging, Pogo settled into the "in school" mode. He tuned into the cues, his face relaxing into a calm, attentive expression.

Even though it had been months since his last ride (as a two-year-old), I decided to mount Pogo. Actually, I decided to "try" to mount Pogo and just see how things went. I'm not a professional trainer, so I do a lot of the "let's see how this goes" approach. Pogo had this cheerful look of expectation in his eyes -- I felt like I'd be somehow letting him down if I didn't at least put my foot in the stirrup.

Once my foot was in the stirrup, it seemed like a shame not to hop up once or twice, and then maybe even lean over Pogo's back. Pogo stood quietly, his head lowering. Then it seemed downright silly to not mount him. I was already there, hanging over the saddle, petting the right side of his neck.

So I then I swung my leg over and sat in the saddle. Pogo seemed comfortable with that and so we walked around the round pen a little. He steered pretty well for a green ex-racehorse, wasn't spooky about my legs, and (best of all) he stopped when I said "whoa." Pleased with how relaxed we both were, I decided to dismount Pogo and call it a day.

Our ride was short and completely unexciting. Just the way I like a first ride to be here at the LOPE Ranch.

AP Dashin On My Mind

AP was donated to us in January. Sure, he has a few minor challenges, like an arthritic knee and turned-out front toes. But AP has another problem – a condition so disturbing that it may scare away all but the most committed adopters.

He has a mullet.

That’s right, an equine mullet.

And what’s worse, AP likes his hairdo. He displays his NASCAR style with pride in his eyes (and says things like "that was a sweet crash, yo").

All we can do is hope that AP is adopted into a loving family that can talk chassis rolls and weight jacking with him.

Pogo's Successful Knee-Chip Surgery

Pogomeister, an adorable three-year-old gelding, had blazing speed in his workouts at the track. But in his very first race, he chipped his knee, ending his racing career. His breeder donated him to LOPE soon after, hoping we could find him a new, less strenuous job. Pogo was the perfect candidate for our Homestretch Heroes program.

When Dr. JoLynn Joyce, the equine surgeon at Austin Equine Associates (LOPE’s veterinary sponsor), heard about Pogo’s knee, she and Austin Equine Associates generously sponsored a surgery to remove his knee chips.

Pogo’s surgery took place in Austin Equine’s new surgery clinic in Driftwood, where he received top-notch care in a brand-new, fully modern operating room.

Pogo’s chips were removed in January. After six weeks of stall rest and daily handwalking, Pogo is 100% sound. In another week, he’ll be ready to start back into light work. Thanks to Dr. Joyce and Austin Equine Associates, Pogo now has many more career options available.

If you are interested in learning more about how to adopt Pogo, please visit LOPE’s adoption page.

Pogomeister and His Knee Chips

Pogomeister (aka "Pogo") was all set to win his first race. Even though he was only 2 years old, he'd shown great speed in his workouts. His sire was the champion Texas stallion Holzmeister, and his dam, Princess Pogo, had produced many promising racehorses too.

Pogo was a confident youngster, full of fire and ready to blaze down the homestretch ahead of all the other horses. Even though he was kind of small (15H) and not very flashy (plain chestnut), Pogo flew around the track, certain he was the best horse there.

But in spite of all that, Pogo didn't win his first race. Instead, he hurt his knee, chipping it badly enough to need surgery. The injury was serious enough that his breeder decided he should never race again, even if he had surgery.

So, she donated him to LOPE – coincidentally, right after Dr. Joyce and Austin Equine Associates told us they'd like to help us with chip removal surgeries.

Pogo will be the first LOPE horse to receive a sponsored knee chip surgery from Austin Equine Associates. After his chips are removed, he'll have a some stall rest in our barn – and then a nice long turnout in our pastures.

After a few months, he'll be ready to be a riding horse again, to do trail riding and flat work. With his "big horse" personality and his endearing habit of making faces for the camera, we think he'll have no trouble at all finding home when his knee is healed!

Burnt Mill Road

Burnt Mill Road had an incredible racing career. He ran for 12 years, retiring just a couple months ago as a 14-year-old. He even won his last race this year too! Burnt Mill ran 158 times in his career and earned almost $347,000. His last race win in 2008 was for the same purse money as his first win in 1996. This January, the Texas Thoroughbred magazine featured a nice article on Burnt Mill's career.

A Texas bred, Burnt Mill was known for his calm disposition on the track. We were immediately impressed with his gentle personality here –- not to mention his terrific good looks. Although he has been off the track just about a month, Burnt Mill is already learning how to ride Western and go on trail rides. And he even has an adoption pending with a wonderful horse family!

New Arrival at the Ranch: Beau's Town

We recently had a special horse come to the LOPE Ranch. His name is Beau's Town and he won over $700,000. Beau was a terrific racehorse, and still holds a course record at Santa Anita. He has been retired for over a year - but is getting a little bored with pasture life. So we will soon be placing him up for adoption. Beau is so talented and gorgeous, we think he'll be a wonderful riding horse (or maybe even a show horse). See his pedigree here.

Beau is 10 years old and is one of the most handsome horses we've ever had here, with his big blaze and three stockings. He is good friends with Trick Bag (see blog entry below), and is the boss of his pasture.

Beau was donated by David and Kathy Hulkewicz - they love Beau and often call to tell me great stories about his racing days.

Stay tuned for more of Beau's career highlights!

Tristano

Tristano is one of the handsomest young horses we’ve ever had here. A 4-year-old Texas bred gelding, he has a sturdy build (almost looks like a QH) and is a gorgeous shade of dark chestnut. He even has black spots on his hindquarters too.

But what I like best about Tristano is his sweet face. He has the kindest eyes – very Bambi-like! Tristano’s face is so appealing, we have used it in some of our ads in local horse magazines, and on the cover of our 2007 Capital Campaign letter.

Tristano has a classic story for a LOPE horse. He was very well bred (download his pedigree) and everyone had high hopes for him. He showed early promise as a 3-year-old at the track, even winning a race – but then developed an ankle injury.

His race owner (who also bred and raised him) just wanted Tristano to go to a good home – and so he donated him to the LOPE Ranch. He could have easily kept racing him, but decided Tristano deserved to retire from a sport that was now too hard for him.

Tristano is now ready to be adopted, to be a pleasure or trail riding prospect. Green, but willing, he would be a fun project for someone who likes to work with young horses – and who appreciates a good looking horse with kind eyes and a spotted rump!

Update: Tristano was just adopted!