My New Addition...but Hes Not A Whippet X

[Janimal]

I have a new addition to the family, his name is Arnie :wub: :wub:

Hes an ex trotter and 15.2 hh...9 years old, and now left the Harness racing world to come and live with us.

 

This is a dream come true for me and my daughter, I have ridden on and off for most of my life and owned a horse

in my early twenties for 6 years. The time is right for us to have another one...and I cannot tell you just how pleased I am. :wub: :wub:

 

He is being retrained for riding and is doing really well, and I am hoping to ride him very soon myself....cant wait... :thumbsup:

heres a few pictures...firstly of him in his racing days....called Saunders Fearless....

and with us now....

my hubby Richard and Arnie

me and Arnie... :wub:

my daughter Louise and Arnie

and doing well in his training...

 

[FeeFee]

Oh wow, he is totally stunning :wub: :wub:

I hope you have loads of fun with him :luck:

Jealous? Moi? (w00t)

 

[ingsay2000]

Oh my goodness, he's absolutley stunning! :wub: :wub:

Many years ago (back in the 70's :- ) I kept horses with a lady called Margaret Beck who's husband had trotters. He had an amazing stallion called 'Saunders', do you think your boy could be related?

Very best of luck with him. x

 

[Janimal]

I think the Saunders Horses originated in Wales....Arnies dam was called Saunders Farewell

and his Sire was Silky Stallone.......so yes its very possible. :thumbsup:

 

[TTT]

He's lovely! Hope you have lots of fun with him :luck:

 

[Chaumsong]

Oh wow he is absolutely scrummy! Mt friend bought an ex harness racer and when he paced it was amazing to sit on. I hope you have lots and lots of fun with him, and that we get to see lots and lots of piccies

 

[naylorwhippets]

Wow Arnie is a very handsome lad, lucky you! :thumbsup:

 

[Rachel]

Wow! he's gorgeous! lucky lucky you! do ex trotters have any problems becoming 'normal' horses? can they do ordinary trotting, or do they occasionally do the pacing trotting? sorry if this is a gormless question! :unsure:

 

[Rachel]

Wow! he's gorgeous! lucky lucky you! do ex trotters have any problems becoming 'normal' horses? can they do ordinary trotting, or do they occasionally do the pacing trotting? sorry if this is a gormless question! :unsure:

 

[nina]

Arnie is absolutely gorgeous!!! :wub: Wishing you lots of happy years together :luck: :luck:

 

[FionaS]

He looks amazing!!

So pleased for you Janis, jkeep the updates coming.

 

[Janimal]

Wow! he's gorgeous! lucky lucky you! do ex trotters have any problems becoming 'normal' horses? can they do ordinary trotting, or do they occasionally do the pacing trotting? sorry if this is a gormless question! :unsure:

No its not a gormless question at all...its one of the common problems with trotters...but Arnie is trotting well, although he does pace sometimes too. In a race they wear hobbles which

restricts them from cantering , although all horses are born with the natural ability to canter and gallop freely, so only a matter of time before he realises he is able to do this

and enjoy it again.... :thumbsup: His training is coming along well, and he is enjoying himself and thats the main thing.

 

[Chaumsong]

If you've ever sat on an Icelandic pony the tolt is very similar to a trotter pacing, although I think it is a different footfall pattern it feels the same, covering the ground quickly but smoothly

 

[eve]

He is absolutely georgous. Wishing you the best of luck with him.

We have trotters who come up here every year for the Harness racing in Musselburgh.

There is also a breeder / Trainer whose surname is Saunders.

 

[Julie D]

wow lucky you, Janis, he's really handsome, very tall hope you can ride him soon..........you're gonna need bigger poo bags !

 

[Lal]

:thumbsup: He seems to be adjusting well to his new role in life, Janis.

To clarify, for those who have asked, in harness racing there are actually two types of horse... trotters and pacers. Looking at his photographs Arnie was a pacer, which means instead of using the normal diagonal sequence of trot (inside hind leg, outside foreleg, outside hindleg, inside foreleg) with the diagonal legs working in unison with a moment of suspension inbetween, Pacers move both legs on the same side forward in unison. Most wear hobbles - straps connecting front and rear legs on the same side to help the horse keep stride without limiting speed.

It's great that Arnie has the opportunity to have a new life as a riding horse and although I'm sure he will need a bit of work it will be worth it. The most special horse in my life was an ex-racehorse who won on the flat, over hurdles and fences but with re-schooling became a Grade B showjumper, brilliant team chaser and my Pony Club eventer, . I love the Retraining of Racehorses scheme (RoR) which provides recognition for horses who have moved on from their racing careers to compete in other disciplines, patience is the key.

:luck: :luck: to you and Arnie, I'm sure he will give you a lot of pleasure. And LOL at the idea of the bigger poo bags!! (w00t)

 

[~Annie~]

He is stunning Janis, and looks a kind kinda fella :wub: I'm very envious (my life long ambition to own my own horse has yet to bear fruit, probably never will now.)

We watch the harness racers training on the Morecambe Bay sands when we visit my m-i-l, they seem to glide over the ground. Good luck with his transition to a riding horse :luck: Will you just be hacking out on him, or do you have plans for him in any other discipline? Whatever you do with him I'm sure you'll have lots of fun

 

[~Sarah~]

Arnie looks a real beauty. :wub: :wub: :wub: You and your daughter must be thrilled to bits. Hope his retraining is going well and it won't be long before we see photos of you riding him.

He was very impressive in his racing days. :thumbsup:

 

[Georgiegirl]

Wow, what a beauty! Your excitement really comes across in your 1st post - really pleased for you all. He is gorgeous and hope it's not too long before you get to ride him.

Lucky you! :thumbsup:

 

[Janimal]

:thumbsup: He seems to be adjusting well to his new role in life, Janis.

To clarify, for those who have asked, in harness racing there are actually two types of horse... trotters and pacers. Looking at his photographs Arnie was a pacer, which means instead of using the normal diagonal sequence of trot (inside hind leg, outside foreleg, outside hindleg, inside foreleg) with the diagonal legs working in unison with a moment of suspension inbetween, Pacers move both legs on the same side forward in unison. Most wear hobbles - straps connecting front and rear legs on the same side to help the horse keep stride without limiting speed.

It's great that Arnie has the opportunity to have a new life as a riding horse and although I'm sure he will need a bit of work it will be worth it. The most special horse in my life was an ex-racehorse who won on the flat, over hurdles and fences but with re-schooling became a Grade B showjumper, brilliant team chaser and my Pony Club eventer, . I love the Retraining of Racehorses scheme (RoR) which provides recognition for horses who have moved on from their racing careers to compete in other disciplines, patience is the key.

:luck: :luck: to you and Arnie, I'm sure he will give you a lot of pleasure. And LOL at the idea of the bigger poo bags!! (w00t)

[/quote

Very very well explained Alison, Im hopeless at putting things into typed words sometimes....

I knew exactly what you meant..didnt know how to write it down.... :lol: Thank you....

and yes he is doing really well, and James girlfriend rode him today too without any problems at all...so hopefully all being well ..I will be riding

him at the weekend...fingers crossed. :luck:

oh yes and Annie too...I will be happy just to hack him out in the countryside...thats all I have planned....my daughter too hopes for the same

and maybe to pop him over a few jumps too :thumbsup: