Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

lespedeeza — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:01:31 GMT

Windy is in the right place with the right person, barbed wire or not. He is fat, ( no body score of 1 there!) he is loved, and most importantly he has a job appropriate for the 'jewelry' he brought with him from the track. I too have OTTB's. Wouldn't have anything else. We can save them all, one horse at a time, if everyone involved in racing who can, takes one horse at a time.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Richie — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:12:34 GMT

Thank you for these wonderful stories. For many years I have wanted to get a farm and operate a horse rescue but sad to say the money has never been there and looks like it never will. I volunteer at a rescue farm and just love being around these amazing animals. To those who don't have a farm and can't afford the expense of a horse it's a great way to go. A huge hi-five to anyone that saves an OTTB.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Julie Foley — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:29:08 GMT

Let me tell you......I too have had some inside information on this story. I met Jackie & Windy 9 months ago when I came to the "board barn". I thought that Windy was the most beautiful horse that I had ever seen and that was before I knew his story. Then when I saw Jackie & Windy interact, I thought "it can't get any better than this". I was wrong. Then I met Dave (Jackie's boyfriend). Dave was a cowhand now converted to the most horseloving person you ever wanted to meet.....compliments of Jackie. They are perfect for each other. Dave is in the process of building a new barn for Windy and the horse that he now ownes.

As for those of you worried about the 1 strand of barb wire.....Jackie's love for Windy runs deeper than that wire could ever cut.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Robin from Maryland — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:19:18 GMT

Good read!!! Nice to find a "warm and fuzzy" article especially since it's DARK and GLOOMY and WET here in MD. Everytime I read something like this, it greatly restores my faith in the Human race. To everyone who has ever adopted one of these TB's - my hat is off to you. Stand up and give yourselves a BIG pat on the back. God Bless each and every one of you.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Jackie Cross — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:02:24 GMT

Linda in Texas - thank you for your kind words and support!

Also, to my cousin Gabby - Thank you for touching my heart so dearly with your letter to Grandma & Poppy about Felicity. It took me back to when I was your age with my first thoroughbred.

This is a quote from Gabby's letter.......

"The first night I rode her it was dark out when I went into the field and got her. It took me 10 minutes to catch her because she was so scared of everyone! I sang to her that night in the dark and relaxed my muscles and held my hand out.....she let me catch her."

Thank you Gabby!!

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

horseracinglover — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:39:35 GMT

Oh I wish all stories ended that way. Most don't. Probably just guessing 8 out 10 land on the slaughter truck. If it can happen to Exceller it can happen to anyone. Please support your local rescue or one of the many OTTB rescues. Japan, France,Belgium all eat horsemeat. Mustang is considered a high price delicacy. I can only hope the horses sold to Japan don't end up on the dinner plate. I think it was Ferdinan that ended up like that because he didn't produce enough winners. The cold hearted people say it is a recycling of animals for useful ends. That just doesn't work wirh me. Please support the rescues. There are several with Facebook pages. Be sure and check them out because there are some people asking for donations but the horse never sees the benefit. Or if donating a horse make sure they are legit cause they still can end up in the killer pen.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:53:50 GMT

Thank you needler in Virginia, I'm glad all the horses in Seabiscuit are happy. It was a movie I will not forget. I have to say reading all the people here that adopted or helped racehorses-as a fan of horseracing since I was 16;

YOU ARE AWESOME. I'm sure your hearts are in the shape of a horsehoe.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Linda in Texas — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:37:47 GMT

Jackie Cross - thank you for your love and care of Windy. Where he is now is no comparison to what would have happened to him if it were not for you.

Please do not let one or two comments darken the lovely story of companionship the two of you share.

He is truly a beautiful horse. Very

regal looking. This should be how every 'used up and tossed away' horse should spend the rest of their lives.

There are thousands of us working on that issue and have been for years. At least no slaughter houses in the U.S. so that was a start. Still more pending legislation along the same lines.

Thank you and peppermints forever for Windy!

Felicity is blessed with her grand father's soft big dark eyes. Seattle Slew is my all time favorite fella. Anyone who knows me knows that is the truth!

Two very nice endings and thank you Esther for their beautiful stories.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Shannon — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:21:28 GMT

I LOVE YOU GABI! <3

and Michelle :)

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

MIchelle — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:24:00 GMT

Felicity was one of the very lucky few that escape the fate of slaughter after a racing career has ended! Gabby you have a huge heart! Last month I managed to save two more and give them away to forever homes. But, so many dont get saved and if people really knew the dirty side of racing and what goes on when the career of a race horse is over would truly break your heart! I have seen things that would bring tears to your eyes! We have saved many through the years but, because trainers would rather sell them for a couple hundred dollars to slaughter they wont give a throughtbred away for a second chance. I would rather pay a few hundred dollars and save a wonderful horse from slaughter and be able to sleep at night than turn my back as so many do in this business! Hopefully this article will inspire more people to give these beautiful animals a second well deserved chance at life!

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Mike Relva — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:42:23 GMT

ANNA

FYI I've know several individuals that are "stupid" also.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Kathy Kimber — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:28:35 GMT

Thank you for your kind hearts you may not know it but you have added stars to your heavenly crown. Bless you

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

pflaherty@mncee.org — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:30:09 GMT

I am looking for a former racehorse that raced at el comendate ractrack in puerto rico years ago, called I love you. I don't know anything about the horse other than that it won and I won a lot of money on it. Can someone tell me what happened to it?

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

anna — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:38:19 GMT

which sure barbed wire is fine around cattle, because their stupid, nonflightly animals only good for three things, to be shown, milked or be eaten.

horses on the other hand are different and i worked with someone a few yrs back, and long before i knew her, she had brought a old cattle ranch and she set about taking down most of the barbed wire fencing and the sections she couldn't reach, she made sure that there was a wooden fence keeping it several ft away from her horses and the only place she kept it close to horses was simply she had built a big enough area for the horses that they had plenty of acres to graze without ever seeing the barbed wire on the other side of the fence boards.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Deb — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:21:11 GMT

Best horse I ever had or knew was off the race track in the '60's.

He was left on a farm to waste away and when I saw him, all thin and full of burrs, I knew he was mine. My mom was sure he would die before we got him home but he lived and became the best trail horse with after burners that ever lived. You will not find a kinder smarter trying horse than a thoroughbred. 'nuff said!

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Jackie Cross — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:05:04 GMT

About the Barbwire:

I wasn't going to reply to these comments but since there was more than one, I guess I need to. Windy is at boarding facility (the only one close by in my area)and I have absolutely no control over the fencing that the property owner choses to use. I don't like it either, but I didn't have a choice. Windy's current pasture is like "Hollywood" compared to where he came from. My boyfriend has a 27 acre farm and we are getting ready to start building a new barn and new wood board fence. So Windy will be away from the one strand of barbwire as soon as I can make it happen. I really do appreciate the concern.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

HRFan4Life — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:51:58 GMT

I agree with Anna! That barbwire was the 1st thing I noticed. How vets don't educate horse owners on how dangerous and lethal barbwire is to horses I have no idea. Even smooth high tensil wire is dangerous. I hope the barbwire is removed from his fence as soon as possible.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Lori Douglass — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:42:05 GMT

Hello,

This story made me cry. Very touching and maybe because Jackie Cross is my sister and I have watched this whole process through the years. I work in the Thoroughbred industry selling barn and fence paint and my boss, the owner of Thorworks Industries has a location in Lexington KY.called FARMPAINT on Philipps Lane off of Old Frankfort Pike. I also sell a synthetic surface called ThorTurf that many of the farms are using in their exercisers and arenas at this time. I never had the appreciation for Thoroughbreds like my sister. I own Arabians and love their beauty and spirit but my sister has made me a believer and I am now a racing fan as well. She keeps me updated on a daily basis with Bloodhorse. She also sends me a link every week of the TCI video, which I love watching!!!!!! Very small world out there, my daughter Kaitlynn Douglass who is a freshman at UK is the TCI correspondent for the WinStar Dream Big momement. She is having the time of her life and loves all the people that she is working with. Funny how things work out in life. My sister is really good at pedigrees and is usually bang on at calling the first three places in all the races. She rarely makes a mistake. After watching the prep races for the KY Derby I often send my sister Jackie Cross a text message saying "Some day you and I are going to own a race horse together and take it to the Winners Circle" that will be our DREAM BIG MOMENT. Guess I better sell alot of fence paint this year...Once again, I so enjoyed the story and you did a great job with it Bloodhorse. Thank you, Lori Douglass.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:25:33 GMT

A superb wonderful heartwarming story that is so inspiring. Thank God that some horses are fortunate enough to find a forever loving home when their racing careers are over. Wishing them the best.

Prayers, Love & Blessings to all the horses that are in need of their forever homes!

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Zen4Zen — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:59:37 GMT

What great stories and photos about those wonderful horses and what great people to adopt them! I hope readers will send a copy or a link to every thoroughbred adoption place they know as this story would be great for fundraising purposes, even if it's not a story of those places' particular horses and owners! Thanks so much!

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

barry aksarben — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:33:56 GMT

i wish i had the means to adopt a horse and feel the people who do are earning a very special place in heaven. And I am not a relious man but when you hear these stories the true humanity these people exhibit is amazing.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

KarenNYC — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:18:48 GMT

Thank you bloodhorse for such a beautiful story. The only way to make a difference in the lives of our retired warriors is to highlight these real life stories

of successful retirement. The more that is known about the subject will educate more people to act on their behalf. I hope in the future we will see more Rehabilation farms set up . To have that we need funding . It needs to be subsidized by the racetracks for it to be hugely successful. A percentage of the profits needs to be secured for their health and wellbeing after racing. It is the right thing to do. I hope and pray every day that it becomes a reality. Education and information is the driver for it. Thank You bloodhorse for posting this story.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

Patricia G — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 06:24:54 GMT

Thank you for bringing in the stories of race horses that are being "retired to slaughter" God, that gives me chills. The stories

here have happy endings. The more stories, the more happy endings.

Patricia Guthrie, author

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

anna — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:09:34 GMT

windy deserves a lot more than being struck in a field that has a strand of barbed wire around the top fence board where he will stretch his neck over, as many horses do to be greeted and i sincerely hope his owner will have the devilish thing removed soon, because horses and barbed wire is never a good mix, ever.

re: Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity and Windy

hrsahlc — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:29:47 GMT

wonderful story :) I currently have 2 thoroughbreds that were heading to slaughter, and helped my 2 neices get their two thoroughbreds also slated for slaughter...3 of the 4 have raced, 1 never made it to the track and while untattooed amazingly still had her papers with her.

The first I saved was Dutch Creek, a 2007 Friends Lake x Dutch Maid. He's now a gelding, ran through the auction at a body score of 1, still intact. He now is my 10 yr old neice's pride and joy, and soon as they get to a point where they both know enough (and she gets used to his height, she's used to 14.3 hand arabs, and he's 17hands...lol). Some day they will grace the show ring together.

The next was Bad Girl Bianca....a 1989 mare by Rock of Cashel out of Jo's Bianca...She was appearantly a broodmare that didn't catch in 2010 and was dumped in the sale pen soon as her foal was weaned...She has no registered thoroughbred foals, so I assume she was used to breed qh's or other sporthorses....she can be a grumpy girl until my 3 yr old neice is around, then she's sweet as pie and takes her job as protector of my neice very seriously...she has now even adopted my nephew's donkey as her "foal" lol

The first of my personal horses saved is Smarten Princess, a 1998 Smarten mare out of Lakota Princess. She ran through the sale and ended up in the killpen with her papers and a letter from a vet stating she was pregnant with a single fetus...through some research from my vet, I found out she was in foal to a 12.2 hand welsh pony on a AI cover...she has had foals before and I have a feeling she was dumped because her foals were out growing large pony hunter size. I'm awaiting her foal with bated breath (she's due april 26th), and plan to breed her to point Given in the future.

Most recent is Redneck Affair...her papers were a shock to me...I bailed her because I saw great potentual, and she was one of the last ones with only 1/2 hour left...when she arrived at the quarenteen barn, papers were turned over...turned out she was a 2006 filly by Black Tie Affair out of a Personal Affair mare...I plan to show her and then breed race horses with her also.

OTTB's have got to be the most under appreciated horses, they have so much t give and just want a person to bound with...My old gelding Rare Menace made me a confirmed thoroughbred fan! I will miss him forever, but like to think he's proud of me for saving some of his "brothers and sisters" and giving them the love he had.