Paynter Arrives at Fair Hill Rehab Facility

re: Paynter Arrives at Fair Hill Rehab Facility

Teezee — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:38:52 GMT

This is a great feel good story. Thanks Steve for sharing it and the photos with the readers. I sincerely hope Paynter continues to thrive.Dr. Laura and Mr Zayat should be proud of the way this horse responded to their loving care and concern. And Dr. Southwood who operated on him, has to be commended for the fine surgery performed on him.

Lets just continue to hope and pray he never has to go through this again and that he lives along and happy life. Thanks again Steve for the follow up on this feel good story.

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mwill — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 18:50:26 GMT

Also just thinking of Barbaro after reading this again. He, too, had the will....it shows how difficult these battles are.

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mwill — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 18:44:42 GMT

What a beautiful, brave and strong horse Paynter is. Thank you for this story. Still praying he continues to do well.

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egill — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:40:48 GMT

Thank you, Steve! What a horse! So thankful that the owners were willing to give him a chance to be treated and recover. Paynter has been through so much! He should be HOY this year, for sure! Thank you so all his vets, care takers etc. Great to see him at Fair Hill!

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JoyJackson21 — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:01:23 GMT

And a huge "Thank You!" from all of us to Dr. Laura Javsicas, a highly-talented, compassionate Vet. We need many more like her. She truly was Paynter's Guardian Angel in all of this. Her dedication, the skills of all of the equine vet teams, the Zayats' love and faith in Paynter, Paynter's own phenomenal will-to-live, the prayers of horse fans the world over, and the Grace of the Lord are the reasons gallant Paynter is still with us - a living miracle, an inspiration to all.

re: Paynter Arrives at Fair Hill Rehab Facility

JoyJackson21 — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:40:13 GMT

Oh, Steve! What a fabulous article! I totally agree that Paynter has met and triumphed over the biggest obstacle of his life. He looks absolutely wonderful in the pictures you took of him. I love the beautiful expression in his eyes. Paynter is a horse it is very easy to love and bond to. He has qualities that are admirable in a human, not to mention a horse. I am happy all of our prayers for Paynter have been answered so positively and so emphatically. The power of prayer, hope and belief is enormous and cannot be contained. And the strength and ferocious will-to-live of Paynter is inspirational and exceptional. I'm happy to see him happy - his eyes are bright, he looks wonderful grazing. And it's wonderful to hear is "being a horse" again. Outstanding news!

Thank you, Steve. Finding this article has made my weekend. And thank you for your excellent reporting, as always, and for the beautiful pictures. All my best to you and your family.

re: Paynter Arrives at Fair Hill Rehab Facility

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:31:55 GMT

Ted from LA,

Sure horses talk. But only on Steve Haskin's blogs! Thanks to me and Slew that is!

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Zen4Zen — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:29:07 GMT

What a wonderful story about a courageous horse -- shades of Barbaro but this time, I hope, with a happy ending.

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Paula Higgins — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:56:09 GMT

Big_Red_4Eever, back at you!! Ted from LA, glad to see you back. I had my belly laugh for the day thanks to your post. Everyone on here has spoken from the heart. A very nice thing to see in this day and age that we all cared about Paynter enough to pray for him.

CarolMcE loved your story. Loved his name, what a hoot-Robert Goulet!

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Tiz Herself — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 23:09:55 GMT

Royal Delta, Love and Pride, Awesome Feather, Questing, Love and Pride, Include Me Out, My Miss Aurelia, and Grace Hall... so far the expected entrants for the Ladies Classic/Distaff... of all the Breeders Cup races coming up, am looking forward to that one the most. Am glad I took Friday off to watch it as would hate to miss it!

God speed Paynter - 'though he be but little, he is fierce' keep eating, resting and getting better!

re: Paynter Arrives at Fair Hill Rehab Facility

Tiz Herself — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 23:07:19 GMT

With the retirements of three year olds I'll Have Another, Hansen, Gemologist, Algorithms, Union Rags, Creative Cause, Bodemeister... reading that Paynter is on the right track for recovery helps to soothe.

Will be interesting to see what the 2013 four year old crop looks like. I imagine Take Charge Indy is possibly retired by the end of the year. Perhaps Prospective, Alpha, The Lumber Guy, maybe Secret Circle will be back, Dullahan... who else?

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Criminal Type — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:17:17 GMT

Steve, Isn't Fair Hill a wonderful place ? I was fortunate enough to visit there in early August (to see Union Rag's before he left for Lane's End) and toured the therapy center. Thanks so much to Sally Goswell (she sent me this article before I knew it was published) for taking the time out of her busy day to take me around and show me some of my favorite horses. (Union Rag's Margano, Lentenor, Lucky Chappy, Aruna, Summer Soiree, Animal Kingdom, Strephanoatsee, Teeth of the Dog to name a few) She showed me through the therapy center while there were horses using the facilities. I got some photos of the Aqua Pacer in use and stood inside the hyperberic chamber and vibrating stall. It was all very cool.

I was glad to hear Paynter was going to Fair Hill to continue his recovery. In my opinion there is no place more peaceful and well equiped for his convelescense. What a couragous horse. I wish nothing but the best for him and the Zayat family. These are owners who truly care about their horses, their comfort and well being. Other owners should aspire to their mentality..They proved it is not just a business.

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slee — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:13:40 GMT

Wow. I must admit when the stories were coming out of New Bolton about the next thing that went wrong, and the next and the next, that I started to wonder if they were doing the right thing for the horse. I have colitis (an after-effect of cancer treatment), so I could certainly imagine how Paynter may have felt some days. But the laminitis on top of it? How much more could he take? What were they waiting for?

How glad I am that the miracle they were waiting for came and Paynter can now stand in his box at Fair Hill eating mints, watch the sun rise every morning, feel the grass under his healed feet, and maybe wonder what the fuss was all about!

thanks again Steve!

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Fran Loszynski — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:05:02 GMT

It's wonderful isn't it Steve, how people help racehorses or any horse recover. God Bless all of you. Wonderful, beautiful, touching pics of Paynter. I can tell you're smitten with him and boy he's lucky to have you as a fan. I'm sure you'll be at the rail someday cheering on "little Paynters". Now I have to go get a Kleenex.

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Love 'em all — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:30:22 GMT

Mr. Haskin, of all your wonderful treats lately, this one has to be the best! And I love all the pics! Paynter, to the credit of all his loving, caring connections and medical folks, is a true miracle, if ever there was one! Thank you for making my day.

Wasn't online yesterday and kept wondering what the latest was on Paynter. Well, today's treat is appreciated more than you'll ever know.

Long live Paynter!

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Steve Haskin — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:59:09 GMT

Thanks again to everyone for your heartfelt comments.

Carol McE, that's an amazing story. What a great moment that must have been.

Paintedmare,thank you very much for those beautiful and eloquent words. They are much appreciated.

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Big_Red_4ever — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:17:35 GMT

@Paula Higgins. Thank you :)

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Ted from LA — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:08:06 GMT

I am glad to see Paynter looking so well. Great photos. On a different note, is it just me or has the thoroughbred horse just become weaker due to poor breeding? Even more troubling is the fact that we haven't had a talking horse since the mid 1960s...

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paintedmare — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:24:15 GMT

Mr. Haskin, I wanted to try to express how privileged I felt to share this small moment of time with you. I had just taken a horse to the Therapy Center's saltwater spa, and was on my way back to the barn. I was the one in the blue Cosequin sweater-- instead of finding some way to put into words the admiration and respect I have for you, or the joy that reading your insightful, inspirational blog brings me, I bumbled out some goofy comment to you about how 'cool it was to see you at Fair Hill.' After I internally facepalmed, I watched Paynter step off the van and into the barn. Though there was no fanfare on that quiet, drizzly afternoon, he looked every bit the champion; reserved, poised, maintaining his dignity through everything he's been through. I was struck by how small he was, and became even more impressed with his Haskell victory and his courageous effort in the Belmont-- what a heart must beat in that little guy!

While working for Mr. Motion, I have been lucky enough to work with some very talented, special horses. Even so, the unique privilege of chancing on this moment, seeing this brave horse so close up and candidly, and sharing it with one of the people I admire in the industry-- that was not lost on me. Thank you; it will be one of the memories I'll hang on to forever.

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Alex'sBigFan — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:34:03 GMT

Thank you Steve for going to see Paynter and reporting this wonderful new to us! Isn't this a blessing, the answer to many, many prayers come true. Paynter still looks beautiful, he'll regain his weight in no time. He looks bright, a little thinner and gaunt but lucky to be alive. I wish all of us were there with him. I am so happy he is at rehab in such beautiful surroundings as well. Hey, he might even get to talk to Animal Kingdom there! I'm glad they chose to rehab cautiously close to New Bolton before Paynter goes to Kentucky. I wonder if the day will come when Paynter will be reunited with Baffert? I don't care if he doesn't race again, I would love to see him become a champion on the track again, but just as you said Steve what he has won and accomplished is truly a win of a lifetime.

I wish a long, happy, healthy life to this absolutely amazing Paynter and may all the horror he went through soon become just a distant vague memory for him. I noticed that Mr. Zayat carries many titles, one of them on his Twitter page is "humanitarian." This is one man who truly deserves the right to carry that title in this world. Humanitarians, Steve, Mr. Zayat, Dr. Laura, and all who got the Haskell winner I fell in love with back to health. I don't think Mr. Zayat is obsessed at all, we all feel the same attachment to Paynter and he too has that aura of the same Zenyatta-like phenomenon we experienced. Paynter has that unexplained quality too. I feel like I was on the back of the same emotional roller-coaster with the Zayats all the way since the Haskell. God and the doctors saved an amazing animal, Paynter the Miracle Colt, a "Profile In Courage." C'mon Steve that's your title do the book or movie script. Whatever the decision for Paynter's future whether it be racing or breeding I fully believe Mr. Zayat said it best, Paynter will tell us what he wants.

Thank you again Steve, especially for these photos of him. I truly love this horse. PowerUpPaynter!

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BN — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:41:29 GMT

I was so afraid that people were going to forget all about this courageous horse. Thanks for being there to welcome him, and providing those of us who were praying for him with an update.

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Karen in Texas — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:31:58 GMT

Steve---As I've said before, your "grace of expression" is second to none and is characteristic of true literature. I see the photo essays and illustrative story photos as an extension of that unique ability to capture and express a significant moment in time.

Being able to see Paynter as he arrives at his rehab facility allows us to be reassured that he is indeed "PoweredUp" and going forward to a new normal. As a couple of posters mentioned above, his having lived through DIC is remarkable in and of itself, as this condition is frequently fatal in any species, even in this day and age of medicine. Thank you for caring and for understanding how much we, his fans, care. May Paynter continue his recovery without further incident.

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Ranagulzion — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:33:26 GMT

Kudos to you Steve on this column. Once I heard that Paynter, battling Colitis, came down with Laminitis I thought that was it for him but alas, miracles do happen. The veterinary team and all the care givers for this colt deserve some credit. It'd be great to see him recover his health 100% and return to the track next year because he's the kind of class horse that we need to have stick around right now. That'd be quite a big deal, given the fate of the stars of this crop of 3YO colts.

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deb — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:26:25 GMT

Go Paynter!!!

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CarolMcE — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:11:03 GMT

I love reading about Paynter. When I was a student at UC Davis, I volunteered at the Vet Med barn grooming the patients, and one stallion was Robert Goulet, who had three broken legs. He hung from the rafters in a sling for the whole school year. I remember when they brought him down in June, and he walked for the first time! I felt like I was his special person. Does Paynter have a special person? His groom maybe? who sees him daily? I hope so. So many people love him from afar.