new Newz

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• visitors' photos

Our Horses

• horses for sale
• prospect horses
• special reserve
• bargain barn
• horses sold
• buying our horses
• success stories new
• success stories older

Boarding

• about b & b
• feeding program
• farm photos
• our boarders

Training

• how we train
  off-the-track
  Thoroughbreds
• trainers
• training notes
  from elizabeth

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• web site design
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Contact Info

1275 owens store road
canton, georgia 30115

phone
770-704-6595

Welcome to Bits & Bytes Farm

Welcome to Bits & Bytes Farm on the Web. Take a virtual tour of the farm and see the beautiful thoroughbred horses we have for sale. Follow their training and learn how we bring them from racetrack to a new career in the show ring, fox hunting or eventing. The "Horses for Sale" page has horses that are here at the farm. If you have the skills to take one right from the track but not the contacts, check out our "Prospect Horses for Sale" page. Follow the Success Stories of Horses Sold with the help of Bits & Bytes Farm. Read our past "Newz" stories and watch for new postings on our "What's New on the Site" page.

Checking In on Horses We've Placed

We are very fortunate at Bits & Bytes Farm to have met many wonderful people who have come to try our horses. By the time a horse leaves our farm, most of the buyers have become very good friends. We are not in the business of buying and selling horses. Our mission is to transition Thoroughbreds away from racing and into new careers with loving owners and hopefully permanent owners. We spend as much time checking out our buyers as they do checking out our horses. In most cases, we find that the people who make it to the farm for a visit, understand our mission. They trust that we have the best interests of both the horse and the rider at heart. They too want to give the horse every opportunity to have a productive second career and most of them realize that it takes time and patience.

Sometimes we even get the opportunity to go and visit with our former horses and enjoy the hospitality of their new owner. Such was the case in early March when we were invited to stay with Austins Wolf's new owner, Laurie Flebotte. Laurie came to our farm on the recommendation of a long time fox hunting/car racing, friend of Elizabeth's - GladysAnn Wells. Laurie's first visit was in January 2005. She tried Cloned Colony but decided not to purchase him. She returned, to the farm, in January 2006. Not one to miss a second opportunity to get a good horse, she quickly scooped up Austins Wolf for herself. Laurie has plans to show him in hunter shows and also in some dressage classes.

We thought that we might check out the competition in South Florida during our visit so we headed up to Wellington to the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival with Laurie, her husband Josh and another friend and former boarder - Grace DeVita.

Laurie, Elizabeth, Carl Bessette and Barry at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club for the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival. - March 4, 2006.

Laurie called her trainer Carl Bessette, of Wellington, Florida, to meet us at the show grounds and fill us in on what the judges were looking for in the show ring. Carl has produced elegant riders and qualified many for the Medal finals, so we knew we were getting good advice. We had the pleasure of sitting with him in the rider's area of the main ring during the 1.50m Classic jumping class where Rodrigo Pessoa won it with his mare Cantate Z for the second straight week.

Rodrigo Pessoa's time 57.00 seconds flat, which gave him a 2.41 seconds lead over second place.

The following weekend, Laurie put Carl's advice and training to work as she took Austins Wolf to his first horse show. If a picture is worth a thousand words than here are several thousand words!

Austins Wolfe cleaned up at his first show. March 12, 2006

It warms our hearts to see the horses of Bits & Bytes Farm go on to successful new careers. Congratulations Laurie and Austins Wolf! We are very proud of you both! And thanks for the hospitality during our visit to Southern Florida. Your B&B is rated Five Stars in our book!

More Updates on Our 25 Special Horses

We have had great success placing our 25 Special Horses. They have all turned out to be very sweet and kind and easy to train. Do you remember the most special horse of our 25 - Skinny? He is doing fantastic. Read his Success Story and see how he is filling out and maturing.

This was Flame Boyant's (aka Skinny) Prospect Horse for sale photo taken in November 2005.

Flame Boyant just a few months later. He is now a gelding and has put on some pounds. March 12, 2006

We have had the pleasure of working with Artic Vic and My Sparky Boy at Bits & Bytes Farm. Both horses have shown great talent. Artic Vic went to young rider Jennifer Bliss and My Sparky Boy is currently for sale at our farm. He has shown himself to be multi-talented and could be good in either hunter/jumper or eventing. He is a beautiful mover with a calm attitude. Here is a new photo of My Sparky Boy learning to jump. He is now jumping lines and 18" verticals and gates.

My Sparky Boy is learning to jump lines and gates. He will make a great horse for a young rider. - March 11, 2006

Read the Success Stories of several of the other 25 Special Horses we have placed. Click on the list is at the right side of this story. Our little pregnant filly "Darling" is due to foal in March (she is bagging up with milk!) and she is currently being fostered until she delivers. Viva Vicky is in the process of being purchased and we do not want to leave Most Always a Lady behind. Can someone find it in their heart to adopt this last mare? She is very nice and loves treats. We do not want her to panic and get loose after Viva Vicky is picked up.

Most Always a Lady looks a lot like Suzie Maewon. Most Always a Lady desperately needs a home. Can you help?

Suzie Maewon is doing fantastic for her new mom Nicki Nault. Click here to read their Success Stories. She and Most Always a Lady look similar. Notice what a good grooming can do to improve a horse's appearance.

"Pretty" was purchased by Halliea Millner to train and place. She shares our beliefs and wants She Calls me Tater aka "Pretty" to have a good home.

Halliea is an experience horsewoman and has given "Pretty" the training she needs to start her new career as a sport horse. Check our their Success Stories page by clicking here.

Going Going Gone!

We have placed several more horses in the past few weeks and we have several sales pending. Please give us a call to plan your visit before your favorite horse is sold. My Sparky Boy has been sold!

Roman Ripples was sold to Amye Morris of Augusta, Georgia who claims she is the "Most beautiful horse in the world".

Call or come by for a visit - but please call first!

Please call us to discuss which horse might be the best match for you based on riding skill, experience and equine personality. We do not send out videos because it is important to match the personality of the horse with the personality of the rider. We are matchmakers, not horse brokers. We have horses in a wide price range. Prospect horses will not be sold to beginners or children without a full time trainer.

Morning turnout at Bits & Bytes Farm

Not all horses are available for sale when they first come to the farm. We like to work with them for a while to teach them the basics of being a safe sport horse and to make sure they are healthy. You are welcome to visit and to get on a waiting list to be the first to ride them when we feel they are ready to be ridden by our visitors. Call us to discuss prices or to schedule an appointment. We are sorry but we cannot accommodate you if you just drop in unannounced. We'd love to have you come meet all of our horses--we know that it will be worth your time. Just bring peppermints!

Our security team springs into action. Sydney, Wizard and Zulu.

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