Taken Chances - A former Prospect Horse
July 12, 2008 - Taken's Chances' New Mom Checks In!
Hi Elizabeth,
My name is Laura Boineau and I have recently purchased Taken Chances from Lea
Mueller. He is doing great. Chance has a great personality and attitude. I
know that Lea had trouble getting and keeping weight on him, so I have been
treating him for ulcers. His appetite is great now and he is easily gaining
weight. I have also had Joy Baker, DVM, who does chiropractic and acupuncture,
out. She has worked on him once and given us exercises to do. He already
is moving better, more freely in his back and hips. Chance is going to make
a great event horse, I am so pleased with him. I'll be in touch soon and will
try and send some pictures.
Thanks,
Laura
Elizabeth's Note: We love to hear from new owners of horses we have
sold. We will always help any owner of a horse (first time owner
or later owner) we placed by offering advice or helping to
resell if the circumstances require a new home for the horse. We
encourage each buyer to keep up with the Success Stories for the
horse. This lets the original breeder, owner or trainer know the
horse is OK and has not gone to auction. It also adds value to the
horse in the case of resale. A horse with a verifiable history is
worth more than a horse with no background.
July 3, 2008 - Congratulations to Laura Boineau of
Greenville, SC!
Taken Chances has found a new mom! We hope Laura will update his
Success Stories with new photos!
May 15, 2008
Hi Elizabeth!
I saw Gloria at Rolex and she showed me pictures of the beautiful
horses you all went to see in Lexington. I hope you were able to
help some of them out. Also I was hoping to get to meet you while
at Rolex! But it just didn't happen.
I am writing because I recently made a decision. A hard one at
that, but I think it is the right thing for me to do. I have started
back in school, for a physical therapist assistant program. My
time and resources are very tight right now and so have decided
to put Chances up for sale. He especially needs both those things
right now and it is hard for me to provide them. He is a wonderful
horse. He really has a lot of potential if under the wing of the
right person. He is so smart and very athletic. He truly is someone's
next great sporthorse. Although he has also been enjoying just
being a horse for now.
I know that if I sell him the new owner's have to agree to your
agreement and stay in touch. I think that is wonderful. Also
if you can put the word out on your website that would be super
- just let me know what you need from me. I can send you updated
pictures of the boy - he is looking super. The sooner I can sell
him the better, but he definitely has to go to the right home.
For the time being he is at home with me and I probably won't
have alot of time to do much with him. But soon (if he doesn't
sell while at home) I will be sending him to a friend of mine
so that he can continue his training.
So far, since I have had him, he lunges in side reins; We were
working on walk/trot/ canter - still working on picking up his
right lead but he gets it most of the time (he actaully thinks
about it and tries). We were working on inside leg to outside
rein, bending, and softening. Some leg-yielding. And has had
a few sessions jumping cross-rails. He has a very nice, soft
jump.
He can get nervous about some things, of course he is only just
4, and his tendancy is to want to bolt. It's not a huge deal
and he comes right back to you. He has to have a buddy in the
pasture, otherwise he is never quite settled and I think he could
get along with anybody. His feet are great. He is barefoot right
now with no problems.
Thanks for all you do to help these horses out. And if anything
i am glad to have been able to at least be a part of Chances
transition into a new life. Hopefully I can help find him the
right home cause he is really a wonderful horse. When I get out
of school and have a job where I can afford to have another horse
I will definitely remember Bits and Bytes Farm.
Let me know if you have any ideas on how to find Chances a new
home. Look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Lea Mueller
February 13, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
I just wanted to finally send you some pictures of
Chances (he's acquired the nickname Barnabie). These pictures are
of my second time riding him - finally! Yeah! He is doing great and
is such a smart boy.
We are working on steering, moving off from
the leg, and some moving away from the leg. He really does catch
on fast. We have also done trotting poles. He has a nice floating
trot moving forward with ease, and he naturally tracks up and carries
himself. He is just still unbalanced and underdeveloped.
We have
not cantered him yet from the saddle as he is still very weak
behind, but are doing some in free lunging. As you can see he is
really skinny again. He lost weight once he started in on a work
schedule. But we think he is on the upside now and is not losing
any more. Hope he will start gaining as spring approaches. He also
loves getting dirty and rolling around in the mud. Hope all is well
on the farm. I would really like to make it down there sometime for
a visit.
Best Regards, Lea
January 2008
Hey Elizabeth!
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Thank
you for Taken Chance's papers. I've never had a horse with papers
before so that is very exciting! And feels very official. Chances
is doing great - living the good life. I have been very slow at getting
him going with circumstances, the holidays, and weather. But I am
excited to let you know he will be going to a trainer, a friend of
mine, in Tryon soon to seriously begin his training. I decided that
I much needed and wanted help with young Chances so that he can have
a most confident and relaxing experience. My trainer says she has
a barn full of 4 yr. old TBs right now so he will fit right in! I
look forward to learning alot as I will be there as much as possible
and will be able to work with Chances with supervision.
What I have been able to do with him are groundwork exercises such
as bending his neck, and untracking his hindend while bending his
neck. It is more difficult for him on the right side. Also backing
softly and in a straight line from both sides. Which has also been
difficult, but he has definitely improved. I just have to remember
to go slow. We work on leading, stoppping when I stop, and moving
forwards when I begin. We also work on lowering his head with the
slightest of pressure. And good manners haltering and releasing
in the pasture. He enjoys going on walks around the property. He
is very curious. I also had a round pen session with him the other
day and it was a beginning. His thing seems to be his attention.
He wants to pay attention to everything except me - guess that's
being a 3 yr old. The roundpen was great because I could get him
moving forward but he also had to pay attention to me. He never
quite relaxed and that is my goal for our next session. I would
like for him to drop his head in a relaxed trot. So I guess, though
it seems to me we haven't gotten alot done, we have been working
on a lot of the little things. And better to go slow with confidence
than to rush through it unsure of things.
But I know with regular work and a program his attention span and
relaxation will greatly improve. He just needs a job and to know
what is expected of him. He is Mr. Personanlity with lots of opinions
about life. I will let you know how his progress goes in these
next couple of months during his time at the trainers and will
send pictures too!
Lea
November 19, 2007
Hi Elizabeth!
Here are some great pics of Chances first time out. Not the best
quality photos however, but hope you enjoy. Yeah, he was feelin'
good that day! His hind end may be underdeveloped but it can still
pack the punch! He sure got some air! Made me think to myself,
'Oh Boy!' . . Lea
November 15, 2007
Hi Elizabeth!
I hope all is well at the Bits and Bytes Farm! Just to give you a quick update
to let you know how Chances is - he's great! He is settling in just fine.
He
finally got his shoes removed and his very long toes trimmed. He seems much
more comfortable. The farrier said he looks to have a good thickness to his
soles for a thoroughbred so he is barefoot for the time being. He was a little
nervous about the farrier, but I think mostly because he was on the side
of the barn where he really hadn't hung out before. Where as inside
the barn he has been working on ground tying and has been doing very
well.
I haven't been able to do a whole lot with him yet as I broke
a bone in my hand a couple of weeks ago and have been very cautious.
But he has definitely begun to relax into everything. Although
he wasn't too happy when my mare left to go spend time at another
barn for a while, he does still have his buddy, Strike, who is a
laid back(most of the time) older Arab. And sometimes he has Cameo,
the goat, as his neighbor.
I have been able to do a little bit of groundwork stuff. He seems
very smart and willing. I think he is ready to start doing some
more things. He is very curious and very affectionate. This week
I hope to finally get him going on some lunging and get us into
a regular routine of work. It's been a crazy month.
The vet is coming out this week to float his teeth.
I have some pictures and will send as soon as my hubby downloads
onto computer at work to send to me. I think he is already starting
to put on some weight and look a lot better.
I just want to thank you for being very helpful with the whole
process of purchasing a TB sight unseen off the internet. I was
nervous but not really after talking with you and reading all
of the success stories and training tips. It was quite fun! And
I love my new horse! It is also so great to be able to read all
of the stories and learn from other peoples experiences. It is
like a support group and very helpful.
I also want to thank Darla, the contact at the track, for all her
help and honesty.
I think it is a wonderful thing you all are doing to help find new
homes and jobs for these amazing and talented horses!
Can't wait to visit the farm some day soon. Hope all is well.
And
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lea
October 11, 2007
Hi Elizabeth!
"Chances" made it home last night about 7 o'clock. They
arrived early so I wasn't there to see him come off the trailer.
But my shipper said he was really nice to work around and traveled
easy. He seems very relaxed but also very curious. He's a real
sweety. I'm so excited to finally have him here and to meet him in
person. He is very handsome and with some added weight and some lovin'
I think he will be quite spectacular. I will send a picture as soon
as I can get my hands on a camera.
Thanks so much and
I'll be in touch.
Lea
Taken Chances was a former Prospect Horse
For Sale sold to Lea Mueller of Hendersonville, NC in October 2007.
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