It all started with Facebook...

Actually it was this exact picture that I saw.

No seriously, it really did start with Facebook.  I happened to be on my account, checking my notifications when I noticed a picture of a really good looking chestnut on the stalker feed newsfeed.  It just happended to catch my eye because I really liked his confirmation and his big blaze.  Hell, I even liked his "crazy eye" as I affectionately refer to his wall eye (a common occurence in horses where more white shows around the outer rim of the eye ball then in other eyes) he has on his left, but not his right.  The picture was posted by an eventing barn called Mayadinya Farm that I'm a "fan" of, along with this caption:

"This nice, three-year-old thoroughbred gelding is unhappy at the racetrack and is available to an approved home only for a $500 donation to a TB rescue organization. He is 16.2 hands, has raced eight times and demonstrated that he doesn't want to win and probably never will, and is getting grumpy in his job. He has no vices and no behavioral issues, he is sound, and he has been well taken care of at a good stable, but he just doesn't want to be a racehorse. Please e-mail mayadinya@gmail.com if you are interested in him."

Well I surely wasn't in the market to get another horse.  I already had 3 others, my retired Quarter Horse jumper, my other Thoroughbred who I event, and my priceless Shetland pony who I've had since I was four.  I was living in town with my boyfriend and already paying to board them at a man's property a few miles down the road, lord knows I didn't need to add another boarding fee to my expenses, not to mention farrier costs, extra feed, and winter hay supplies.  So what did I do... I emailed them of course!

In all fairness I was only mildly interested in finding out what he had done and what they thought he was capable of.  However, they were really just posting for a friend and kindly referred me to her.  One thing led to another and before I knew it I was in way over my head, taking a vacation day and making the 5 hour trek up to Laurel, Maryland with my trainer to see him at the track where he was still being kept.  Before the day was out I'd written a check and as my trainer and I were driving home I sat there wondering to myself "Oh sh**, what did I just get myself into!"

We go to pick him up next weekend. I can't wait! Let the shenanigans begin!

This blog is dedicated to chonicling my journey with Reily, my new ex-racehorse (commonly referred to as an OTTB [off track Thoroughbred]).