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Bits & Bytes Farm Success Stories

Our horses > success stories > Buckeye Buckaroo aka "Garrett's Halo"

Buckeye Buckaroo aka "Garrett's Halo"

Buckeye Buckaroo will now be known as Garrett's Halo. Garrett was Stephen's five year old son who was killed in a car accident by two teenagers who were drag racing. Buckeye Buckaroo has been renamed in his memory. Read more about Garrett below. Amy and Stephen have decided to name their farm to Storytails Farm as each tail on their farm is attached to a unique story (tale).

January 14, 2007

Halo is doing great. He's fat, fuzzy, and on vacation. I had decided that the best thing I could do for his back was give him the winter off to just be the barn pet. The acupuncture and other therapy helped him but his back kept flaring up and even seemed to travel down his stifle region sometimes. I had first decided to try strengthening his back through easy basic flat work and not jumping him at all for awhile. But even just doing the flat work on a consistent basis caused him to have flare ups. So, plan B (probably his favorite plan of all) was to just let him have a few months off to let his muscles relax and heal. I have been watching him play out in the field and can see improvement in his movement on most days. He still has some bad days (I think resulting from playing too hard and kicking his heals WAY up over his head). I'll let you know how he does after he's had more time off. I hope to have him back under the saddle by spring but am not going to rush anything. If the rain will let up I'll get some pictures to send you today.

Amy

January 11, 2007

Hi Elizabeth,
I let Halos mane grow out while he's on vacation to help give him a little extra warmth where his turnout blanket doesn't cover. I plan to have the vet give him another good look before starting him back under saddle this spring. If he needs more time then that's what he'll get. Life is real tough for him right now, he has been given the job of roaming the farm to make sure none of the neighbors horses have trespassed onto his territory. He and Dreamy spend a good bit of time hanging around the house with the dogs looking for handouts and attention. It's pretty cool to be able to walk out on the front or back porch to give him a hug and kiss then go back inside to finish work while watching him out the window.
Take care,
Amy

Buckeye Buckaroo aka "Garrett's Halo" enjoying life as a horse! September 30, 2006

September 30, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,
I just wanted to share some pictures that made me laugh. Very typical of Halo. This is from yesterday morning. As you can see he strongly believes in mud baths. Luckily the water resistant turnout works very well. Other than the mud (which is pretty much a daily ritual for him) he coming along beautifully.

-Amy

August 1, 2006

Hi Elizabeth, For as long as I have had Halo I have had to be careful because his back would get sore very easily. The vet thinks it may have been from him compensating for the problems resulting from him hurting himself flipping in the starting gate before you got him. He may have compensated so much that he retrained his muscles to function in a way that eventually strained his back while being worked.

I had been massaging him, padding him, using a new saddle, and giving him lots of time off when needed. It wasn't anything too serious as his work level was kept fairly light but I was concerned about it becoming a real problem for him as we worked harder.

I was told about this incredible equine vet about an hour from my farm. I took him to the new vet on Friday. He suggested we try acupuncture.

Well, I am amazed and very pleased with the results. Halo is feeling great and he is showing off during our rides. His back has not shown any signs of soreness after the past three days of riding.

I' m sending some pictures from today. The jump is only 2'6'' and we were trotting for our approach but he let me know that he was ready for bigger stuff. I am a believer in acupuncture now! This is most definitely something I will be using for any horses that may show a slight tendency of not feeling 100% physically happy from now on.

If anyone has any doubt about the benefits of acupuncture please share my story with them. My only regret was that I did not do this sooner for him. Hope you and all yours are well.

-- Amy

Elizabeth's Note: All too often off-the-track Thoroughbreds are written off as crazy because in reality they are hurting and trying to let us know by acting out. If you have a horse that bucks or acts cranky, make sure there is not an underlying problem that might easily be solved with acupuncture or chiropractic. We feel strongly that all horses can benefit from alternative medicine and exercises to strengthen muscles that may have been unused or compromised while racing.

OTTB Buckeye Buckaroo aka "Garrett's Halo" enjoys his new farm in Tennessee.

May 29, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

We made it through the one year mark of having lost Garrett and his mother. We also made it through Garrett's birthday on May 20th. I have been meaning to tell you how much it meant to Stephen and me that you included so much information about Garrett on Halo's page.

Garrett's Halo enjoying his new pasture.

We have not had a chance to work on the house very much since moving in but we still offer for you two to stay with us anytime.We have been busy clearing and fencing more land so the boys will have lots of room. I hope you two are doing well.

A view of the Storytails Farm barn and pastures.

I have attached pictures to show you Halo's progress. I have been working on long and low with him and as you can see he has begun to enjoy how it allows him to stretch through his back. I look forward to every chance I have to ride him. He has a huge heart and a want to bond.

It's past my bedtime so I am off to bed.

-- Amy

Garrett's Halo learning how to go long and low.

May 14, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

Halo is doing great! I have been taking things very slow with him. I move forward when he is ready. I hope to be able to take him to some small local shows this summer. We were supposed to join some friends for a ride along the river today but the weather changed those plans.

Garrett's Halo and Garrett's Dreamer

We will be taking on boarders by next month so our boys will have some more company. If ya'll are ever in our area come by to see us or let us know if you need a place to house a horse.

Take care,
Amy and Stephen

Garrett's Halo and Garrett's Dreamer in their brand new barn.

April 19, 2006

Here are some pictures of the boys in their new house. Lots of work still ahead of us but it is sweet to be home!

Amy & Stephen

March 14, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,
We have made it to TN. We have been here about a week now and have been running around working on the farm. Halo is doing great! We had been working on basic leg signals, bending in corners, moving from behind into the bit, and small jumps before we left Savannah. He took on each new activity with beautiful athletic capability and a wonderful enthusiasm that has made him a real joy to work with. He took on the long haul to TN with no problems and quickly settled into his new environment. I have not had time to ride in the past week so he and Dreamer have enjoyed a mini-vacation. He has become a big puppy. He tends to bury his head in my or Stephen's chest or armpit area and doze while we rub on him.

Hope you are doing well,
Amy

February 21, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

I have been checking his weight with a weight tape once a week since bringing him home to make sure he does not drop or gain too much weight too quickly. I measured him the first time a day after he arrived home from your place and he was 1098. He did drop to around 1081 while adjusting to his new environment. He is now measuring between 1098 and 1115. His rump and chest seem to be filling out as he has been worked on a regular schedule and this makes the roundness of his belly less obvious. I am sending more pictures I took this morning while he was out playing in the rain.

We were told yesterday that we might be getting our truck back today. I will keep you posted on when we will be leaving for TN.

-- Amy

February 20, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,
We are still in south GA waiting to make the big move to TN. Our truck is in the shop and once it is ready to go we will load up and take off. Here are some pictures of Halo I took this morning. He was wearing a little bit of his breakfast on his face as you can see. He is doing great! He stands while I tack him up and no longer shows any fear of objects being placed on his back. He is starting to catch on to leg signals during flat work. I have taken him over various small jumps from logs to solid box jumps and he seems to enjoy himself.

Hope you are doing well.
-- Amy

February 4, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

Halo is doing great! We rode the boys out on some trails the other day and he was the brave one leading the way. I took him through a mini obstacle course consisting of small logs and ditches. He had a lot of fun and really enjoyed himself once he caught on to the new "game".

We have the septic in and the barn started. The weather has caused some delay on the barn but we hope it will be completed soon! I would rather move the horses to their home barn rather than move them to our rental then have to move them again after our barn is complete.

Take care,

— Amy & Stephen

January 25, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

Halo is doing great!

He is now standing still when I place the saddle on him but I continue to work with placing objects over his withers (such as towels and the soft girth) and rewarding him with yummy treats. He is doing great under saddle. His natural movement from behind is making the transition much easier than ex-race horses I have worked with in the past.

I have some good news! Stephen is going to keep Halo's friend - Dreamer. We had helped get Dreamer from a less than ideal living condition and move him to Stephen's uncle. We then helped come up with his new name (Garrett's Dreamer because Garrett's favorite stuffed animal was named Dreamer who kept bad dreams away). Stephen's uncle and I were not going to push Dreamer onto Stephen but we did want to see if they had the right chemistry. As it turns out they are perfect for each other!

Dreamer was very under weight and had a defeated look in his eye when we picked him up. He and Halo latched onto each other like lost brothers. Stephen and Dreamer spend a lot of time roaming the fields and loving on each other. Stephen has had very little experience with horses but rides Dreamer like it is second nature to him. Dreamer is only three but has the huge heart and wants to take care of Stephen.

We are waiting for the weather to dry up enough to get the barn built so we can move on up to TN. We hope we will be making the move within a month. I'll keep you posted.

—Amy & Stephen

Buckeye Buckaroo aka Garrett's Halo. January 2005

January 10, 2006

Hi Elizabeth,

Here is another picture I took yesterday. I have tacked Halo up twice now. He was upset about the saddle the first time but stood still for it the second time. He seems to feel at home now and is very attached to Dreamer (who is only three by the way so he is nothing but a big baby). He feels very good when hacking around. We rode him and Dreamer out to a new field and he was very good about being ridden in an "unknown" area. Days that we can not ride we spend time grooming and bonding (with treats involved of course). I'll keep you posted.

— Amy

This was taken from Garrett's blogspot. . .

For all of you who didn't know Garrett personally, let me enlighten you that there were only 2 things he loved unconditionally (other than his Mommy and his Daddy)....those 2 things were playing 'Halo' on his X-Box, and his beloved 'Dreamer', who was his special stuffed animal that he slept with at night to keep away bad dreams... Dreamer and Halo......Garrett's special friends, his special companions....

We now welcome the real life versions of Garrett's Dreamer and Garrett's Halo to our family.....

Buckeye Buckaroo aka "Garrett's Halo" and his young friend "Garrett's Dreamer" with Stephen.

...young boys with HUGE attitudes....

Garrett's Dreamer, Stephen and Buckeye Buckaroo now named - Garrett's Halo.

and Garrett's love lives on......

Knight Villain was Buckeye Buckaroo's best friend at Bits & Bytes Farm. November 7, 2005

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