Vilas County - was a Former Prospect Horse
For Sale.
April 3, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
Hope everyone at the farm is doing fine and you had a good time
in NY?
Finally I got some pictures from Vilas under saddle.
Actually I just started to ride him again beginning of last week.
Since I got him in January he had more or less some time off.
He needed to get used to be 24/7 outside, get used to walk on
the hilly terrain of our pasture and to learn some ground manners.
Sounds weird, but you know better than I that for an OTTB this
kind of life is something complete different. I also had the
chiropractor there as I told you before and I think she did an
amazing job on him.
The time he had off was really helpful for him and his brain
- to forget the racetrack and to start a new life with. He now
acts like a young boy who wants get worked and explore the world.
He isn't scared or spooky of anything which really makes all
easier.
I'm very proud of him as he already canters now
on the right lead within a couple of days (we don't get it every
time but are working on that) and I can even lunge him both directions
(just walk and trot) without any problems.
To teach him easier how to canter on the lunge line we are just
building a round pen. Yeaahhh!!! I sent you some pictures over your
webpage.Let me know what you think about him.
We send you all the best!!
Katharina, Klaus, Vilas and the rest of Welcome Farm
Elizabeth's Note: Katharina
is an experienced horse trainer. It will be great fun to watch
the progress of Vilas County under her expert tutoring. One
note - please always wear a helmet! Recently an experienced
dressage trainer was found unconscious and later died because
of major head trauma. He was alone on the farm,
working with a young horse. His
death is directly attributed to the fact he was
not wearing a helmet. Helmets are not just for jumping. Be ride
safely.
February 28, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
I checked back on Vilas yesterday and also talked to my vet again
and he was doing fine, no lameness anymore.
We think he hit himself with his shoes somehow while rolling in
the mud.
Anyway I pay special attention to his leg the next days, but I'm
also very happy that he is doing much better.
As we are now back from our long trip we finally have to get back
to training again.
My guys had two weeks off and now its time to work again. :-)))
I will give you further updates on Vilas progress.
Vilas says HI!
I attached you some pictures of the show.
Take care,
Katharina
February 27, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
Over the time we have been to Scottsdale, AZ we brought Vilas and
Darren to my friends barn. There they had their own pasture and
were enjoying being outside.
Before we left the chiropractor came for Vilas. He really enjoyed
the treatment and after she was done there was no pain in his
back anymore.
My task was then to walk him for three days and we did that.
After that we had to leave to Scottsdale.
We came back on Sunday and since then they were
just standing on our pasture. But yesterday Vilas rolled in the
mud and got up and was lame. He didn't even want
to step on his front right leg anymore. I was shocked. I got
him inside and called my vet directly. They instructed me to
give him some Bute and to wait until this morning.
Of course I wrapped the leg and put some anti-swelling stuff
on. This morning I got him out of his stall and he was walking
normally, I would say.
Katharina
January 30, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
Hope you and the horses are doing well?
Just wanted to tell you that Vilas is now also on our webpage.
www.thewelcomefarm.com under NEWS.
He is doing very well so far. His ground manners really improved
and he now stands quietly for grooming and tacking up.
Vilas is now turned out 24/7 as long as the weather permits....and
he loves it so much.
I have the feeling that he already gained some weight.
Vilas is such a good boy. We made our first trail ride two days
ago and he behaved like a gentleman. We had to pass barking dogs,
playing children, a herd of maybe 100 cows and much more. He
looked at the cows, but that was ok as I know that my other
two horses are looking even more.
We just walked, no trot, no canter and he was so good. I really
enjoyed that.
I started several days ago to learn him lunging. He is doing
pretty good and is actually also very laid back (which doesn't
mean he is lazy, just very balanced). That is one thing which is
really very relaxing for me, as my other two guys are much more
active, if not hyperactive. :-))
The weird thing is, that he is better to the right
than to the left. In the beginning he really didn't want to go
on the left lead on the lunge line. It seems that he is sore/huffish
from going on the left lead.
We got that better now, but it doesn't go as smooth as to the
right yet.
I contacted a chiropractor, recommended from my vet. She's coming
next wednesday to check on him and I think and hope that she
will find
something that could help him getting his to-go-to-the-left problem
improved or even solved.
What really funny was, when I called my vet yesterday to get
the number from the chiropractor, Laura answered the phone and
she told me she has seen Vilas on your
website and was telling me then that they got Bobbi from
you. She told me that the chiropractor really helped Bobbi. He
had always issues with going to the right.
Tomorrow I'm gonna leave to Florida, to visit Imti over the weekend
and to get a final touch-up for an Arabian show in Scottsdale,
Arizona. I'm going there with one of my horses, an 8 year old
purebred arab mare. They will have over 2500 horses there. We
will show in Dressage, Sporthorse and Show Jumping.
Cross your fingers for me, the competition will be huge.
Klaus will take care of Vilas and Darren over the weekend, so
the guys will have some time out.
Hopefully I can tell you good news how Vilas has been with the
chiropractor.
Take care,
Katharina and Vilas
January 14, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
Hi Barry,
I thought I give you a further update on Vilas.
He is doing great and I'm so amazed of him how fast
he's learning. One week is over and he's already turned out 24/7.
Yes, he really loves it and behaves like he never did anything
other before.
His hunger is huge and he eats and of course he also gets a lot
to put some weight on him.
Last Friday was our first day of riding. I was very anxious, as
this was the first time I will ride and "feel" my OTTB.
He was a big gentlemen and behaved exemplary. We were walking and
trotting in the arena on the left and right lead.
And that was it. We didn't do anything else. He was not sure what
happened to him - walking in an arena - what is that?
But he did a great job.
Next day we started with the same, but this time
I wanted to get him to canter. First on the left. After I gave
him the aid he immediately made a smooth transition into the canter.
Wow! What a rockinghorse-canter - very comfortable.
After that I tried to canter him on the right lead, but we didn't
get it. Of course not - he just learned to canter on the left.
I hope and think with patience and a solid ground work including
lunging we will get that pretty soon (Maybe you have a trick
or tip how I can support him learning to canter on the right
lead?).
As a treat we took a little trail ride over our property and
he was so calm and relaxed. I really didn't expect that. I'm
so proud of him. He didn't spook or refuse to anything.
Yesterday we did the same program again and he started
to drop his head and to accept the bit. I was thrilled.
Within three days of work Vilas has changed tremendous, both under
the saddle and on the ground.
The first days of handling him on the ground were
connected with some learning of ground manners and discipline.
You remember when we picked him up at your place he was pulling
me around. So my goal was to learn him how to walk shoulder on
shoulder and to stop when I wanted to stop and not when he wanted.
After two days this was done and now he leads perfectly.
I will send you some pictures of him standing on the pasture.
A couple of days ago he hit himself on his right leg (He still
has to learn how to sort his feet - he didn't walk around in
freedom so much in a long time) It's nothing serious, but I wrapped
it to keep it clean and to let heal - I don't want you to wonder
what that green wrap his on his leg.
Today the vet is coming as I need new Coggins for
all of them. I will let him have a look on it.
Vilas success story has begun and I can't wait to tell you more.
Take care,
Katharina
January 9, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
Here is my first update on Vilas aka Villie:
When we got home
yesterday, everything was already prepared to welcome Villie. Villie
definitely likes his new stall. He loves to watch everything what´s
going on outside. That night we also got our other two horses inside
from the pasture to keep him company.He had a good night and all
his food and hay was gone this morning.
Then I decided to put him first out on the riding arena. We don´t
have a small paddock.You can not believe how happy he was to run,
jump, fly, roll and do what horses like to do. Here came this gorgeous
man with this floating trot and this incredible canter. I directly
called Klaus to tell him that we really got a very nice superduper
horse.
As the ton of pictures proof he had so much fun and enjoyed his
freedom - finally!
My farrier was already here, so the race pads are gone. We put
just front shoes on him. He walks very good with that. Next step
will be to introduce him to my other horses. I think it will probably
take him another 2-3 days to completely settle in. But he shows
already confidence while I groomed him and while the farrier was
there.
I really did not expect to get such a beautiful horse!!
Let me thank you a 1000-times and I will keep you updated.
Take care,
Katharina
More news: Villie is doing fine and is already standing on the
pasture. We introduced him yesterday night and he was just eating
gras. He loved it! I put them out this morning again and I think
he can't believe what's happening to him. It is great to see "Happy
Horses"!
He loves my Anglo-Arab gelding...they will get good
friends...
I will ride him the first time on Friday.
Thanks a lot,
Katharina
Vilas County gets his new sport horse shoes.
Vilas County aka "Villas" - Congratulations
to Katharina Berner of Roopeville, GA!
Elizabeth's Notes:
Katharina first contacted me when she moved from Germany to Georgia
in 2007. She did not buy a horse from us at that time but she called
again the same day I received photos of Vilas County. She and I
discussed what she was looking for in a new horse. I told her
that my Kentucky contact was sending photos of anew horse and I
thought might be a match. I sent Katharina the photos as soon as
they came in my e-mail. Vilas County's owner/trainer needed to
move him fast and I knew that if he were not sold quickly, he might
not be available in a week. Fortunately, for both Katharina and
Vilas County, Katharina was able to make a decision quickly. The
vet check turned out well and the vet was very impressed with the
movement and athleticism of Vilas County. Barry and I were headed
to Lexington to meet with some of our breeder contacts and tour
the big breeding farms during their stallion open houses. We offered
to pick up Vilas County and bring him back to Georgia for Katharina.
Big beautiful horses are often sold the
day we find out about them. Vilas County is what most people are looking for in a horse.
If you are a serious buyer and ready to act fast, call to see what
horses we might have in our "warehorse". I often have
horses that have not yet made it to the Web site as my "real" job
keeps me extremely busy creating and updating Web sites for clients.
Visit Katharina's
Web site and see why we are so excited about this match!
Former Prospect Horse For
Sale - Vilas
County at
the track. Click here to
see his Prospect Horses For Sale photos.
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