Read the Success Stories for these former Bits & Bytes Farm
horses.
* Former Prospect Horses bought directly from the track or trainer.
* Prospect Horses are horses that were bought from our Web site photos and a vet check. Read "How to Buy a Prospect Horse" for more information.
All photos on this Web site are copyright protected and may not be used without written permission of the owners.
Katharina Berner of Roopeville, GA happened to call as we were getting photos of Vilas County in. She was able to move fast on a vet check and we picked him up two days later while we were in Kentucky touring the stallion open houses at the stud farms in Lexington . Big horses sell fast! - January 2008
Vilas County in training for eventing. April 3, 2008
Vilas County was purchased by Katharina Berner of Roopeville, GA as a Prospect Horse For Sale in January 2008.
The best photos are taken the first time the ex-race horse is turned free!
Next comes a good roll in the sand. Ah, FREEDOM!
The next thing an OTTB does, when he gets to his new home off-the-track , is find the grass and start eating!
Former Thoroughbred race horse - Vilas County at the track. Click here to see his Prospect Horses For Sale photos.
No more racing for this Thoroughbred! Vilas County is now a Thoroughbred sport horse in training! Click here to see his pedigree.
Bits & Bytes Farm Success Stories |
Our horses > success stories > Vilas CountyVilas County - was a Former Prospect Horse For Sale.April 3, 2008Hi Elizabeth, 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!! 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, 2008Hi Elizabeth, 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, February 27, 2008Hi Elizabeth, 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, 2008Hi Elizabeth, 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 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. January 14, 2008Hi Elizabeth, 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. 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. 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. January 9, 2008Hi Elizabeth, Here is my first update on Vilas aka Villie: 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!! Take care, 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,
Vilas County aka "Villas" - Congratulations to Katharina Berner of Roopeville, GA!Elizabeth's Notes:
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