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| Coltie moves to The Plains, Virginia and retires with his original owner |
It's a happy ending akin to Black Beauty's reunion with Joe, but without all the bad
owners in between. Vanessa Keal Gerrish, Coltie's first owner off the race track,
recently got in touch with us regarding giving him a retirement home at her farm in
The Plains, Virginia. According to Vanessa, "I was Coltie's first owner off the racetrack
and introduced him to foxhunting and eventing. I was truly heartbroken when my
parents sold him while I was at college. I would sincerely like to ask them (South
Branch) if it would be possible for Coltie to come and live out his days with me. My
husband and I have an 80 acre farm here in Virginia and it would be perfect to have
him here and give him a fabulous home after all of the years of enjoyment he has
brought to others and especially me. He was my first horse and it would make me so
happy to see him again every day."
Vanessa got in touch with Liz at South Branch, where Coltie was currenly retired and
hanging out in the pasture, and made arrangements to take him back home to
Virginia. He left on Sunday, November 6th, and according to Vanessa, is settling in
nicely. "I am over the moon with happiness," said Vanessa, "in fact I feel like I've just
won the lottery! I called my mother to tell her and she said it's like a million birthdays
and Christmases rolled into one."
Coltie is in his "move in" field at the moment with a friend until he settles in to his new
routine. Vanessa says, "Don't worry he'll soon be out in better pasture - we just use
that field to introduce new horses to the rest of the gang. I'll give him some time to
adjust to his new home and then hopefully I can send you some pictures of me riding
him. He is such a gracious old gentleman and he looks wonderful."
"Thank you so much for taking good care of him over the years and helping me to
bring him home - I can't begin to tell you how much he means to me."
Needless to say, we share Vanessa's happiness and are so glad that Coltie will have
a loving home with her for the rest of his days. We look forward to seeing pictures and
receiving news of how he's doing. This is certainly a perfect retirement for a very
special horse.
UPDATE FROM VANESSA: I rode Coltie the other day and there is definitely a lot of
life in the old boy. He was a wonderful schoolmaster to ride with my husband on a
young one just off the track - at least until he saw a log down across the trail and
would not settle until I allowed him to hop over it. He really hasn't changed a bit which
I think is fabulous!
owners in between. Vanessa Keal Gerrish, Coltie's first owner off the race track,
recently got in touch with us regarding giving him a retirement home at her farm in
The Plains, Virginia. According to Vanessa, "I was Coltie's first owner off the racetrack
and introduced him to foxhunting and eventing. I was truly heartbroken when my
parents sold him while I was at college. I would sincerely like to ask them (South
Branch) if it would be possible for Coltie to come and live out his days with me. My
husband and I have an 80 acre farm here in Virginia and it would be perfect to have
him here and give him a fabulous home after all of the years of enjoyment he has
brought to others and especially me. He was my first horse and it would make me so
happy to see him again every day."
Vanessa got in touch with Liz at South Branch, where Coltie was currenly retired and
hanging out in the pasture, and made arrangements to take him back home to
Virginia. He left on Sunday, November 6th, and according to Vanessa, is settling in
nicely. "I am over the moon with happiness," said Vanessa, "in fact I feel like I've just
won the lottery! I called my mother to tell her and she said it's like a million birthdays
and Christmases rolled into one."
Coltie is in his "move in" field at the moment with a friend until he settles in to his new
routine. Vanessa says, "Don't worry he'll soon be out in better pasture - we just use
that field to introduce new horses to the rest of the gang. I'll give him some time to
adjust to his new home and then hopefully I can send you some pictures of me riding
him. He is such a gracious old gentleman and he looks wonderful."
"Thank you so much for taking good care of him over the years and helping me to
bring him home - I can't begin to tell you how much he means to me."
Needless to say, we share Vanessa's happiness and are so glad that Coltie will have
a loving home with her for the rest of his days. We look forward to seeing pictures and
receiving news of how he's doing. This is certainly a perfect retirement for a very
special horse.
UPDATE FROM VANESSA: I rode Coltie the other day and there is definitely a lot of
life in the old boy. He was a wonderful schoolmaster to ride with my husband on a
young one just off the track - at least until he saw a log down across the trail and
would not settle until I allowed him to hop over it. He really hasn't changed a bit which
I think is fabulous!
| Coltie, at nearly 25, looks pleased with his new life back home! |
| Coltie and Vanessa get reacquainted (and Liz swears he remembers her!) |
| February 27, 2006 - Update! Hi Cindy, Coltie is doing Great!! He is in what we call the "big boys" field which is where all the geldings in work are and is close to the barn. He is turned out with seven other horses and has made friends with some and is bossing around the others. He is very vocal at feeding time and of course when he hears the rustle of a peppermint candy. I have had our equine chiropractor/accupuncturist work on him and now I really have my hands full doing flat work as he is so loose and limber and remembers all of his old tricks. Due to unpredictable ground conditions this winter I have mostly been riding him in our neighbor's sand ring, but I'm looking forward to this spring and summer when I will have more time to take him out for hacks and hopefully some of our hunt trail rides. Since arriving he has also put on about 50 pounds of muscle and looks wonderful. He has had a bit of rain-rot on his back but that is finally clearing up now. My husband thinks I should take him out hunting but I am too concerned that he'd have a heart attack from excitement . I don't think I'll risk it as I want him around for a long time. Thanks so much for checking on him. Please let anyone know that they are always welcome to visit him in Virginia. Just have them give me a call (540-253-5290). |
| Relaxing in his new "move in" pasture. |