In early August 2022, Wasabi Ventures Stables and Franklin Ave. Equine decided it was time to retire Blue Oyster with Jason and Cristin. She began retirement with two months of stall rest. Thankfully, she healed well and was able to move to a small paddock at the end of September.

Farm life for Blue

I reached out to Jason, who shared the latest on Blue Oyster:

She is doing wonderful.  She has moved out to a large paddock with friends and is enjoying farm life!  You can definitely see it in her face that she knows this is home now and just loves everyone.  She remains so gentle despite her size and loves any treat you are willing to share.  We get a sense from her movement in the paddocks that she should excel in dressage. Blue will begin training at the end of March.

To see more photos of Blue, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out her album.

To read updates on other WVS horses we follow, click here.

Feel Proud was an early member of Wasabi Ventures Stables. He ran for WVS through 2017 and 2018. At the end of 2018 it was decided that it was time for him to retire. He went to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue (MAHR) via Beyond the Wire.

Shortly after his arrival there, it seemed that he was track sore. Unfortunately, after many rounds of diagnostics it was determined that he had EPM. Over the next year he was treated with three rounds of medications. While he did improve, the most he would be able to do was walk or trot.

With this diagnosis and outlook, Feel Proud was categorized as a pasture pet. Add to this the arrival of Covid, and it seemed Feel Proud might be at MAHR for quite some time. Then in the spring of 2021 he had a potential owner and new home. He was going to move to South Carolina. However, before the move could happen, his new owner was seriously injured and had to cancel his adoption.

Maybe all of these things happened for a reason. Long time MAHR volunteer, Liz, was moving to a farm in North Carolina in mid-2022. Although she fell in love with many horses during her time there, Feel Proud was special. After months (years?) of pampering him at MAHR, she decided to bring him, now known as Felix, to her new farm. To keep him company she also adopted Completed Pass, now known as Wyatt.

Together, Felix and Wyatt are enjoying happily ever at their new home. Not only do they have an amazing new friend in Liz, they also get the companionship of one another.

To read more retired racehorse updates, please click here.

In October, I was lucky enough to acquire Allied Invasion from Wasabi Ventures Stables, Allī for his barn name. Every day, I am so grateful he is in my life. He is incredibly smart and has such a huge personality that I laugh every day. I have been free jumping him and lunging him in open fields to build his confidence before I take that step with me on his back.

In April, I had to change up his training as he got sticky with no longer wanting to be in the ring. Alli loves the trails. With consistency, he got over it. It was a brilliant day when I could physically feel him decide he wasn’t going to pick a fight with me. He also is incredibly brave. Last week I was in the outdoor arena and one of the boxwood bushes started moving like a velociraptor was hiding in it. Nope, it was just a doe ,who popped out into the ring, two feet behind Allī. He didn’t even spook.

We have transitioned to night turnout for the summer. If you are sitting near some wood, please knock on it because he loves night turnout. The first morning, the farm owner looked outside, and Allī was laying down, taking a nap. I was so happy that he felt comfortable enough to do so. It was the first time he has laid down outside since I have owned him. He even conveniently whinnies at 7:50 am every morning to make sure the farm owner is awake for 8:00 am breakfast.

I have been taking his training slowly because I have no need to rush him. Alli is a horse for a lifetime!

Submitted by Claire, All’s forever best friend

To read Alli’s previous update, please click here.