A Weight Walk

Lets talk a walk. A walk through Bacardi's rollercoaster weight gains and losses and gaiiinz.

His first off the track owner got him straight off the track and he was in mediocre racing shape. I think it was around September. I really cannot remember.

This first picture set is the day before she picked him up and 2 months after she had him in her care. I heard a few horror stories about his days at the racetrack, involving small stalls and many hours jammed into said small stall. Might explain his fear of small spaces. Like trailers.

Crazy huh? He looks SO good in that second picture in comparison. In every aspect, it looks like his body lengthens out and he gains muscles in new places. Plus, he's blooming! I of course, had seen these pictures all over facebook and drooled over him from afar. I still can't believe he's  mine now!

This next picture was right in the beginning of winter, a few months after she took ownership, and he looks FABULOUS.

 I can't get over how freaking chunky, and muscley and adorable he is. I mean, look at dat ASS. For an OTTB, thats impressive. Not to mention his overall conformation in general. *swoons* Can you see why I stalked him for months (literally almost a year).

His owner then leased him, is my understanding, and moved him to a different barn to be closer to his rider. The following picture is 3 months after the one above and the difference is DRASTIC and scary...

Seriously, how terrifying. His whole spine, hips, withers and ribs are clearly showing. Not to mention his coat is no longer lustrous.  His owner had trusted his care to someone else and his lessee didn't notice that THIS horse was basically starving. Even through winter, this is unacceptable. She was furious and moved him again.

He steadily gained weight under her care again, but as we ALL know, getting a skinny OTTB fat (or any horse really) can be painfully slow and painstaking and EXPENSIVE.

I then bought him from her several months out of winter, around May. The grass was starting to come in really well and he was slowly gaining weight at his current barn.

When I moved him, he did well on the grain Yankee was on, in addition to long and low workouts and a LOT of hacking out. He muscled up again and gained weigth ever so slowly. It KILLED me. I just wanted him fat!! It took a few months to find the perfect balance of grain rations, hay and fat supplement but the "end" result was amazing!

Picture below is June- September.

Look at dat neck! I love it. He is such a stunner, always has been!

I sadly did terrible job remembering to take an October photo so there was no comparison from sept-october.... Probably for the better considering I MAYBE rode him 3 times in October and he spent the majority of the time mud bathing. I think he lost most of his topline again, but he did develop an impressive hay belly.

Here  are some pics from today.

Looking past the HORRENDOUS clip job (please someone give me clippers or blades to borrow), he's still looking pretty shiny even with a winter coat. His hay belly game is strong and I love it. He's lost a bit of his topline, but overall appears in good weight and I'm happy with him. Some long hacks and good flatwork training will build that muscle all winter long.

Hopefully with blanketing and all the hay he's eating he will maintain his good health!

We will make an eventer outta him one day!

BIG MASSIVE insane news. Stay tuned for the latest happening...coming soon. (if you stalk me on Fb or insta it will most likely pop up there first)