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Summary: "BOB" (no, we have no idea how he got the name, but it is what he answers to!) arrived as a VERY HANDSOME 14-year old dark chestnut. He is a sweet, well mannered gentleman who knows that he once ruled the world -- literally! Bob began life as a brilliantly bred Quarter Horse who showed all the height and mass of his great-grandsire, Impressive. Sadly, he also carries the HYPP gene on one side from that grandsire, which made him ineligible for breeding and a risk to be used in the high pressure showing world. Bob was retired to a stall for many years. Bob has been with us since summer 04, and now that we've got his thyroid issues under control (with $35/mo. medication) and have been able to keep him turned out most the time, his health stabilized but remains shaky. Bob is a joy to ride and really LOVES to be ridden, he is so happy when he's under saddle, until he tires! He loves to trail ride, and is not 'spooky' at all, even in loud areas or parade type situations. Bob's health is too shaky, and his lameness too erratic, to consider him anything other than a retirement case who can be ridden when his health allows. We hope Bob will eventually be 100% sound, but any adopter must know that Bob has a history of lameness, especially during winter months when arthritis bothers his hind legs, particularly if he is kept stalled for any length of time. Because of Bob's health issues, his adoption fee is $0; however, his adoption contract is for life. If the adopter cannot care for Bob for any reason, he must be returned to CWER so that we can help ensure this big fellow has an easy life for the time he has left.
History: Bob has been stall-bound for several years and is mildly lame in a front leg and a hock. We are hoping that pasture time and care will help bring Bob around and find his soundness again. Of course, we will also be doing extensive veterinary and farrier work to do our best to help Bob back to a productive live. In the mean time, we are thrilled to be graced by the presence of this world champion! Bob's 'grandmother' (his owner's mom) saw Crosswinds on TV, and having been paying to support Bob for years even after a family tragedy has the whole family focused on a critically ill daughter who needs a lung transplant, she made the decision that the best future for Bob would be with us. We are honored at her faith in our ability to help Bob, and look forward to doing our best to get Bob a happy, active, working life again if his legs are able, or a pleasantly relaxed life as a companion horse somewhere if they are not. Bob is a great-grandson of Impressive. We have had him tested and, as we suspected, he is N/H (one gene positive one gene negative). Bob does not appear to have any negative side effects of his HYPP status whatsoever. To learn more about HYPP, a genetic disorder specific to offspring of Impressive, please visit this informative site. Bob's pedigree is at the bottom of this page. ABOUT SPONSORING: Bob will have extensive veterinary bills during this transitional time in his life. HE NEEDS YOUR HELP! Well, WE need your help to be able to help Bob! Please consider becoming a sponsor, or even simply making a small donation to help us cover Bob's expenses! Each therapeutic massage costs $50; chiropractic $75; the initial dental work Bob needed cost just under $100, repeated in Spring 2005 at another $100, and will need to be done annually. As little as $5 will pay for a wormer treatment, performed in August, October, December, February, April and again in June.
December 04 update: Bob continues to do well. As the weather gets more and more brisk, Bob's functionality decreases, as we would expect to see in an older horse of his age and with his past spinal injury. He really needs daily turnout, but unfortunately the sub-zero temperatures have made that nearly impossible. He has grown a reasonable winter coat, but since he is still mildly underweight, he has not grown as heavy a coat as we would like him to have. If he does not get daily turnout, his rear fetlock joints stock up again, and he moves more stiffly. His back also tightens back up. His future home will really need to be able to focus upon giving him proper turnout and exercise, and he will likely need periodic chiropractic care at least over the next year until his joints learn what 'normal' is again after so many years out of place. We are confident Bob can -- and will -- develop back into a very nice riding horse, but it is going to take some time, and he will likely always need a slightly different flavor of attention when compared to a typical show horse. Bob could be an AMAZING walk trot mount for an up-and-coming rider as he is right now; with time, turnout, therapy and training, we're hopeful his canter will come back to him as well. February 2005 update: We are SO excited! A very kind family, who already own a colt with the same grandsire as Bob, have applied to adopt Bob to be their daughters halter and walk/trot mount! Their colt is HYPP NH like bob, and their older horse has the same leg issues from being stalled for so much of his life. They are very excited to be moving Bob to Kentucky later this year. We cannot wait to get Bob's contract in place, and get him to his new home!!!! July 2005 Update: Sadly, the potential adoption for Bob has fallen through. Bob's possible new family encountered too many issues and expenses with their huge move from the northwest to Kentucky, and are simply not able to provide for Bob at this time. We are still hoping things may work out for them with Bob at a later date, but at this time they are unable to commit to the big fellow. We are hoping to find him a new home.
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