Thanks for visiting! Please be sure to visit our adoptable horses and other pages (menus are above)

Summary:  Gin was bred to be a racer, but did better as a training partner. He was then retired to hunter/jumper work but quickly showed talent as a dressage mount. In January 06, Gin's owner noticed he was a little off, and spent a lot of time and money trying to diagnose his issues. In December 06, when she could no longer afford to care for him, she donated him to CWER, with hopes that we can analyze and resolve his pain, provide him the 24/7 turnout he needs to heal, and put his life back on track to a great future as a dressage mount! 

After his initial veterinary/chiropractic exam, we were cautiously confident that we'll be able to help Gin and get this incredibly sweet and willing boy back to the work he so obviously loves. As time progresses, we're thrilled to see steady progress in Gin's healing. We remain cautious but very hopeful that he will return to the dressage work he seems to truly enjoy. As of October 07, Gin has recovered from his hoof injury, and is currently enjoying and being quite forward in work under saddle, sound! We are thrilled to find he is no longer sluggish and timid when riding, yet he remains easy to manage and all in all just a joy to work. He is obviously enjoying riding, with his ears pricked, happy to trot upon request, but not rushing anything. His walk is smooth and has a great swing, with no more dragging his feet or timidness when asked to walk pr trot out strongly.

CWER History: (see also: history from the owner, below)

When Gin arrived, he was in desperate need of the care of an exceptional vet/chiropractor combination or team. After his first adjustments, above all, Gin required 24/7 turnout for months, and potentially for the foreseeable future, to avoid recurring problems. Sadly, his boarding situation did not allow for this type of care, and his owner, having exhausted all her resources, turned to us to help him. Jen did her very best to care for Gin, and went far above and beyond what most owners would have tried. We're honored that Jen has trusted us with Gin's future, and will do our very best to fix his health and then find the right life for him.

December 2006 intake & vet care notes: Gin was transferred to us in Muncie at Victory Stables (thanks, Victory). What stepped off the trailer was a tall, leggy, incredibly fit and well toned sorrel chestnut gelding with lots of spirit and personality. Just to prove how bright he is, he'd opened his dutch door at the hauler's farm overnight and let himself into a paddock where he covered himself and his shipping wraps in mud! We let him play in the indoor, then eased him out of his blanket, and watched the big fellow move. What we saw was an amazingly well muscled, eager, willing boy who really WANTS to please, and who had some odd stiffness in his neck that was radiating into the shoulders, maybe the legs, maybe the back, we just weren't sure. None of us could agree that he was "off" anywhere, or if he was, what exactly we saw. Mike saw a short stride; AM saw a ratchet-i-ness (is that a word?) to his neck and shoulder, with issues up to his atlas (where the neck meets the skull); Kaluf's saw a big, fancy looking thoroughbred whose movement just wasn't quite right.

At home the next day, Gin made fast friends, and quickly fell in love, with Factor. The two enjoyed turnout together in the arena, where Gin stretched his legs and happily played! What a big, showy, majestic fellow this is!

On Tuesday, 12/26/06, Gin and Lil D were trucked to Tolono to Dr King's small animal practice so that he could give us initial evaluations ASAP. (Thanks, yet again, Dr King, for making special time for our special cases.) Dr King's findings were similar to the bone scan -- he found issues in basically every major structural area -- from jaw to withers, from back to tail, from shoulders to hooves and rump to hooves again. But, unlike the bone scan, Dr King was able to look at root causes and to begin to treat those key areas where Gin showed the most discomfort. The vertebrae joints that had previously had HA and cortisone injections showed clear misalignment on the bone scan images. Dr King was able to motion each joint, and begin the process of easing them back into position and proper fluid motion. Dr King also saw a kidney imbalance that would cause a decrease in Gin's production of key chemicals that keep joints fluid and mobile, thus providing another underlying cause that would lead to the amount of joints out of alignment in Gin's body.

We had planned for Gin to foster at Tracy's farm with Prince; however, his complete lack of winter coat and need for regular monitoring made that impractical, so Gin remained at CWER for the winter -- most of which he spent wearing 2 or even 3 blankets and a hood! 

 He was immediately put onto a special supplement for the kidney issue. And, he is slated for chiropractic and possibly acupuncture care every other Saturday until his symptoms and their causes all appear to be resolved. 

At his December, January and February appointments we were advised he was still not be ridden, but after his next appointment he may be released to walk/trot lunging like he was doing at his old farm, to remain fit, and keep that VERY swift mind active and engaged.

THE BIG NEWS...under saddle, Gin now consistently shows that strong, forward motion he's always shown us when working at liberty!! It appears that his recovery year with full time turnout, layoff from any work, medications to balance his liver issues (now finished), chiropractic and massage to get his joints working again properly, HAS BEEN A SUCCESS!

His trot is expansive and eager, ground covering and obviously full of joy. For brief periods, he's able to engage his hind end and tracks up magnificently. He's even starting to look for bit contact, doing "stretchy circles" with ease when the contact is soft. We're still taking our time, keeping his workouts short with lots of variety, to ensure he doesn't overdo and to avoid any fear of overwork on his part that might bring back that timidness we saw previously. Over time, I believe this boy will return to the dressage or hunter under saddle world, and be nothing short of amazing when he does.

We don't yet know if Gin will have any limitations -- such as a maximum rider weight limit or a no jumping order -- and won't know until he's been working for a few months and Dr King can do a full assessment. However, as of today, he appears to be 100% on the road to a successful new life, enjoying his work and eager to ride. We couldn't be happier!

Gin exercises himself every day in the pasture with his friends (photo below), and we believe that is doing wonders toward building his top line safely and the right way, without risk of rider interference causing him to build up muscle tone incorrectly. It's really fabulous to watch him gallop the pastures and enjoy his new life here. He'll miss his buddy, Sioux, who went on to his new home today, but otherwise seems to really enjoy his time here at the new farm!

About Sponsorship: 

FEED: In May 2007 Gin was sponsored by a wonderful family who have a special needs little girl that comes down to help us care for the horses one night each week. Thank you so much for your assistance!

MEDICAL: Gin's past vet expenses were steep, and we would greatly appreciate ANY help anyone can offer in this area. His mid March visit alone totaled about $400, with refills on his medicine, shots, chiropractic, etc, and another visit scheduled for April 1 2007. From April through August, his meds, chiro, and overall care were averaging at least $250 per month, separate from his feed needs. As of September, he has finished his medications and we hope he will continue on this far less expensive path -- just monthly chiro/checkups ($100) as we increase his work schedule. Even if you're unable to assist us with such a large monthly total, as little as $25 helps us to cover some of these steep fees. Currently, Gin has had approx. $2450 in medical expenses, without any sponsorship help to cover these.

Owner's History:: (horse show photos from 2004)

Jen told us, in her first contact, "I have an 8 year old TB gelding that has recently been diagnosed with arthritis in his C 5-6 vertebrae.  He has been cleared by three different vets for light riding and trail riding.  He will require turnout that I unfortunately cannot provide him.  He is the sweetest horse and has no vices.  He gets along well with mares and geldings and loves attention.  He would climb into your pocket and go home with you if he could.  I have been trying very unsuccessfully to find a new home for him.  I wish that I could afford to keep him but unfortunately I cannot..."

"The gal I got him from took him to a schooling show 3 days off the track and he did fine. Like I said, he's a big spoiled baby!"

"He was bred in FL foaled on April 27, 1998. Dam: Dancing Queen Sire: The Time is Now. He is a very pretty coppery chestnut with a star/stripe the shape of an inverted arrow, no other marking. He is probably 16.1. He was sticked at 16 1/2 when I got him but that was 4 years ago.

He came to Cleveland (Thistledown) as a two year old and was gelded at some point. He is registered (I have original papers) and has a tattoo (B31920). Spent the summers up here and the winters in LA or FL. Spring of 2002 came back to OH and was "sold" to a woman who knew the breeder/owner. He never raced and was used as a pony horse for those two years. He was sold to me in September 2002. "

"I started out riding him hunt seat and switched over to dressage. Had NO issues with him at all for three years (except did inject his hocks as he was starting to get a little hitchy back there and x-rays did reveal some arthritis). He's not real spooky, doesn't bolt, rear, buck. Last week we were in the arena moving sand around with the tractor and he was in there with us and could've cared less! He looked at the tractor once then didn't give it a second glance.

Then this past January (06) he was trimmed WAY TOO short by my blacksmith and was DEAD lame for about two weeks. I mean he was really lame.

Finally after he healed we went back to work and his walk/trot work was fine. His left lead  (only the left lead) has this really weird feeling to it, almost like he was paddling with the right front. This went on for sometime and took him to a vet at the racetrack here (Dr. Genovese), took x-rays, flexed him and found nothing. He did determine he was back sore and injected his back. Went back home and he did seem better. Took him back to the same vet two months later and injected the back and hocks.

Went to a show in July and two weeks later the strange left lead canter issue was back, only worse. A few times he would stumble, almost fall, and I got worried. Videos were taken and submitted to vets at Ohio State and Michigan State. He was put on EPM meds but those didn't work and we later confirmed he did not have EPM. He has had everything injected from his  shoulder to his back, to his ankles, knees, you name it. He has also been blocked everywhere too. Nothing seemed to correct the awkwardness. Finally last month I took him to Equine Specialty Hospital in Burton, OH, for a full body bone scan. That revealed the arthritis in the C 5-6 vertebrae and his withers. The vet at ESH said this is probably hereditary. The only thing I have not done is acupuncture.

The vet at ESH said he would be fine for light riding as he is fine under saddle now at the walk. His trot is a little lazy, and I am not sure if that is because he's sore or just being lazy (he is the LAZIEST horse I have ever known, that's one reason I love him so much). Another vet recommended trail riding just going straight and walking/trotting. He does like trail but would need a little more experienced person as sometimes he gets a little jiggy the first few times out.

Both vets agreed that turnout would be best for him, as much as possible. I know now is not the ideal time to be doing what I am doing as we are now in mud/snow/slush season. If I could keep him I would but I don't feel that a boarding barn with not much turnout is the best place for him. I love him too much to see him only getting out 1-2 hours a day. I know he would be happier where he could have buddies and run and play to his hearts content. I wish I could do that for him. To see him on the lunge or turned out he looks great. Even under saddle walking he's fine. And who knows with some time off (in September I gave him a month off, just turnout for 4-5 hours a day and that didn't work) he may be OK, I don't know.

He would make a great companion horse. He loves to play, eat from trees, roll, run, buck and play halter wars. The woman I got him from had a pony mare that did not like him, I think he wanted to play with her too much and she wasn't into it. Most other mares like him.

The only other issue than what I have described above is that he is a freeze baby too. He has no coat whatsoever. Whereever he does go, I am including a heavy Schneiders Adjust-A-Fit turnout blanket, a blanket liner, and maybe a sheet too.

He truly is a special horse, has tons of personality, loves people and attention. My kids (3 and 5 years old) brush him and give him peppermints and he is very tolerant of them and aware of where they are and their space. This really breaks my heart to be doing this but I feel that it is in his best interest to find a place where he can be happy."