Crosswinds Equine Rescue

ARRIVED	July 2009 -- healthy, current on vet care, etc
ADOPTABILITY	11/1/10: Adoption is OFFICIAL!!! Congrats, Lexi!!
SPONSORSHIP: (Details below)
BREED/AGE	10-year old (3/5/2000 model) registered thoroughbred spayed mare, 16.3hh, solid black (per her papers), former show horse
Skills/Training "Report Card"
Overall Health: A	Lexi's owner had her spayed so that she does not go into heat and could never have foals. She did so with very similar logic to gelding a stallion. Lexi had a minor splint injury in one foreleg several years ago (see below for details); she was already anesthesized to resolve that, so while she was, the owner also had her spayed. Lexi has been sound and without any issue since the surgery several years ago. Lexi is a big, scopy, powerful mare with great bone structure and legs. Lexi had always worn front shoes before coming here, and it took some time for her to adjust to being barefoot in our rolling hills and rocky areas in our pasture. As of winter 2009, she is sound and comfortably working barefoot.
Ground Manners: B+	Tying: we have never attempted to tie Lexi. Cross tying: Lexi's mom indicates she was excellent in cross ties, as well as in a wash stall. Bathing: Lexi loves bathing, and plays with the water with her lips. Clipping: Her mom indicates she was excellent for clipping but mildly nervous about bridle path, and doesn't like having her ears clipped. Leading: Lexi leads very well, without needing a leadrope, in most situations. If she is nervous or intimidated, she will dance and fuss, but not pull away. Enter/exit: When she arrived, Lexi had some residual fear of doorways when settling into her new home here. She rapidly got over her reluctance to go into/out of stalls, barn doors and pasture gates. As of 8/1/09, Lexi now walks herself into/out of her stalls at feeding times, and easily walks through familiar gates. Her owner indicates that, sometimes, when in new surroundings, for an unknown reason, Lexi would be hesitant about doorways. Everyone suspects it has to do with her racing career. As of 1/1/10, Lexi no longer has any hesitation with doorways whatsoever. We believe this was just settling into our new world.
Basic Riding Skills: B	Mounting: Lexi easily walks up to a mounting block. She tends to walk off as her rider is settling in the saddle. We are working on this behavior. She stands nicely to dismount. Walk/Trot: Lexi has VERY nice, big forward walk and trot gaits and regulates her speed easily. She tends to carry herself more heavily on her forehand than would be ideal for a dressage or cross country mount, so we are working on building topline muscle and encouraging her to use her hind end to create power more effectively. Canter: Lexi has a VERY managable canter, even working in our small indoor space. Again, Lexi tends to be a bit long and heavy onto her forehand compared to the ideal for basic dressage. We feel that by teaching her to carry herself with less effort at the trot and thru extensive transition work, we will build her top line muscle and make her more versatile for a variety of jobs. Her canter is easy and managable, with proper bend and movement off leg. Transitions: Lexi clearly knows her cues, and transitions easily to and from each gait. Unless overly excited, she is not heavy in her bit when asked to transition down out of a gait and has nice speeds. Her sides are soft and responsive but not flighty, and her mouth is similarly soft and she is easily responsive. When tired, she gets heavy in her riders hands. Lateral work: Lexi will leg yield very nicely, and her trainer has asked her to sidepass once, successfully. We want her to build more topline muscle (along the top of her back and into her haunches) before asking her to do these more difficult types of lateral moves again. Lexi is not a beginner's horse. She is forward and wants to go, and will respond to a change in her rider's legs or hands, seat or weight, as a well trained english hunter/jumper/dressage mount should. She is VERY aware of her rider's vertical position, and will accelerate at small shifts forward, and ease back at small shifts back. Enjoy video of Lexi riding outside for the first time in 2010!
Ideal Career	Lexi has previously worked as a hunter under saddle mount and even show jumped. She is in excellent health and could go to a hunter under saddle show tomorrow, including riding through the gate into the arena. As she continues to build muscle, sheis also showing herself to be well positioned for lower level dressage. With her size, great bone structure, energy and personality, I believe Lexi has real potential as a lower level eventing, dressage or hunter mount.
Stall Manners B	Lexi has previously been boarded and is used to being stalled. She cribs mildly, which is easily controlled with a miracle collar. She does not crib during turnout. She does not pace or paw, and rarely yell for her friends as other horses go out to pasture. She is mildly nervous when left in a stall without another horse in the barn with her.
Trailering Skills: B	Lexi loads reasonably well, with just a little patience. She hauls easily and calmly, and backs smoothly off the trailer without incident.
Companionship / Pasture Manners A	Now that she is settled, Lexi is easy going and laid back in the pasture. She is not at all alpha, but isn't at the bottom of the herd either. When 2 new horses arrived (Xena and Val), she chose to join with them and keep them company as they settle into our massive pasture. When Lexi arrived, she wasn't used to such wide open space, and was very nervous in our large pasture. She was afraid to drink from, then to cross our creek. After a short period of time, she has settled in comfortably and now moves easily with the herd.
Manageability for Routine and Medical Care A	Lexi was easily trimmed, and her shoes removed. Lexi worms with ease, and is easy for needles and shots.
Adoption Terms	Generally, we try to set our adoption fees at half what we feel a similar horse would sell for, but still making sure we are above $750 to ensure the horse does not end up at a low end auction or worse, sold to slaughter. A horse of Lexi's caliber, size, bloodlines and training would easily sell for $5,000 in the current market, or higher in the horse market of 2008 and before. In Lexi's case, she is a brilliantly bred, exceptionally tall yet sleek thoroughbred mare who has never been neglected or abused in any manner. She has had an excellent foundation of training, and is rapidly taking to the dressage based work. As she stands, without additional training time, her current adoption fee has been reduced to $2,000. We are aware that our huge, rocky pasture and no regular stall setup is not ideal for a show-mare like Lexi, and are anxious to help her go forward to a new home that better fits her needs. The fee listed is as of 8/1/10, and is subject to change as training and other variables effect. Please call or email for confirmation of his adoption fee and any other questions you may have about this or any of our adoptable horses. As of 11/1/10, Lexi 's adoption is official! She is staying in Chicago with Haley! CONGRATS LEXI! Please visit our adoption qna page for details on how our contract works, adoption application, and an explanation of when and how we transfer ownershi

Overview: Lexi is a big, powerful, gorgeous TB mare whose owner had life get in the way. Due to her owner's emergency, long running medical issues, her owner could no longer care for Lexi and she wanted to ensure Lexi had a safe future, so she donated her to CWER.

Sponsorship: Lexi needs a feed sponsor. The feed sponsor donates to cover the cost of her feed monthly -- $100 per month at this time.

She also needs a medical sponsor. Her initial vet intake will be in august and will cost approximately $125.

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