Desert Bloomer

From AlexBrownRacing

Desert Bloomer pedigree came into my life very unexpectedly. I had gone to pick up another horse (At the Ready), when the trainer decided Bloom was going home with me also. My first impression of Bloom, was there is no way I can handle this guy - this as I was watching him trying to dismantle his stall - board by board. Advice I was given about Bloomer - Watch him - He will bite you and he will kick you. With the aid of a lip chain, his trainer did manage to get him into the trailer, which he promptly tried to take apart also. Needless to say, no horses came home with me that day. Both Bloomer and At The Ready were vanned down a week or so later.

But, as I watched him that day, I became aware of something special about him. I knew by looking at him that he had been pin fired, and had surgery on both ankles. That was done much earlier. He raced and still won. No doubt, he is a great athlete. There was something about him that made me agree to take him - a choice I have never regretted.

I have never had a horse (and I've been riding for 40+ years) like Bloomer. He would give you his heart if you asked him too. Anything he is asked to do, he tries 200% - even when in the beginning of his retraining when he didn't understand what was expected of him. He is kind, forgiving, calm (yes, calm) and gentle. Sometimes he thinks too much. He still has to be first in everything - from greeting him in the barn to taking him out to clean his stall. We have learned the hard way - it's easier to let Bloom be first than watch him attempting to prove his point! After all his time on the track, he can still go into race horse mode, and just want to log some miles during a work session.

He has without too much effort become my best friend. And, is progressing well down his retraining path.

More to follow.........