CANTER Mid Atlantic is a Non-Profit Thoroughbred rehoming and retraining organization based in Maryland. In an effort to educate the horse-buying public about the process of bringing along a Thoroughbred off the track, we have chosen to start blogs on several of our horses. Please read along to follow the ups and downs our trainers experience with each horse.
Dixie is a 5 year old plain bay gelding, standing 16.2 hands tall. He was donated to us by his owner upon recommendation of his trainer at Charles Town Racetrack. Dixie was not much of a racehorse, and in fact hated racetrack life. He voiced his displeasure by stall walking, a vice horses can develop when stressed. Stall-walkers typically will walk incessantly in a circle until they are tied up or removed from a stall, This vice can be damaging to a horses’ joints. Because of Dixie’s lack of handling skills, it was recommended that he retire from racing.
Dixie spent 6 months turned out at one of CANTER’s farms in Frederick Maryland where his body and mind healed.
Dixie is now living at Jessica Morthole’s farm in Marydel Delaware, where he will be in training to be an event horse.
1 response so far ↓
Nancy Terhune // June 16, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Liked to hear that you thought Dixie was well broke cause I broke him!!!! I also donated General Forrest to you and Yellow Tavern!!! Small world huh, Poor GeneralForrest went thru hell before =I got him at two, HE was an absolute nervous wreck and sore everywhere, Took me over a year of time off before I could train him at all, always felt very sorry for him and was delighted when I saw some over fences shots of him a long time ago, Looked like he really snapped his knees. Yellow Tavern another issue. Had to go very slow with him cause he was just a chicken. A beautiful moving chicken!!!! He did thank heavens outgrow most of that! If you have any other pics of Genl Forrest and Yellow Tavern I would love to see the, Dixie too. Glad he has grwon up to be braver than he was as a yearling and 2 yr old! If out ever need to give more info to a prospective buyer I will be glad to fill them in on early life of these horses I had., We takeour time with them and try to break them the nice way! LOts of trail rides and yes Dixie does know how to lunge!!! Nancy
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