The chestnut gelding was rescued by a concerned horse lover who found him in the back woods near Stonington, CT, in a pasture with draft horses. He was a skinny mess with cuts and bruises over his entire body. She agonized over this unfortunate horse and made the most important decision of his life--to purchase him!
Once he was safe and in better surroundings, she would find him a forever home. She brought him to her barn on St. Patrick's Day. He was emaciated and his 15.2" hand frame showed every bone in his body.
Good fortune smiled on Patrick. Enter the horse lovers at DressYourHorse.com.
We purchased him as our Big Christmas present that year. We boarded him at the LaSalle Stables in Union, CT, where Patrick began to thrive. But even though he felt good and looked great, old scars remained. Patrick had serious trust issues - he merely tolerated grooming; was difficult for the blacksmith, would not let anyone touch his whiskers, head, ears; forget fly spray! His wounds ran deep and we soon realized he had many. Yet he had a large heart and, remarkably, as time passed he permitted us in. Slowly his trust grew.
Enter yet another savior into Patrick's transformation. As luck would have it, David Arnold of New Venture took over the barn in Union. He rekindled Patrick's Saddlebred nature and brought back his flash. With kindness, routine and steady, professional training, Patrick's innate secret came out - he's a gifted, hard moving, handsome 5-Gaited Saddlebred.
Much time has passed. Patrick is spirited, healthy, beautiful and undoubtedly grateful to be home. He now lives happily ever after at our own small stable with lots of friends - both two legged and four legged - he loves it here and we love having him!
Please Help Identify Patrick
Patrick is a Saddlebred, 15.2" hands, aged 18 plus or minus years. His tail has been set and he slow gaits and racks. He has a very refined canter but tends to break out of it to rack. Even without a show foot, he has amazing natural ability and speed. His coat is bright chestnut; he has a perfect blaze, has two rear stockings and a left front stocking. He has three white hoofs, one black. His mane and tail colors are a mixture of light and dark grays, some cream colored hair and chestnut hair as well.
He has an old scar on the left side that is a 3" shallow depression on his lower ribcage in the shape of an upside down seven. He travels sound but his right rear leg bone has a slightly enlarged 1" area about 4 inches under his hock (on the outside of the bone).
Can You Complete Some of the Blanks in Patrick’s History?
We would welcome any information. We think he was shown but then sustained an injury along the way. Perhaps the injury finished his show career. He was sold - maybe he went through the auctions. So far, we have only been able to trace him to a riding/lease stable in or near Scituate, Rhode Island, where he was used as a hack horse.
This article and other horse related articles by The Old Gray Mare can be found on website www.DressYourHorse.com.
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