well I had planned to go back to NY last week, but due to "Car trouble".. I'm still here (in Lexington). So yesterday I made an appt. to stop in the old Folks home to see my boys Jade Hunter and Williamstown..
I had a fantastic visit and met Mike Blowen. A truly wonderful man with an huge passion for giving back to these old warriors. He took me on a personal tour to visit all the stallions.
The whole facility at Old Friends is just beautiful and a place anyone would be lucky to live out their days at. All of their horses are in magnificant condition and are well cared for. Mike knows all of these horses so well he has a special bond with each one.
Carrots in tow we stopped at each paddock to visit the boys. Fortunate Prospect is right across from Jade Hunter and they are buddies. They alert each other to the fact someone has stopped by with carrots. Jade Hunter looked just as beautiful and if not even happier then the day Morriseys came to pick him up.
Glitterman did not come up to the fence to visit us, but instead just stood looking out on the whole property. Williamstown was as fiesty as ever. Age with not to the factor to slow him down. BullintheHeather stood out as the noly grey on the farm. In the paddock next to him was the stallion The Wicked North. Ogygian was a honor to meet as well. He is a superstar in my mind. I looked at him (in his one eye) and told him I wish I had a couple of his daughters in my barn!
Leave Seattle was a little touch of home I had missed. He was a old Massachusetts stallion who had slipped through the cracks but ended up in KY. Now he is doing wonderful.
Awad was an attention hog and sucked up more carrots then the others. DanTheBlueGrassman was the only one turned out with a buddy. Sunshine Forever was in the paddock right next to him, and Mike showed me the tricks he will do for carrots.
Another GREAT story about old friends (that was a touch of home) was ESCAPEFROMNEWYORK.. For those of you who dont know about him. He came from the Ernie Paragallo "dispersal".. He is a 3 year old, who had 3 hooves in the grave when he got to Old Friends. He could barely walk and was in poor health. Mike commented that since arrival he has gained almost 200 lbs and as he put it "...has grown 7 inches". He was aptly named EscapeFromNewYork.
For anyone who visits Lexington, please take an hour to visit this amazing farm. It's easier and more fun then visiting a real retirement center and much less yelling!!! LOL
Visit to Old Friends..
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One of the highlights of my last trip to Lexington was to OF, and spending a few hours with Mike. At that time, we went specifically to see Ruhlmann, who was the damsire of one of our fillied. He was as tough as nails, and looked fantastic, as did "O", and Taylor's Special.
What a wonderful, dignified retirement heaven for these old warriors to spend their latter years.
What a wonderful, dignified retirement heaven for these old warriors to spend their latter years.