bitbybitevent

[bitbybitevent]

Amazing Grace

December 30, 2015 the South Florida SPCA responded to an animal cruelty report to find 4 emaciated horses, among them a young pony laying in the dirt, skin and bones. Unable to stand she had to be carried on to the trailer and from that moment on, slowly but surely she got stronger. The SFPCA along with the Palm Beach Equine Clinic worked their magic to bring this pony from near death to the epitome of health.

‘Grace’ arrived at Sherwood early in the new year and has proven to be exceptionally smart and willing. Her dreadful past behind her, this young pony is now going walk/trot/canter undersaddle with a young rider and certainly has a bright future a head of her.

Read more about ‘Amazing Grace’ and the South Florida SPCA

http://www.spca-sofla.org/from-dying-in-the-dirt-to-living-the-dream/

[bitbybitevent]

Retired Racehorse Makeover Project

Sherwood Farm has taken part in the Retired Racehorse Makeover Project since 2015. Meet their entrants!

2017 Atlantic Shogun- Shogun

Shogun is a big and impressive thoroughbred gelding who began retraining for his new career in December 2016 after receiving some downtime when he retired from racing. Shogun is impressive with his big, lofty movement but also with his quiet and gentle nature. He will compete at the 2017 makeover in October in the hunter and dressage sections.

2017 Townsend- Double

Double retired from racing at 3 years old simply because he was too slow. Straight from the track to the farm he proved to be one of the most quiet and reasonable young horses anyone had ever worked with. With a balanced, rhythmical canter and willing attitude he has progressed phenomenally since beginning his retraining in December 2016. He will compete at the 2017 makeover in the hunter section. 

2016 Unblushing- Bug

Bug was one of Sherwood’s 2016 entrants in the makeover project. A quick study and very brave, Bug always loved a challenge and handled the makeover like a seasoned pro with only a couple of shows under his belt prior to attending. Bug finished in the top 20 of 90 entrants in the hunter section. Upon returning home Bug found his forever home with a wonderful amateur rider.

2016 Almost a Fool’s Day- Bucky

Bucky came to Sherwood from New York after his racing career had ended. Having heard of the Retired Racehorse Project, Bucky’s owner felt it would be a great opportunity for this horse to take part and find his new career. He contacted Robin and the arrangements were made for Bucky to travel to Sherwood just 3 short months before the makeover would take place. Sadly his owner would not get to see his dream come to fruition as he passed away days before Bucky was set to head to Sherwood. Wanting to fulfill his owners wishes, the family sent Bucky to Sherwood where Robin work diligently with him in the short time span. A special horse with a special story, Bucky exceeded all expectations at the makeover, having never been to a horse show and just barely started over fences. After the makeover Bucky found his forever home with a great junior rider in Oregon. 

2015 Zatopek- Pim

Purchased through Adena Springs Pim was Sherwood’s very first entrant in the Makeover Project. This young horse proved to be tolerant and intelligent with all the goods to make him a fierce competitor in the ring. He participated in Ontario Thoroughbred Incentive Shows before heading to the makeover where he was purchased by an amateur rider and now resides in New York.

[bitbybitevent]

Off Track Thoroughbreds

Robin and Marilyn have long been supporters and advocates of Thoroughbred horses, with a special knack for retraining them for a second career. Meet some of their best and brightest !

Prodigioso “The Everglades Horse”- Piper

Piper was found in July 2012 on the side of an Everglades road by the South Florida SPCA, emaciated, recently blinded and with a bucket of cement tied to his hind legs. He was brought back to health by Florida TRAC and found his forever home at Sherwood in May 2013. While the incentive was to provide a loving home to this special little horse he showed he had more to give than just the story of a fighter. With Robin Hannah-Carlton in the irons he learned to jump and proved that with love, care and understanding an animal can learn to trust again. In short time he was jumping courses and entered the show ring, first at the schooling level and then moving up to the national level. In 2013 and 2014 he had top placings in the Thoroughbred classes at the Royal Winter Fair and 2015 he had top placings in the Baby Green Division on the Ontario ‘A’ circuit as well as in the Thoroughbred Classics. Midway through the 2015 year Piper fought another near fatal battle as he unexplainably went into renal failure but he again showed his strength and miraculously made a full recovery. He again had top placings at the 2015 Royal Winter Fair and in 2016 was the top point earner in the Eastern Thoroughbred Challenge and over-all top point earner in the East vs. West Challenge. 

Read more about Piper:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/10/16/starving_abandoned_us_race_horse_thriving_in_ontario.html

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2014/03/28/blinded-everglades-horse-ribbons-at-hits-ocala/

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/08/12/everglades-horse-fights-for-his-life-again/

Future Kings - Kings

-Kings April 2015

-Kings May 2016

Kings sold for over $200,000 as a yearling but at 15 years old he somehow ended up slaughter bound in April 2015. He was pulled to safety by Beyond The Roses Equine Rescue and Retirement and quarantined at R.A.C.E. Fund’s PA facility before moving to his forever home at Sherwood alongside Piper. His past is a bit of a mystery but his talent was evident right from his first day on the farm. Since that day Kings has become an exceptional show horse, though he does have his quirks. In the fall 2015 he won the final Thoroughbred Classic at Caledon Equestrian Park and had top placings in the Thoroughbred classes at the Royal Winter Fair. In 2016 after a successful season on the ‘A’ circuit Kings finished 6th over-all in the Baby Green Hunters.

Read more about Kings:

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/04/15/220k-yearling-was-slaughter-bound-in-old-age/

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2016/06/21/kill-pen-horse-16-ribbons-in-a-circuit-shows/

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2016/12/29/kill-pen-horse-set-to-show-in-the-sunshine-state/

True Metropolitan- Metro

After winning 1.7million on the track Metro retired to pasture for 5 years. In December 2015 the manager of Hindmarsh farm recognized that this talented horse had more to give and offered him to Robin and Marilyn as she had seen the work they had done with other Thoroughbreds. They agreed to take him after only seeing a couple pictures and Metro arrived at the farm in early January, settling in right away. He slowly entered back into work and by spring he was jumping courses and entered his first show in May in the Green Hunter division with ribbons in every class. He has quickly become a barn favourite and has a bright future ahead of him as a hunter.

Read more about Metro:

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2016/04/22/millionaire-racehorse-14-trains-to-be-show-horse/

Finders Keepers- Austin

Austin was Robin’s very first horse whom she experienced much success with in the jumper ring as a junior rider. Purchased right off the track he proved to be quick, smart, agile and possessed a lot of heart. At one point in his life he suffered a major injury from which the vets did not believe he would be able to recover. Unable to walk he spent time in a sling and then many months of recovery relearning how to walk. Though at times it seemed grim Robin never gave up on the little horse with so much heart and in turn he made an amazing recovery and even returned to the show ring for a few years before being formally retired. 

Read more about Austin:

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/06/24/a-circuit-horse-once-told-hed-never-walk-again/

Play for Keeps- Hunter

Hunter has long been a staple at Sherwood Farm and has taught many new riders the ropes as well as taken many to their very first show. Hunter exemplifies the versatility of the thoroughbred breed but also how patient and caring they can be. 

Ptarmigan- River

River was purchased by Sherwood Farm strictly off a video. Already a competitor in the ring, his easy way of going and textbook technique drew Marilyn to him. Over the years he has experienced great success with a number of riders through the junior/amateur classes, is a master of the hack division and has been a top competitor in the Thoroughbred Challenge classes.

Clever Endeaver- Clever

Clever came to Sherwood through a close friend in South Florida. Unable to handle the heat of the Florida summer it was decided that a cooler climate would be more comfortable for him. Though young in age Clever has proven to be a solid citizen, ridden by a variety of riders at all different levels Clever has experience success both locally and on the ‘A’ circuit. Clever has competed many times at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in the Thoroughbred classes with great success.

[bitbybitevent]

Rescues

Over the years Sherwood Farm has welcomed many horses into their new career or second chance at life. Meet some of the most recent rescues !

Hooligan - Mitchell

-Alya Torigian and Mitchell at Palgrave 2016

One would never be able to guess Mitchell’s past looking at him today, you would never know that just 7 years ago he stood an unruly stallion at the OLEX auction house, his fate in the hands of the highest bidder. Thankfully for him the highest bid went to Sherwood and he landed softly in a forever home. Over the years Mitchell has become the most dependable school pony for young riders to learn on, from leadline right up to jumping around courses at the horse show. After years of success with many riders at the local level, Mitchell made his ‘A’circuit debut in 2016 finishing Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup Hunter and Walk/Trot Divisions

Belle, Teddy & Smarty

-Belle 2015

-Teddy 2015

-Smarty 2015

Belle, Teddy and Smarty were purchased from the OLEX auction in the spring of 2014, the 3 in their later years of life the probability of them being purchased as riding or companion horses was slim. Out-bidding the meat buyer Robin purchased the three of them and brought them home. In rough shape upon arrival it was uncertain how much time they still had left, especially for Teddy who was near emaciated, obviously arthritic and in pain. After months of care the three flourished, were able to be turned out in a large grass field and eventually were placed in forever homes. Smarty found a quiet home with kids to call his own, Belle now living in Ottawa with close friends as a companion and trail horse and Teddy living with friends just around the corner from Sherwood as a companion and leadline pony.

Holly

-Holly and Jude Christmas 2016

Holly was purchased off an online add in the winter of 2015. Living in less than ideal conditions the young mare had never been handled by people and never received proper veterinary or farrier care. Though she arrived essentially feral, Holly has become a wonderful first pony for Robin’s son Jude who is learning to  ride and care for horses. In April 2016 Holly surprised everyone by having baby Jolly, who now lives with one of the recently retired show horses as a companion.

-Jolly 2016

Merry

Merry became a member of the Sherwood family in December 2013. As an orphan lamb her future seemed short, however thanks to diligent care and daily bottle feedings Merry prospered and has become a staple around the farm.

-Merry on her first day at the farm compared to her one year anniversary 

[bitbybitevent]

A Brief History

The Bit by Bit fundraiser had it’s inaugural year in 2015 and has since become and annual event. Started by a small group of “friends of the barn” the idea was to help provide support to Sherwood Farm in their initiatives to provide a second chance and second career special horses. 

Sherwood Farm is a family owned and operated equestrian facility offering hunter, jumper and equitation instruction and training, young horse and rider development, sales and leasing of quality hunters and jumpers and young prospects. In addition to running a high quality riding school and competing successfully at the local, regional and national level, owners Marilyn Lee and Robin Hannah-Carlton also pride themselves on giving horses second chances and showcasing that any horse, with the right love and care can become something special.

A good number of the horses and ponies at the farm are former racehorses (OTTBs) and horses removed from potentially dangerous or fatal situations. Stabled in amongst horses bred for the show ring, without knowing their backstory one would never be able to tell the difference, and thats the goal. The idea that a life is a life and all lives should be valued equally, whether that life belong to an expensive show horse or a horse rescued from the kill pen. All lives have potential and all should be given the opportunity to shine. This is what sets Sherwood Farm apart. An animal’s dollar value does not dictate their potential and Marilyn and Robin posses the special ability to be able to see potential in even the most unexpected cases.

The Bit by Bit team, with the help of all its generous supporters, those who have attended the event and those who have donated to the cause, are honoured to support Marilyn, Robin and the entire Sherwood team in their efforts to continue to showcase what love, compassion and understanding can do for a horse. Be it in their second career or their second chance at life.

http://www.sherwoodfarm.com