New year, new blog post! This time, we tell the story of JC Dux, now known as Finn, in his adopter Briley’s own words. Finn was retired from racing after 7 starts and never placing better than third. While he came to Briley with a bit of a bad attitude, she’s slowly worked him through it and he has turned into an awesome horse
Canter: What was your horse like when you first adopted him?
Briley: To be honest when I first got Finn (Dux) he was a pretty angry horse. He didn’t like to be touched at all, so this made catching him, brushing him, and blanketing him all very difficult. He would kick and bite, and he was very protective over his food. He was really just an angry horse who really didn’t trust anyone or like anyone. It is understandable to me, though I did wonder for a while if it would be something he would ever be able to overcome.
Canter: In what ways has your horse grown/developed during the time that you’ve owned him?
Briley: He is a totally different horse now! I can catch, bathe, blanket, brush, ride etc. with out him doing anything aggressive or just nasty. Sure he still has his moments where he will give me the stink eye, or threaten to kick, but compared to where we were 2 years ago, he has changed and grown up in so many ways! I am very proud of this little horse! When he first got to me, he also had a ‘baby face’. He just looked so young and immature. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but his face know looks grown up and wiser. Its a funny thing to watch happen. (I included photos of his face then and now so maybe someone else can see what Im talking about, and I won’t feel so crazy!)
You’re not crazy Briley! He really has grown up!
Canter: Describe your horse’s personality. Do they have any funny quirks?
Briley: Finn has so much personality and character! It is just never ending, and he is always doing something new to make me laugh. Like I said, at first he was just really young, immature, and kinda mean. He was almost afraid to come out of his shell and trust you and let you really see his personality. But then eventually over time, little by little, he would let you in a bit. Weather it be just a sassy expression, or ‘catching’ you by the scarf and leading you around. He is always getting into something (thus his new show name ‘Finnegan’s Shenanigans’). He lets me kiss him now, which I know he doesn’t enjoy, but he puts up with it! He is also very brave! He really just wants to please you now, and under saddle or just out in the field, he likes to investigate things instead of just instantly running away. We have gone through water (first try too!) gone to watch huge horse shows (600 + competitors!) and I even taught him how to play soccer! He loves peppermints and raspberries! He also loves the neighbors small children and is so gentle when they feed and pet him. This horse really has blown me away with the progress he has made, and the horse he is now. I just adore him!
Canter: What would you say is your horse’s favorite activity? (i.e., eating, getting a bath, grazing, trail riding, galloping around in the turnout?)
Briley: Eating. With out a doubt. He is very food oriented. I whistle when I am walking up to the barn to let him know I’m on my way, and he lets out this big whinny. I like to think its because he’s happy to see me, but truly I know its because he knows I am coming to feed him! He also knows my truck and he whinnies when I drive up. If he hears a peppermint wrapper he stops what he is doing and comes to look in all your pockets. He is turned out in a grass field all summer, and he is happy as a clam just to eat and sunbathe!
Canter: Has your horse made friends with any of the other horses or barn animals?
Briley: Last winer I had him at a boarding facility with lots of other horses. I thought that by putting him out with other, older horses (since he hadn’t really been turned out with others before) they would teach him more about respect and boundaries. I honestly thought and kinda hoped he would be low man in the group and get put in his place a bit. Nope. He was like the #2 guy there and had like 6 girlfriends by the end of the season. He and the other geldings would play tag over the fence, while the girls just stood and admired how sexy he is. He knows this too! But as far as people, he is still very much a one-person type of horse. I can tell that he trusts me now, and in turn I trust him now.
Canter: Have you and your OTTB overcome any challenging circumstances? Or has your OTTB been a super star since the day you met?
Briley: I honestly think we have overcome a lot. More so him than me. Looking at pictures of him when I first got him, it doesn’t even seem like the same horse. He is a happy horse now, and loves to just have his ‘person’. I am so grateful and lucky that I get to take that title! I really do love Finn, and am so excited to see what the future holds for this special little man! Granted it has been a long, slow road, filled with plenty of doubt, but I truly believe this is a horse that needs things to go slow, and he needs to trust you. Once you have that though, this guy will surprise you every day!
Thank you to everyone who supported this little horse from the beginning and helped to get him to me. I can’t thank you all enough!
