|
ZIPS MAGICAL DESTINY
is
a Mr Magic Zip
foal born in the Spring of 1999. Destiny has a special
story to tell, one with a happy ending – thankfully!
Hi! I'm Destiny, daughter of Mr Magic Zip! I was
born on April 20th, 1999
in
Haskinsville, New York.
My Mama, Otoes Misty Dee, didn’t like me very much
when I was born, and hurt me really bad.
She kicked me, bit me, stepped on me, and just plain was
mean to me. I stayed with her for five whole
days before our owners realized what she was doing to me.
You can see from the next few pictures that I had scars and
bruises, and cuts.
But, the deepest scars were emotional.
I thought all horses were like my Mama, and didn’t
like any of them! I was scared because I was in a
whole new world, and I was alone, without my Mama. I didn't
even know my Daddy, but soon I would! When my owners
figured out what my Mama was doing, they took me to the
neonatal nursery at Cornell University, where I spent a week
under a team of veterinarians led by Dr. Jennifer Adolf and
Dr. Gillian Perkins.
My Daddy’s owners, Anderson
Quarter Horses, found new owners to take me to so I wouldn’t
have to be afraid any more.
They were Jeff & Kris Rakers of Arkport, New York.
Jeff & Kris were better than my Mama.
They even turned their own lives upside down to do
the around-the-clock feedings that I needed to survive after
my discharge from Cornell.
Here I am in the pen. You can see a few scars on this
side.
Here I am again, you can see the bad cut on my head,
and a couple more on my legs.
Jeff & Kris built me a stall in their
garage, and they put up a port-a-pen in the yard.
I sure found a wonderful place to grow up during those early
months. I even greeted
them in a funny new way – I always turned my ears back when they
came by to let them know I am saying hello! They said other horses
say hi with their ears forward, but since I didn’t know any other
horses, and my Mama didn’t teach me, I made my own greeting for
them!
Pretty soon, it was time to
go and visit my Daddy, Mr Magic Zip, at AQH to learn about
other horses.
They told me it would be time to socialize once I was weaned
from my Foal Lac and eating enough grass, hay and grain by
myself. By the time August came around, I was fitted up
for the get of Sire at NY-PENN!
I was adapting nicely with foals my own age – but I
was still scared by the big ones!
But at least I was making progress.
Pretty soon, Susan and Jerry Anderson were putting me
in the round pen in one of the turn-outs during the day,
with the big horses grazing around me on the outside, so I
could watch them and nuzzle them through the bars without
getting scared. I was protected, too, in case they wanted to
pick on me. (I was still sensitive!)
Amanda Rakers & Destiny,
NY-PENN 1999
During the following year at
AQH, I made lots of friends and learned all about the alpha
mares and how the pecking order worked.
My favorite friends right now are Magic Coosa Nicki (Nicki)
and Extras Magic Mr (Brownie) who I am turned out with every
day. In August
of 2000, I went with them to NY-PENN again!
Jeff and Kris wanted to show me off to all their
friends again, and this time I was not scared at all to be
with other horses!
I am almost all grown up, which you can tell by the
next pictures of me.
I am so cute!
This is me and Tiffany at NY-PENN 2000!
I
was started under saddle in the Spring of 2001 with Tonya
Clothier, the AQH horse trainer, who made me even better
than I already was. At first I didn't understand why a
human would be on my back when they wouldn't let me get on
their backs! But, I got it... and boy was I good!
Tonya says she's never met a horse like me - I think that
means I am really good, right?
Check me & Tonya out:
Tonya & Destiny 2001
In the Fall of
2001, I attended two Cowanesque, PA shows with my aunt,
Estrellita De Magica, of AQH. At these two shows, I
was only supposed to be schooled, but I blew them away!!!
They wanted to tie a red flag to my tail to warn other
riders that I might kick at other passing horses, because I
might be afraid! Ha! I fooled them - I was not afraid
at all! In fact, I won lots of ribbons at the first
show for the Keystone Rangerbred Association. Here were my
standings:
Two Year Old Halter - 1st
Place!
Reg QH Halter - 3rd Place!
Groom & Showmanship - 2nd!
Walk/Trot Pleasure - 3rd
Place !
Walk/Trot Equitation - 4th
Place!
And, then did it all over
again at the second show! Here I am on those days:
In 2002, Tonya
let my adoptive mother, Kris, ride me in a couple of shows.
Kris and I did really well - even though she was more scared
than me! I behaved myself, while Mama Sue had to push
Mama Kris out into the ring the first time. We won some
really good ribbons, and boy was Daddy proud!
In the fall of 2002, I went back to Jeff & Kris’s house to
be with Our Eternal Misty ("Misty"), Jeff & Kris's other
mare. I sure missed my Daddy and my friends at AQH,
and I hoped to see them soon.
*2003 UPDATE*
In the Spring
of 2003, I came "home" to AQH to see my Daddy, and for
additional training with my old friend, Tiffany Soukup.
Tiffany was home from College for the summer, and boy did we
work! After a few days, we were back in the groove,
and it sure felt great to have her working with me again.
We didn't show but Kris and I practiced a whole lot
together, and went on trail rides. They said they
didn't want me to get sour by showing too much. But, there's
always next year...
When fall came
again in 2003, I went back to spend the winter with my
friend Misty and my new friend, April! She's a little
palomino pony mare that Jeff and Kris had to buy for the
summer to keep Misty happy
while I
was gone for training. (And for their new grandson, Alex,
who will someday ride me, too.)
*2004 UPDATE*
In February
2004, I made the trip to my Daddy's trainer, Shelly Ingalls
at Echo Hill Arabians. She made him a champion, and she's
going to do the same for me, and for my adoptive mother
Kris, who is going to learn to show me herself in the ring
without being afraid!! We'll keep you posted on ALL our
accomplishments this year.
Shelly and
Kris took me to my first Summer show. The weather was
terrible. They expected me to actually perform in mud
and standing water - which I hate because it makes me dirty
- and I did okay, but really was not into being with other
muddy, dirty, splashing horses. Ick! We placed
anyway, because I am that great even when avoiding puddles.
Kris wasn't too keen on the weather either, so she promised
not to drag me to anymore rain soaked arenas and to bring
good weather to our next show. Shelly says I am too picky,
but I am really getting better at all the frou-frou show
stuff they make me do - I'd rather be on the trails in the
open air with my buddies out at AQH. Stay tuned for my next
episode/escapade with Kris and Shelly.
In August,
2004, Shelly, Kris and I went to the Chemung County Fair in
Elmira, NY. They had the nerve to enter me in the Green
Horse Walk Trot class, and Shelly said Kris was gonna show
me! I don't know who was more scared, me or Kris! At least
there was no mud or rain. To our surprise (well, not really,
I knew I was terrific), we came in 2nd place! Then we went
into Green Rider Walk Trot (I had to make Kris look good).
We won the class!
After that,
Kris needed a break. So, I stayed at Shelly's until Fall
when I came home to spend the winter with my friend Misty
and my new friend April (or, "Shorty" as I like to call
her). Kris' grandson, Alex, is crazy about me and all
horses. I just need to figure out how to get him to sneak us
more carrots this Winter. Keep checking back. Kris plans to
send me to my old stomping grounds and home to see my Daddy
at Anderson Quarter Horses for additional training to get us
ready for the 2005 Show Circuits.
*2005 UPDATE*
In May, I came
back to Anderson Quarter Horses to be with my Daddy again
and started training with William T. Hamilton. Kris
and I wanted to go out on the 2005 Summer show circuit
together. We made it to only two shows because Kris
has been busy with her new grandson...humph! Doesn't she
know I am still her baby? Anyway...Kris also got stage
fright and show jitters with the crowds watching her...I
don't know why Kris would feel that way since I (good ole
Dessie) am so beautiful and perfect...how could anyone be
looking at her? They're all looking at me and wishing they
owned me! Besides, everyone knows that riders are just along
for the ride! We (horses) do all the work!
Of course when we were out
of the show ring we were trail riding. Bill and I and Kris
and I went all over at my Daddy Mr's home and were doing so
great that Kris got a "bright idea!" I got to go on a
14 mile ride home to Kris and
Jeff's house INSTEAD of getting to ride in the trailer!
Instead of munching and chewing hay and enjoying the wind
blowing in my hair, she had Bill take me on this long, hot,
muggy trek with lots of icky bugs. It was terrible! It was
not nice to do that, since she should know I deserve to be
treated like the princess I am! I sure hope she doesn't get
another idea like that! It will take me all winter to get
over this one!
~ 2006
Update ~
Big things
happened! Jeff got a new job in Ohio, and he and Kris
moved away! My mama Kris left me to stay with some
nice people in Arkport, NY, until she can find a place for
me at their new home. My pony friend April is living
with me here, but my old friend Misty needed special care
and she went to stay at my Daddy's place at Anderson Quarter
Horses. Misty will be 30 soon and only Mrs. Anderson
can take care of her now.
Kris didn't show me this
year. She still isn't over her stage fright! And, she got a
FULL time job. Harumph! That meant she couldn't spend as
much time with me. Plus, she got another grand baby! Harumph!
I am only a little bit jealous. Kris promised to find a
great place for me to board that will be near her in Ohio,
and we will start practicing again for the show ring. I am
holding her to this promise, after all I am special!
Thanks again
to everyone who has written to me to say I was the "Little
Horse That Could" and I will keep on going thanks to all
your support and well wishes! Oh, and don't forget to breed
your mare to MY DADDY. (Had to plug him, he's totally cool!)
~ 2007 Update ~
2007 has been both a good year so far and a sad year.
The good news is that I finally moved home to Kentucky where
they have Blue grass!! Jeff and Kris live just down
the road and I am boarding at a beautiful ranch. Jeff drives
across the border every day to Ohio to work. The sad
news is that my old pal Misty got really sick this winter
and passed away after I left. I have been really sad, but I
have her picture (below) to look at. My mama Kris was real
sad, too, and so was Mrs. Anderson. But I am happy to be in
the warm air in Kentucky and I will post a new photo of me
soon!
~
2008
Update ~
Kris
has taken Destiny to Twin Lakes Farms in Ekron, KY, to be
bred to the champion PHBA palomino stallion, Skippa Sweet
Star for a 2009 baby. As Destiny is fearful of close
contact with other horses, the plan is for Dessie to be
there up to three months being courted across the fence by
the stallion. They won't breed her till Dessie says
"okay" as this farm doesn't do AI, so it will be a natural
cover. They are giving the "newlyweds" plenty of time
to become friends before breeding...We'll see how it goes.
Dessie is about an hour away from Kris, so she is making the
drive once or twice a week to check on progress of the
courtship. More info on Skippa Sweet Star on
www.equine.com and on the
www.kyqha.com website stallion listing.
For Destiny, it was love at first sight - and
boy, did she say it was okay!
Kris and Jeff will be proud grandparents in
February 2009.
|
