Author: oldjab

I worked Magic in a caveson and a lunge line. My feeling was that he was attentive and did not look out across the pasture so much. Until now I have had no preferences about round pen or lunge line. With Magic the lunge line keeps just a little more contact where being loose in the round pen allowed him so much freedom that he began to evade control. At least that is the way it seems to me today.

We went by the trailer and stopped next to it. I reached over and rattled the trailer. He paid no attention to it at all.

I have never seen Magic spook. Not even in the dead of night at the Saline County Fairgrounds and I was thinking there might be some spooks there for sure. He gives me confidence!

Magic and Little More were in the Bull Pen today. Magic is feeling more comfortable in his surroundings today. This afternoon he was chasing Little More away from the gate. It is sad to see Little More’s soundness issues as they play. Magic looks good with no signs of any problem.
Lisa sent this respons to my inquiry about Magic and the brush: “When they are at the track, instead of being groomed as we would normally think, they strap them really hard with stiff brushes to encourage muscle tone and it’s very common for them to not enjoy being groomed. When Magic first arrived, he got very aggressive about it and was very uncomfortable about the whole thing and has gradually improved. Just do as you have, go slowly and be gentle and use softer brushes, give him a treat while you are doing it and he will soon begin to associate it as a pleasurable experience. It’s completely normal for them to behave like that and I’ve had some that will even flinch at the mere thought of being groomed.He was just muddy in the video because I had a lot of horses to ride and needed to get on and get done plus the mud was still kind of wet, not the kind you can just brush off and the water had frozen. He would stand untied in the aisle while he was groomed and as long as he knows that you are not going to be rough, he’ll be just fine.That sounds great about his new friend, nothing improves their minds better then getting out on some pasture with a buddy.”

I rode Magic in the arena. Everything was negative at the trailer and I just wanted something positive to happen. I was very pleased with the ride. Magic is a nice horse. (the positive experience did not help when we got back to the trailer.)

Magic had a hard time accepting the situation. When we got to Perryville, 15 minutes, he was kicking, pawing, and dripping sweat. I was very concerned. It can go bad in the trailer. I was looking for a Vet in Conway to administer a tranqualizer. It was Sunday and we never found one willing. Thankfully when we got to Conway, Magic was over his extreme anxiety and was dry. We arrivied home about 8:30pm. Could not make the turn at the mailbox because of the snow and ice. Had to go down to the Y and return to approach the driveway directly. Magic and I were both happy to get him in his stall.

The roads conditions are such that travel this morning with my trailer is not a good idea. But I had to leave Tommy and Wanda’s trailer at Diamond TR due to the weather threat Tuesday night. So I went and got it today. I did not want to try loading Magic in anything less than the most inviting so I am going back tomorrow with my trailer. Magic was in the stall where I left him. He was happy to see anybody and nickered when approached. I got him out and longed him in an arena in the barn. They were having Pony Club in the large arena and the barn drill team in this barn. There was a lot going on. Magic was calm and we watched the drill team as they blocked our return to the stall. I was able to return Tommy and Wanda’s trailer to thier place in Hasty about 8pm.

I am very happy with Magic. We worked through several difficult situations. He is level headed and showed considerable confidence in a new and strange setting. He is handsome and a big 15 3. I think he is the horse I have been looking for!

As an example of how crazy horse people are: The neighborhood around the fairgrounds employed concetina wire to discourage after hours visits. It crossed my mind in the dark of night that I might be vunerable to robery and things that go boom in the night. I thought, “that pistol would be nice to have handy right now.” Then remembering that I was responsible for Magic, I thought, “Well if a robber came up and I shot him, that would probably spook the horse. So it is actually good that I do not have the pistol.”

Lisa Molloy called and said Cox Equine Transport was on thier way to her barn to pick up one of her horses and transport it to TX. I called Cox and arranged for Magic to ride with them. They picked him up in Lexington KY about 2pm.

The following is the information posted on New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Website about Magical Minister:

Horses inherit many traits from their parentage and this horse is by Deputy Minister, who is widely regarded as producing some of the best-minded and trainable horses around and Magic is no exception. Just 5 years old, he stands 15.3hh and what he may lack in height, he more than makes up for in stature. He is well built and solid, sound and without injury and has no vices. Magical Minister has really settled well into the program and is a lovely horse to deal with and be around. He has now graduated to turnout with other geldings and has done exceptionally well.

Magic is good to handle in all respects including: shoeing, catching, clipping, grooming etc and will stand untied in the aisle while being saddled. Under saddle, he has been very quick to learn and responds well. He is learning to move out more from the shoulder and is a nice, comfortable ride with a good mouth and no malice.

Since the New Year, he has been trail ridden every day alone and has done amazingly well, going all over the farm, past fields of running horses and has encountered tractors, 4 wheelers, trucks and muck spreaders all without incident.

Magic is suitable for all pursuits and with time and additional training, he will make a very nice all around horse.

And they had several photographs. I liked his looks. Peggy Thompson looked at some of these horses with me some time ago.  She liked a horse with lots of chrome and I commented that I was somewhat put off by all the chrome. She said “John, white socks and legs are not a bad thing.” Magic had black legs and black hooves, the best kind, according to me.