Ymustichasethecat (Click here for Past Performances)

PROVISIONAL ADOPTION!!!!!

By Magic Cat out of the Counter Queen mare directly ascended from one of the greatest stallions ever, Storm Cat on his male side and boasting both Mr. Prospector and Secretariat on his female side as well as being inbred to both Secretariat and  Mr. Prospector, Cat exudes class on every part of his pedigree chart.  Unfortunately, this gorgeous chestnut 16.2 hh gelding had fallen down into the lower claiming ranks and after racing in the Southern California circuit was transferred to Northern California where he recently was retired from racing and needed a new home and a new career.

Cat had 26 starts and hit the board 50% of the time earning over 110K.  

Our thanks for this rescue go out to Dawn Mellen who arranged Cat's off track transfer and rehoming as well as pledging support until he is adopted.  Thank you for your support and compassion Dawn!   Dawn founded and runs After the Finish Line , an equine racing charity that helps fund other thoroughbred rescues.  However, no funds from this outstanding charity were used in rescuing Cat. Dawn and her father Michael Mellen were not the last owners and yet pledged to help when they learned Cat needed to be retired and was at great risk. 

Cat spent nearly a year at Fly By Wire Farm in Reno, NV. He retired from the track sound but for a case of severe body soreness. We gave him this much needed year to just be a horse and recover both physically and mentally.

Carla writes the following upon his arrival at her facility:

"OMG this boy is lovely.  I will have to repeat daily "I cannot keep him, I cannot keep him, I cannot keep him".  This horse has so much class.  I took a couple of pictures before I had to run to dinner (I was fashionably late).  He traveled great, and the trailer ride brought down the swelling in his legs (check out the pics).  He ate in the trailer then we fed him a full meal and went out to blanket at 9pm and his tub was empty so we gave him another full meal.  If he keeps eating like this I can bulk him up fast.  Can I say it again what a neat horse he is.  Brenda was so great, so happy I got to meet her.  Between the three of us we can do a lot for Neigh Savers.  Sorry we couldn't stay longer but thanks again, this boy is special."  Carla


Update November 2008:  

Cat and Puff are quite the pair.  Instead of eating out of separate feed tubs they share one then when it's finished move on to the next.   They are both such gentle souls.  His legs haven't been stocking up anymore as he is far more mobile now.  He is happy and we are working on putting the pounds on him and convincing him that he really needs to grow some coat.

Cat with his gameface on at Hollywood Park.

Cat and Puff - fast friends.


Update from Carla, February 2009

"I wanted to get some new pictures to you and show you how well he's doing. Still skinny, we still have a ways to go on fattening him up. He has been trotting sound in his run so we are starting to let him go out in the larger turnout once a week. He did a little more then I would have liked him to do yesterday but he had a blast."


Update from Carla, March 2009

"Cat is doing wonderfully. Right now with the dark nights he only gets out on weekends but he is sound after turn out. I switched him over to a beet pulp/bran/oats diet that he just loves. He hates waiting for it to be made in the evenings. The first warm weekend we have I will get him bathed and get his mane pulled so we can have a nice picture for his webpage. The 6 month rest period is over the first week of April so I plan to put him back to work then, start slowly and see if he stays sound. I think the slow and steady and lots of rest has done wonders for him."


Update from Carla, September 2009

Cat kept coming up sore after running about. We finally got him to a clinic and performed a complete scan and examination on him. The vet recommended a couple of drug therapies (bute and another drug to increase circulation) as well as correctional shoeing. We are pleased to say that Cat has improved dramatically. He is also shown on the last photo chowing down with his new friend Two Trails (Twoey) "Cat is staying sound off the bute now. Last bute was given on August 15th. He has spent the last week with Twoey and they are very bonded now, like screaming babies if they are separated. I have more pictures to send to you of him being turned out which he sooooo enjoyed."


Update October 2009

Cat arrived in Clayton, CA mid-October to begin his training under saddle. However, he is available to anyone experienced enough to train and work with a green off track horse now. His adoption fee will adjust upwards dependent upon how much training time we invest. Because of his size at a little over 16.2, his elegant conformation and fluid trot and canter, we do not expect him to remain available for very long.

Watch Cat on YouTube during his first ride under saddle after 14 months.


Update: February 2010

This horse is so special that EVERYONE falls in love with him. He is the most intelligent and willing student on the property. You only have to tell the Cat once what to do and he learns it. Even something hard like backing up. He focuses his full attention on you when in the ring--total eye contact and concentration. If you try to teach him something again that you just went over he looks at you like: "Wait - I already know that - Watch." He has never taken one bad step nor done a single thing wrong. His concentration and focus are phenomenal. This is one EXCEPTIONAL horse.


Update: April 2010

Here's our beloved Cat in his heyday during one of his wins at Santa Anita. Garrett Gomez up on March 11, 2007.


Update: November 2010

Cat has been provisionally adopted by Jessi. We say provisionally because Jessi is a teenager and we do not allow anyone under 18 to adopt a Neigh Savers' horse and then they must be financially sound to care for the horse. Jessi's Mom, who is also our trainer, signed off on the papers but we will keep him in our program at least through April 2011 to make sure that Jessi is able to meet all of her responsibilities regarding Cat. We had a surprise birthday party for Jessi on November 2nd and volunteer Carolina dolled him up beautifully. Photos to follow.