How Cool Izzy

How Cool Izzy is a Chestnut gelding by Exploit, a stakes winner of $400,000 and is one of the sires from the great Storm Cat line. His offspring totaled over $3.6 million. Izzy was a Valentine's Day present and was foaled on February 14, 2004. His dam is Bright Idea by Gold Fever. He is a good looking animal and had been training at the track with extremely good workout times. He never made it into an official race as he was sidelined by a few minor injuries that sent him back and forth to the farm and then suffered a torn tendon that finished his career.

We are pleased to report a happy ending for Izzy. Initially it was thought that Izzy would go to a rescue facility.  However, given the current climate today rescues are overburdened and there was no room for Izzy.  We then found Izzy what we thought was a suitable placement at an equestrian center.  However, the it turns out the horse was intended for beginning riders and the facility decided that Izzy was "too much of a horse" for them and returned him back into my care.   Given the fact that Izzy is young, essentially untrained and from the tempestuous Storm Cat line it was no surprise to us.  We had initially thought that Izzy was intended for advanced riders and would also receive the additional training he required.  Because the previous owner had released him and the new owner did not want him Izzy ended up a transitional horse with really nowhere to go. I temporarily placed him at our partner farm (Woodmyst Farms in Gilroy) and had him reevaluated. Through my own network of facilities and friends I still could not find anyone who would take him because he is an "alpha male" and does need special handling.

However, this week Izzy finally arrived at his new home with Taylor W. in Coalinga and it was a "blind date" encounter as Taylor had only seen the photos I emailed him. After settling Izzy in Taylor called me and announced that those pictures I sent him did not do Izzy any justice and that he is a beautiful looking guy and he is completely "in love." Izzy had his usual temper tantrum of bucking in the stall and scaring everyone because he was somewhere new but Taylor (a man with prior horse training experience) just grabbed his halter and looked at him and he settled down immediately. Meanwhile, Taylor's friend who was with him had already fled for his life. It is gratifying that Izzy now has a home that is just the right situation for him. Izzy is a fine animal but challenging. We are so happy that he found a home where someone will appreciate his beauty and his abilities. It is too bad Izzy couldn't make it on the track for he has a lovely fluid trot to him, so very graceful, as if he is gliding on air. Izzy will be actively ridden and Taylor has lots and lots of time to be with him so they can become fast friends in time. Taylor said he took the horse "for life" and Izzy would never have to worry about being moved again.   Thank you Taylor for giving this deserving thoroughbred another chance!