Re: [RC] WC Freiheit...where is he now? - Dabney Finch
BTW, I have a vague
recollection from those long bygone days, that it was Not a "huge
amount of money," (much to everyone's surprise) but a rather modest amount that
had been agreed upon between buyer and seller before the race. I'll bet
there's someone on RC who's got a better memory than I do of the specifics--Mary
Ben?
Also, knowing the
rider/owners involved, I seriously doubt the horse was ever within "an inch of
his life," from any endurance ride. There is no indication of that
anywhere, and such is sheer speculation.
Probably, like
most human and equine hard working athletes, this horse eventually retired due
to the effects of a chronic leg injury or arthritis resulting
therefrom.
In a message dated 1/5/2006 6:45:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, dabneyesq@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
But, Black Beauty nothwithstanding, horses just
don't think like that --they're more like cats: while they will readily bond
with a human, they can get over it rather readily (generally) if their
owner happens to change.
I think you're probably right Dabney...although I'd like to think that
I've owned horses who would always love me :) What I'm curious about is
where Fred (aka Freiheit) is now....what kind of retirement was he
afforded? He was obviously (look at his record) ridden hard..some might
say to within an inch of his life...then sold down the road at an age when
most horses would be looking at some sort of comfy retirement life. So,
the bottom line...nevermind all the other stuff about how he never did another
ride after his big season of '95 (winning OD and Tevis in the same year and
being sold for big bucks) where the heck is he now? did he go to
the killers or what? Is he munching grass? I know he didn't do anything
endurance-wise, but I'd sure love to know he's ok.
Sylvia (Fred won Tevis the year my horse, Harca, helped me get
my first buckle....he really was an impressive looking
horse)
