Before I knew the direction that things were going last month I fell into an OTTB rabbit hole. Amanda and I were drowning my sorrows in queso… And margaritas (naturally). One thing led to another and then I was stalking horses like it was my job.
There was one horse specifically that I LOVED. Bert was basically a Henry 2.0 but 6yo. I came *this* close to selling my soul to buy him.
Then our awesome friend offered to let me ride her sweet little mare for as long as I needed. Logically I didn’t need another horse. Luna will be ready to start jumping a little next year – man time flys – and for now is staying in Nashville with my trainer there. I still kept looking though. Who doesn’t love a little window shopping. My casual shopping quickly turned into full blown shopping (slippery slope). I decided that regardless of how long Annie would be out of commission a project could be fun. I even set my sights on RRP 2019. Still had to find a horse though!
Over the past year I started to become obsessed with Amanda‘s (and now mine) trainer’s horse. I thought it would be pretty cool to find a horse by Flatter like hers. We even found one. This mare was WOW.
Then my world came crashing down. The weekend that I lost Annie I had signed up to volunteer at a schooling H.T. I genuinely considered cancelling. I know that the organizer would have understood. But then I thought about it and realized I would have just gone home and wallowed.
Instead of sitting at home I was surrounded by great people and horses. I got to watch one of my favorite teams run their first prelim. I saw another team complete their first horse trial… It really did my soul good to see all of those happy moments. I was sad for myself but so happy to be a part of this community. I even got to sit on Flatty. While I didn’t know if I would want to get on a horse so soon it helped me relax and breathe for a few minutes after an incredibly hard day. I am thankful for friends that know just what to do and say even when there are no words.
I was still down in the dumps – to be honest every day something happens and it kicks me in the gut thinking that I won’t see that sweet red face again. That first week I barely went to the barn. Then I ripped off the bandaid and got my stalk on to find my very own Flatter. More on that later – I really really went off the rails. I guess that’s what happens when you pour all of your grief into online searches.
What was supposed to be a short term project will now be my next horse. With all of that said I would like to introduce Whiskey Wu (Flatter x Dehere). Whiskey WOOOO (as Amanda says it) is a 2015 TB that was born and raised in VA. He raced 16 times earning over $38k. The story of how I found him warrants it’s own post so more on that next week. As of today he is officially mine but I am still trying to iron out shipping arrangements for the 1,500 mile journey to TX. It is faster than I expected and holy sh*t now I have a 2yo and 3yo but here we go! Thank god I have Inca to keep me sane while I start this wild ride!
The new dreamboat still doesn’t have a barn name – help is welcome. Gift card to whoever comes up with the name I choose. I love short old man names! Current list: Otis, Wyatt, Willis, George…
Welcome to the fam Whiskey Wu. I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes me. Here’s to the larger than life red mare that made me the rider I am today and helped me fall in love with thoroughbreds. RRP 2019 here we come (I hope)!
OH MY GOSH! YAY!! He is dreamy!!
What about Ira? Earl? Artie? Mort?
Thx for the ideas. My husband likes the show Rick and Morty so I bet he would get a kick out of Mort.
I love Otis. Can’t wait to see what name fits him! Aside from Whiskey WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, of course.
I feel like you inceptioned me and now we have a Flat 2.0 (I hope).I’m not mad about it though lol.
Congrats on a new pony !
I think he needs to be named after a whiskey since his name IS Whiskey. Sooo…. JD?Jimmy?
I like Bert too.
I like the whiskey brand idea for sure.
Jim, Jack, Seagram, Evan, Crown for whiskies
Old man names I love Otis. I also love Eddie (as in Shitter’s Full Eddie), Merv, Marvin, Archie, Felix (Or Oscar), Howard, or if you have Flat 2.0 how bout calling him Stanley.
Congrats too bad I wasnt moving down now I could have given him a lift!! I am sure Amanda helped you shop. This way she gets a gray without having to keep it clean. This one has her paws all over it!!
I am really glad you went down the slippery slope 🙂 It will help being so busy you won’t know what to do. 🙂 He is lovely!!
LOL yeah she definitely helped push me over the edge!
William or Wesley 🙂 Congrats again!
Wes is cute. Thx 🙂
WOOOOOO!! (See what I did there?! I’m so lame). Congratulations Hillary!! I am so happy for you <3
Thank you Tracy 🙂 I am too!
He’s so cute!! Congratulations! I’m a huge whiskey fan so I love the whiskey-related barn name ideas, here are some more: Weller, Taylor (as in, E.H. Taylor), Basil, Hayden, Willett…I could do this all day lol.
I do like the whiskey themed idea for sure 🙂 Thx for the ideas. I have been googling whiskey brands. I am more of a Tequila or Pinot Grigio girl myself haha.
So excited for you! Love his shoulder. I think Jameson as a nod to his “real” name but most of mine have to tell me who they are so I don’t usually commit until they arrive.
Yeah I’m not committing until he’s here and I can see what his personality is like. 🙂
OoOoOoOohhhh he’s gorgeous!!!
Thank you 🙂 I can’t wait for him to get here.
Congratulations! It is kind of funny in a way that we both lost gorgeous red heads and in turn ended up with gorgeous greys! Look forward to learning all about him. I love AP Indy lines so so much.
I like the name Warner, or Wisers which is a Canadian Whiskey 🙂
That is kinda funny. Me too. I am currently trying to find someone that will ship him from the opposite end of the country lol.
He looks just like a horse we used to have named Walter
Ooh. I do like Walt!
Goose! I’ve always wanted a gray to name Goose…. still boozy , just wrong variety 😂
That is cute too. 🙂
No name suggestions, but congratulations! He’s gorgeous!
He’s pretty damn cute! I’m also a Canadian whiskey fan… how about Crown? Or maybe just Woooooo! 😂
One of his connections called him whooodle lol 🙂
What a dreamy dapple grey!! Congrats on the new horse, I can’t wait to hear more about him!!
Thank you! I am looking forward to meeting him and sharing more.
Well, Dopie is already taken, soo….
Barrel/Barry. Herbie. Hugo. Magoo. Steele.
I also like Stanley and Goose.
He’s lovely. Congratulations.
Aww, so happy for you! And I’m excited to hear the story.
As for names… Vernon. Dudley. Norman. Amos. Theo. Arthur. Bert. Arlo. Gus. Louis. Percy. My friends have recently named their boys 9 of these 11 names 😂
He’s gorgeous! Congratulations!
So CUTE! Love him! My suggestions keeping with the whiskey/bourbon theme are Bulleit, Elijah, Woody (Woodford Reserve), Forester. I also like Jameson, but see someone already suggested 😁 Others not whiskey related…Felix, Finley, Herb, Nigel.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I like Bulleit or Woodford, too 🙂
He’s a looker! Congratulations, how fun! His name reminds me of the “woo girls” episode from How I Met Your Mother lol.
For names:
How about Walter? Or Walt.
Jim. Like Jim Beam. (HA. Please don’t name your horse Jim.)
Frank? Short for Franklin as in Franklin’s American Whiskey?
Collin. Like a John Collins / whiskey collins cocktail.
Todd or Toddy like a hot toddy. Because ponies are like hot toddies for the soul.
Flip like a Whiskey Flip cocktail.
Now I’m ready for a cocktail.
AH WOO WOO!!!! (which should be shouted loudly and excitedly!) He’s such a cutie!!! Glad you found such a neat looking guy and can’t wait to see how he goes!!
As for name suggestions…Kip, Carter, Dan, Tucker (so when he acts up you can call him fucker and ifs someone looks at you funny you can just say “I said Tucker!” hahahaha) ummm Bernie? I’m sure you’ll figure something out as soon as you spend some time with him!
Yahoooooo!!
Hank, George or Larry are my votes 😜
I think he’s gorgeous! Congratulations, and cheers to moving forward!
How about Jack or Jim for whiskey names?
Congrats on the new boy! My name vote is Johnnie for Johnnie Walker a (scotch) Whiskey.
Congratulations, again! I think you should name him Wallace. Wally for short. 🙂
It just came to me, but not sure someone else has already mentioned it- Fletcher. Or Fletch for short. Stems nicely from Flatter.
OMG I love him!! What an exciting next step for you! And to throw a suggestion into the pot, I like the name Amos.. or Monty… or Ralph! Old man names are the best <3