answers for Bali

This is a tricky post to write, and might be a little disjointed since my feelings oscillate pretty wildly depending on who I talk to. But you all have been such awesome cheerleaders for our fuzzy-eared buddy Balimurphy Ballymurphy, that it seems only right to share the latest.

teeth like a cartoon character

First of all, I finally got my hands on his pedigree and racing information, thanks actually to his lease rider who figured out that we've apparently been misspelling his name all along. (And his age. He is 7 this year, not 6 as we originally believed.)

via PedigreeQuery

Footnotes from his lone win at Delaware Park (via EquiBase):

"BALLYMURPHY chased inside early, angled off the rail to take command before six furlongs then drew off without need of strong urging to win in handy fashion."

Footnotes from his final race at Monmouth Park (via EquiBase):

"BALLYMURPHY raced off the pace inside and did not factor."

Similar remarks from later races: "Off the pace," or "Failed to threaten" (from the race two weeks after his win). Footnotes from earlier races include gems like "shying away" from other horses and "mustered up a mild kick to mainly improve position" and "no threat to the top {horses}."

Or, another funny one from his 2nd place finish at Belmont Park (via EquiBase):

"BALLYMURPHY three wide towards the rear, came under encouragement three furlongs out, angled five wide into the stretch, kicked home belatedly to just garner the place in the last jump."

via EquiBase

One thing worth considering is his racing history timeline. He ran seven times in 2013, from April to October, only skipping May. I don't know much about racing, but that timeline doesn't scream "INJURED" to me.

So. Why do I care?

Well, I'm kinda nuts about this horse. He is the most fun EVAR to jump, and is just an enjoyable ride in general. Despite his greenness and sourness/behavioral issues, I really like working with him under saddle. Plus he's becoming a total cuddle bug in the cross ties.

Given his precarious job security as a lesson horse, I looked seriously at my budget to see what could be done for him. In an ideal world, I'd buy him and keep him forever and ever with no consideration of maintenance costs... but this is the real world and I'm a single adult with limited resources. So I got radiographs of both front fetlocks.

And the results are *not* picture perfect.

artist's rendition

Bali has messy front fetlocks. Bone chips, maybe an old fracture bed, potentially arthritic changes... He is a surgical candidate, but with both front legs needing work, the procedure is cost prohibitive (for me and for the program).

My reaction to the news was deep and despondent heartbreak. Tears, so many tears. And woefully telling his lease rider that Bali is "done," tho the vet said we could keep riding him normally (until our BM re-homes him).

And I was angry at what sounded like a borderline abuse case - a horse that was run on horrific injuries by unethical and unscrupulous trainers only in it for the money, then discarded like yesterday's trash... I know, I know: Melodramatic.

bali's not melodramatic about flexions tho - at least not when brita has BUTTONS to CHEW on lol

But that was before I saw his actual race info. The vet theorized the damage occurred as a 2yr old, but he didn't race until he was 4, suggesting that he recovered then actually stayed sound on the fetlocks while actively racing. His career ended bc he "failed to threaten," not bc he was lame.

Then, to complicate emotional matters more, his lease rider asked to bring him to a lesson at OF for a 'last hurrah,' which seemed poignant to me. And while at the lesson, he was fresh and happy to jump and SOUND. 

We talked about it with Trainer P, who saw no reason to stop riding or jumping him. She said he will tell us when the legs bother him, and that he's (very) clearly saying right now that "OMG I LOVE JUMPING!!! AND GOING FAST!!! WHEEEEEEEE!!!"

pictured: one sound 7yr old OTTB with osselets 

Our lesson director also talked to her vet, who remembers the horse and says he'd expect a horse who has been sound in work to remain sound based on what he saw in the x-rays. 

Regardless, Bali's goose is still cooked as far as the lesson program is concerned. He hasn't morphed into a versatile up-down lesson pony, and the program doesn't have room for a horse that is too advanced for most of the students.

I want so badly for him to stay with us but simply don't have the resources to own him myself. And the farm is making decisions for him now. (Actually they made the decision while I was still laid up with a broken leg, but agreed to give him one more month after I begged and pleaded...)

So Bali will find a new home. Hopefully with a rider who appreciates his luscious mane and tail, and sweet personality (but who can also handle his sour). And hopefully they'll have many many fun years together before Bali ever feels the effects from his racing days.