Four Fs and a D was passed over and passed over when he was offered for sale/adoption at the end of the Suffolk Downs meet. He heads to Kentucky this month to compete in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo by Tom von Kapherr and courtesy Hilary Popiel
Four Fs and a D, the last horse to find a home after Suffolk Downs closed last year, is gearing up to compete with Hilary Popiel at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky this month.
A brave chestnut who was passed over and passed over due to his missing left eye, the OTTB has proven to be as game as any horse she has ever trained, says Popiel.
“He can have people passing him on one side, and opening umbrellas on the other side, and nothing bothers him,” she says. “He’s incredible!”
Popiel says her decision to train Four Fs for the horse’s owner Brenda Lamb was “a gamble” she made purely on the looks of the horse. “He reminded a bit of my first chestnut Thoroughbred,” she says, noting that nobody has been more surprised to than her to find out Four Fs deserves straight As.
“I evented him over the summer and we went Training level. He did great! But, because his dressage is not as competitive as it could be, I’m training him in foxhunting and show jumping for the Thoroughbred Makeover,” she says. “He is absolutely the bravest horse I’ve ever sat on.”
awesome! love stories of the underdogs winning!
If his name is “4Fs and a D”, OMG, please change his name! This horse deserves a better name. He has overcome his loss of vision and is a brave, beautiful, purposeful horse. I love his connections for giving him a wonderful OTTB life…..please find him a wonderful OTTB name. He is “All A’s” in my book.
“Four Fs and a D” is his registered Jockey Club name. I’m sure he has a barn name. I think it’s rather clever.
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=7980847®istry=T
His barn name is Rusty, and there is a funny, endearing story behind his name.
Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner…..