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Lollipop came into our rescue program on May 19, 2016. Lollipop came into our rescue program as an Owner Surrender along with 1 other horse. Lollipop is a Beautiful, Black/White, Paint, Mare. Lollipop is estimated to be 11 years of age. Lollipop is a big beautiful girl, She is super sweet and loves attention but can be difficult to catch. We are told she is a former PMU mare. I am sure that is the main reason she doesn't want to be caught. We hope to send Lollipop to training soon. She is a great girl and we think she will blossom with some training and be ready for a wonderful family of her own. Lollipop has a current negative coggins, up to date on vaccinations, deworming and hoof maintenance. If you are interested in adopting this sweet girl, please submit an adoption application or call/email to schedule an appointment to come visit Lollipop.
Lollipop was picked for our 6th Annual Blaze's Ride to the Rescue Trainer Challenge. She was chosen by an Adult Trainer. The Trainer will be working with Lollipop for the next 132 days, turning Lollipop into a dependable riding companion. The Trainer will be going against 10 Adult Trainers in our Trainer's Challenge. We also have 5 Youth Trainers competing in our Trainer's Challenge. Competition is set for May 20, 2017 at the Heart of Oklahoma, Shawnee Expo Center, Shawnee, Oklahoma. For additional information regarding our Trainer's Challenge, please visit our trainer's challenge website and follow your favorite Trainer/Rescue Horse on their journey to competition. Blaze's Ride to the Rescue Trainer Challenge. Lollipop will be available for adoption throughout the competition on May 20, 2017 through an all day silent auction. Lollipop is a sweet girl and loves attention. Lollipop has a current negative coggins, up to date on vaccinations, deworming, teeth floating and hoof maintenance. Lollipop has also been freeze branded for her protection. If you are interested in adopting Lollipop, please submit an adoption application and get your pre-approved status, in order to adopt Lollipop or one of our other Rescued Horses competing on May 20, 2017.
Update April 2017 A chain of events have taken place during this challenge that lead us to make the decision to pull Lollipop from the competition. Obviously, making that decision can also make for some criticism and disagreements on how it was handled. At the end of the day, we followed our contract that all trainers agreed too and removed our horse from a situation that was potentially going to get someone hurt. This was not a decision that was taken lightly and one that we struggled with over a course of time. I am not going to bash this individual, but what I am going to say is, it is important for a Trainer that has a Client's horse, to listen and respect the OWNER. The owner is who owns the horse and it is the owner's responsibility to see to it that their horse is receiving proper training and care. I will back tract briefly to give a time line of events that started this journey and ultimately made our decision to pull our horse. It started when we received multiple phone calls and messages of individuals expressing concern after this trainer posted a video online. This video showed a very distressed horse, mouth gaping open, tongue hanging out, an extremely harsh bit being used on a horse that barely had 30 days of training. We spoke to the Trainer, as he contacted us, as he also received some messages that he didn't like. We went to watch the trainer work with lollipop on February 21st and saw some concerning issues. We asked that he work on certain issues, as well as, contact a chiropractor or Magna Wave to see if she had something going on, all of which fell on deaf ears. We strongly believe in ground work, we strongly believe in a horse that flexes and bends, and we strongly believe a horse should have respect for their handler. Lollipop exhibited none of these things. At this time, Lollipop was still rearing up when she didn't want to do something. This behavior had not been worked on at all. We gave this trainer time to fix the issues. We had our board member do another visit, which once again, the same issues were presented. The next time we heard from the trainer was April 6th. On April 6th, this trainer contacts us, not because of his concern for the horse, not because he noticed a problem, but because the barn owner of where he boarded informed him that it appeared Lollipop was off on her front left foot. This Trainers only concern was he was not able to get lollipop into a loop. She must have arthritis or something. At that time, we suggested he have a farrier out to look at her and place front shoes on her feet to assist with any possible issues. Once again, our request was ignored and we never heard any follow up from him. It wasn't until I paid a visit to the barn to check up on lollipop unannounced that this trainer decided to schedule a chiropractor. I was informed the Chiropractor would be coming out on April 21st. However, I guess the trainer moved the appt to Saturday, April 22nd, but did not communicate that to us, the owner. A Chiropractor came out and decided that lollipop was having issues in her hocks. In my opinion, a Chiropractor shouldn't be diagnosing something in the hocks, as that is not an area they work on. Lollipop was not adjusted and the chiropractor recommended hock injections. At this time, I feel it is in the best interest of my Horse to get my veterinarian out there and take a look at her. I want to start off by saying, we have rescued over 1300 horses and have worked with our veterinarian for almost 10 years. We have seen just about everything and know a course of action to take. Our Veterinarian took a look at Lollipop and found that she had a limited range of motion in both hocks, which is characteristic of her breed type. Lollipop is a draft cross mare. She exhibited no issues in her hocks, just normal spavin, in her upper hock joints. The hocks have 4 separate joints. Typically the lower 2 joints are the ones that get arthritis and there was no signs of that present. Her lameness issues are in her front left foot. She was sensitive to the hoof testers over the heal portion of her hoof. Our Veterinarian recommendation would be to place front shoes with pads and small wedge on both front feet. Soles were spongy and soft indicating she is tender footed. Now, remember, we suggested front shoes a month prior, which was ignored. So, we arranged to have our farrier out the following day to place front shoes on her. I informed the trainer exactly what was said and he decided that we didn't know what we was doing and he wanted xrays and proof. Let me go back to remind you, this horse is owned by us and we were following our Veterinarians recommendations. But let me also say, that Xrays were ruled out the day of our veterinarians visit because Lollipop was rearing up and striking out. It was a safety issue for everyone involved! We was not at our facility where we could place Lollipop in our stocks and have her looked at in a safe environment for everyone. At this point, Lollipop was in training for nearly 100 days and again, no issues were dealt with. When this trainer come back with a confrontational, arrogant attitude, we decided we was no longer going to give his individual the benefit of the doubt and allow him to prove himself, as we felt at that time, he strongly proved who he was and what he was about. We went and picked lollipop up! He states it was unannounced. Not true, our last message to each other stated that if he had a problem with how we handle our horse, we would pick her up. He agreed but stated as he felt it was in Lollipops best interest to be removed from the competition. We immediately had our farrier out to follow the Vet recommendations. We did what we felt was right for Lollipop, as well as, for any potential adopter. I make no apologies for doing what was right. Regardless if that upset someone else. I could not allow her to be adopted and place someone at risk. I stated early on that the training needed to change directions and that she become a safe riding partner. The front shoes helped lollipop tremendously and she no longer favored that front left foot. We moved lollipop to another trainer where he has been correcting her rearing up behavior and giving her more confidence to perform without bracing against you. She now looks happy and is excelling in her training. We are seeing what we feel we should have been seeing from the beginning. But, the best part of all of this, she already found her forever, loving home. Someone that understands Lollipop and is prepared to work with the trainer and continue to help her succeed. This ordeal turned out to be a blessing and we just followed the path that was set before us. As I stated earlier, I am not going to bash this trainer. I am better than that. I would have left things unsaid and moved forward without ever speaking a word, but this trainer decided he wanted to bash Blaze's. Blaze's has nothing to hide and I am happy to share whatever facts and details one may need. In the end, this worked out in Lollipops favor. She now has a wonderful trainer and family working hard to help her get past the issues that could have potentially been a very dangerous situation. At the end of the day, it is merely what is in the best interest of the horse! It's sad that one party merely saw an opportunity to perform and be noticed and ultimately didn't care about the horses in our program.
Lollipop has been adopted by a wonderful family in Wellston, Oklahoma. Lollipop is going to be extremely well loved and spoiled rotten in her forever, loving home. We are thrilled that this beautiful girl found the forever, loving family she deserves where she will be showered with love and attention.
Please call or email to schedule an appointment to visit the horses currently available in our rescue program. We are generally available BY APPOINTMENT Monday - Thursday after 5:30 and generally anytime Friday - Sunday BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. We do maintain full time jobs, so we are not always available on weekdays. Please be patient with us and we will return your call/email as soon as possible.
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