Big Congratulations to Flirt! Flirt participated in her first dressage show on Saturday, March 6th.  She competed at Intro A & B and earned scores of 7s and 8s on both tests earning a first and second place.  Both classes had over 5 horses entered.  We're very proud of her!  But the big news is that Nicole Pearson, owner of Foxton Farm, has adopted Flirt and plans to add her to her string of show horses.

Nicole first noticed Flirt at a schooling H/J show hosted by Foxton.  Flirt's training rider had entered Flirt in the 2' hunters.  Flirt performed beautifully and although the fences were low height, she showed off her power and scope.  Nicole sealed the deal on Saturday by trying her out under saddle and letting FFI reps know that this was a mare she had to have.  We're thrilled about the adoption and very excited to watch Flirt blossom as a show horse.  Congrats to them both!

More pictures of Flirt in the dressage ring can be found here.

So maybe you've seen FFI people wearing the blue pullover fleece with the Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. logo and running thoroughbred racehorses embroidered on the chest and wondered where you could get one?  They're now available to everybody!  FFI has partnered with Village Custom Embroidery in downtown Zionsville, IN to make our popular blue fleeces available to everyone!  You don't need to own an FFI Thoroughbred or even be a volunteer, you can show your support anywhere and anytime by purchasing and wearing your FFI fleece!

Why blue and pink?  Blue and pink were the colors of the silks worn by Ferdinand's jockey on the day Ferdinand won the 1986 Kentucky Derby.  Wear these colors proudly!  Just click on the fleece to be transferred to an ordering page.

Two of FFI's retired Thoroughbreds will be showing at the Foxton Farm Winter Reins Dressage Series on Saturday, March 6.  The two Thoroughbred horses are Mr. Bartlett an 11 year old gelding and Saribel Cruz (aka Flirt), a 5 year old mare.  Bartlett retired from the track in 2006 and was recently returned to FFI's Thoroughbred adoption program due to financial hardship.  However, he is a wonderful gelding that would be ideal for an advanced beginner or someone working regularly with a trainer.  He will be showing in Training level classes on Saturday.

Big congratulations to Pattie and Soothe The Soul, aka Sully. Pattie has been Sully's foster since August 2009 and recently determined that she just couldn't stand to not see him in her pasture, so she decided to adopt him.  We're thrilled that Sully is going to have such a fabulous long term home and we can't wait to hear about all of their adventures together.

Sully is pictured at left under rider Kim J. at the 2009 Octoberfest Charity Horse Show, where he demonstrated his calm, cool demeanor.  More pictures of Sully from that show can be seen in our online photo gallery.