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Second Chances
Compiled with the assistance of
Katie Merwick
www.secondchanceranch.org
Something Stylish
I came across Something
Stylish at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in July of 2005. She once raced at
Emerald Downs, in training with Charles Essex. My friend had purchased her in a
package of horses. He knew at the time of purchase she was a roarer, but he
liked the other ones enough to where it was worth it to buy them
all and just keep this mare until he found her a new home. I was up in
Santa Barbara one afternoon to watch a tournament final and went to see this
mare. I spent about five minutes looking at her in a field and decided to take
her.
I had her scoped, spoke to a couple local
vets. None were particularly optimistic of correcting her problem. I decided to
take her to Chino Valley Equine Hospital where I had heard many good
things. Six weeks after I got her, she had her surgery and spent nine days
in the hospital.
After leaving the hospital she
went to a friend’s farm to recover, where one month later she was
completely healed and we soon began working together.
Over the next few months she regained her fitness and
showed signs of being an amazing horse. She had a fantastic work ethic,
really tried hard and, as a result, everything came easy to her. As soon
as the flatwork finished, I started getting her ready to play polo.
With my returning to school, I had to sell all my
horses and she was no exception. She has continued to go from strength to
strength and is playing in all the major tournaments at the Denver Polo Club. I
am not sure how many best playing pony awards she has, but I am sure it is
growing continuously!
With Something Stylish, whom
I called Stella, I broke all the major rules of buying horses – I did not
ride her; I did not vet check her; I merely looked at her in a field after
drinking one too many beers. She turned out to the be the best horse I ever
owned.
—Iain
Something
Stylish, 2001, f., Individual Style—Silky Pima, by Seafood. Raced one
year, 4-1-1-1, $4,778.