This is Tommy, the equine love of my life (I can say that with certainty, even though I have only had him for about 5 weeks).

He'd only had a saddle thrown on him a few times before I got him, so I havn't ridden him yet, but we have been doing lots of groundwork, lateral flexion and lightening his responses. When I first got him he was very exciteable and nervous, but he has settled down really well and we have even overcome his nose-shyness:) The other day I introduced my mounting block (I'm a short a$s and he's 16.1h) and leaned across his back (while doing the flapping arms, swinging ropes, lifting legs desensitising type things) and he he was so good he fell asleep. LOL if I had of tried that a few weeks ago he would have been half way back to New Zealand;)

I will hopefully ride him next week (depending on my back injury), but eventually I will teach him to jump, some basic dressage, do some western work, hopefully some cutting or campdrafting and social endurance riding.

HAPPY KNIGHT NZ
Foaling Date: 01-Sep-2000 - Any way to find out his real birthdate?
Sex: Gelding
Sire: OUR SIR VANCELOT NZ
Dam: HAPPY SUMMER (NZ)
Broodmare Sire: PRESENT LAUGHTER USA
Colour: Bay
Country of birth: NZ

Prizemoney: $16,956
Starts: 53 Starts:
Wins: 4 Wins:
Seconds: 2 Seconds:
Thirds: 6 Thirds:
Best Winning Mile Rate: 2:03.1MS

You have a beautiful boy who just needs the time spent on him, before you back him, sounds like its all going to plan

he's nice ......................

he was born on 8/12/2000..if you go to www.hrnz.co.nz there will be more info on him there..

you wouldnt belive we were offered this horse for sale when he was still racing in NZ, but was in a real bad fall before he was exported to Australia, thats the reason we didnt buy him..you can see his racing from NZ on the above web site..

Wow talk about a small world! Was he badly injured in that fall, and what was the injury (just for future reference)? And just because I am insatially curious about my boy's history, is their anyway to find out how much standardbreds are sold for?

So I guess his total career earnings are actually $25,737.00 for 73 starts. Thanks for posting that link!

New Zealand statistics:
Foal Date: 08/12/2000
2000 8 B g(exp) Sir Vancelot-Happy Summer
Country of Origin: New Zealand. Exported to: Australia on: 16/01/2006.
Qualified (P) at: Young Quinn Raceway on: 27/10/2004
in 3.09.7 (MR: 2.07.1) 2400m Std.
Racing Status: Currently Stood Down.
Added to HRNZ database on: 29/05/01

Performance

Last Raced: (326-2005/06) 13th October 2005
No Form For 2008/09
No Form For 2007/08
Form including trials but not showing rest periods
Best Time: 2.48.5 (MR: 2.03.2) 1st 2200m Mob Forbury Pk 28/01/2005.
Best Placed Time: 2.45.2 (MR: 2.00. 4th 2200m Mob Invcargill 05/02/2005.
Best Mile Rate (Australia): 2.03.1 Mob.

Statistics
NZ Currency Foreign Currency
Season Gait Starts 1st 2nd 3rd LT Stakes W Stakes LT Stakes W Stakes
2005/06 P 5 150 0

2004/05 P 15 2 2 1 8,631 5,781

Lifetime P 20 2 2 1 8,781 5,781
Handicapping 2 8,781 5,781

im not to sure if he was injured or how bad... once i saw he fell, we didnt look into buying him, cause some horses never race as good if they have had a race fall..

im pretty sure if was for sale for $6-$7NZk...just at a guess..generally horses that come from the bottom of the Sth Island dont normally sell for as much as the ones in the city..

He is a very pretty boy!! Good luck with him.

He is GORGEOUS!!! Wow what a stunning boy he is.
Hope all goes well with the retraining!

Wow he looks cute!!!

Good luck with him!