Now now, far too modest I'm sure. Thanks to Doug and Wayne too! Sounds this was quite a well-coordinated rescue effort.

Mine too

Great job by yourself and Scavs! As a racehorse lover, an advocate of re-training the racehorse and one who also dabbles in horse rescue, I appreciate all the effort and expense you have put forth. It is extremely admirable that you cared for this horse enough to save him. Thank you. I hope you didn't have to shell out $3500 for him, but if you did it will still be worth it to know you saved your favorite guy. I haven't read all the posts in this thread, so this may have already been requested,,,,,but I would love to see some pix!

again, thank you,
Suzanne

Yay!! a happy ending... congrats and kudos to all who were involved in this effort. Can't wait to see pics of Nopie!

What a great story and very nice to see a happy ending!

Sometimes it's all about the effort.

Which reminds me.....I think I'll go back to my last signature.

You, Scavs and Nobie all get my vote for Heroes of the Week! :tro:

I just read this story, great job Scavs and DC! It's reaffirming to know that good people do finish 1st sometimes.

Just a quick update because DC is busy. I spoke with the actual vet of the horse today and it possible that there is a sesamoid issue now. What is also amazing that while I have spoken to the racing secretary and assistant racing secretary, and had the assistant racing secretary broker the deal because the f'n trainer wouldn't answer his phone yesterday, the 2nd the vet went over to xray the horse, on DC's dime, the trainer of the horse was calling my phone number wanting more money, wanting to know who is paying for the horse now(his day rate) and all money upfront.

We are not out of the woods yet and probably won't know more until later today :( :(

Maybe if you share his phone number with us and we all call him hundreds of time we can make a difference....well, maybe after things are settled;)

That trainer in Nebraska is such a selfish b*stard it makes me see red! :mad: Makes me want to fly out there right this minute and swiftly bury my foot in his butt.

Thanks, Tom. I'm praying Nopie is okay.

We'll see. Quite honestly I understand his viewpoint, but just trying to find that middle ground that everyone is comfortable with.

The word that I got that he was okay, was given banamine(?) and will be getting bute tabs today. He is weight bearing and bedded down heavily.

The vet will be reporting back to me for when he thinks the horse will be ok to be shipped.

:rolleyes:

This thread brought to you by Aunt Jemima and Kleenex.

LOL, good you're talking to him, Tom, because I'm sure I'd go off on him, which probably wouldn't bode well for ole Nopie. Well, it sounds like he might be okay. That's a big relief. Talk about a rollercoaster ride. Don't think I need any more syrup and tears, but a two-finger pour of Woodford Reserve might go down well. :)

Just hitting this thread for the first time. You came up HUGE!!! You realize the horse gods have a 6 figure SUper with your name on it..

Another quick update. Everything has been finalized and Nopie will be shipping out of Fonner Park Monday or Tuesday to Turf Paradise, and then from Turf Paradise to his retirement home in NoCal

I have yet to get final word from the vet (probably around 6pm) but feel alot better then I did this morning.

You guys did a great and compassionate deed, and good luck with this guy .

Great job DerbyCat and Scav. Really cool what you two accomplished.

good! way to go guys; great for nopie.

Quick update on Nopie, x-rays show that he completely tore the entire suspensory ligament away from the sesamoid bone, actually pulling a chip of bone away. He's doing ok though and has a gell cast and some good meds to help him through this.

We're having a heck of a time trying to get Nopie from Nebraska to California, hard to find a ride going that way without paying a very steep price. Instead, he'll get on a rig headed down to Turf Paradise and then getting from Arizona to California will be a piece of cake.

We're not out of the woods yet but Scav and I feel a lot better after today. The vet took x-rays and we're feeling really good about Nopie's care. We know the long rides are going to be tough on him but once he gets home he's got a warm and comfortable stall waiting for him. Hopefully he's home in a week or so, I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as we see him.

Thank you all for your support, lots of good folks on this forum, you've helped to make this experience a lot easier - thank you.

Also, quick note - Monday, February 23rd is Nopie's 4th birth(foal)day :)

That is pretty fuc<ing amazing. DerbyCat, I wish you could have got to this horse sooner as you were correctly predicting it may be running itself to death. Nice of the trainer to be such a douche as to demand more than the claiming price for it. Tom, that is huge of you to step in and make this happen. I already thought highly of you but this just cements it. Good luck to both of you and the horse in getting this done. It's a real shame (as Bethani pointed out earlier this thread) that it takes this level of dedication, and more, to actually accomplish anything. And it will still take more but I am confident/hopeful you guys will get there.

It is a shame, but really good to see that there are the people willing to go thru and do what's right. Great job everyone and hope Nopie's back to normal in the near future.

Was busy all weekend , finally got a chance to catch up on what was happening. A big YEAH!!!!!!! hope all goes well.

Nopie update: He's still in Nebraska, we're trying to get him out of there but finding transportation has proven to be difficult and expensive. Tom has been on the phone pulling every string he can to get Nopie on the next van through town, but few shippers are going cross country via I-80, they're all taking I-10. Our best hope is still getting him back to Turf Paradise first, maybe have him rest a bit down there and see a vet, then for sure we have transportation arranged to get him from Arizona to GEVA in California.

I have attached a scan of Nopie's maiden win photo (I'm the one standing next to the groom in the black shirt), notice how he's looking at the camera, it's like he's thinking "what's everyone looking at?" He did the same thing in his 2nd winners circle photo - has anyone ever seen a horse do that before?

I have a friend that used to work for the Thoroughbred Retirment Center and i was telling her this story. She mentioned to me that she is friends with some people that run a division of the TRF up there and if you need her to make some phone calls to get him at a farm there she would do that. Just let me know if you need that favor.

we need that favor :) I will make the call if you are busy, check your pm

Great Job Scav!
 

Good news, Scav has arranged transport for Nopie from Fonner Park, Nebraska to GEVA in California this Sunday! Not only that but he also arranged for Nopie to be moved from the barn of the trainer that we bought him from to the barn of the most respected trainer at Fonner Park, helping to insure that Nopie will be well rested and cared for before he gets on the truck headed home.

Tom has put so much time and energy into this (more than you even think he did), he has impressed me beyond belief (I even told him today that I think I love him :{>: – take note ladies, he really is an amazing guy!). Tom has a heart of gold and his commitment to this has been unparalleled. He’s probably mad at me for telling you this (it ruins his tough guy exterior) but I think the world of him and I absolutely can not thank him enough. :tro:

Nopie should be arriving in California next week either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday afternoon. If I can escape from work I’ll be there to greet him, otherwise I’ll see him on Sunday, March 15th and will post photos of him as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading the Saga of Nopie - I can't wait to see him!

Tom sure has had an exciting week... helping DerbyCat rescue a race horse AND going after a 5 pound burger. Impressive for sure! Scav.. U da man!

DerbyCat and Scav... what you two have done this past week is just wonderful!!

you guys did great.

:rolleyes:




Congrats DC.

any new news?

Good news/bad news on Nopie...

Bad news: He's still in Nebraska and will be until late Tuesday - his ride suffered some mechanical problems and is delayed while they make repairs - it's no big deal, they're a good company and have been great to deal with. Nopie probably won't make it to California until late in the week so I won't get a chance to see him until Sunday (my facility is hosting high school basketball championship games all day Friday and Saturday so I've got to be at work).

Good news: Nopie is doing great in the barn of the new trainer that we moved him to. Tom spoke with the trainer the other day and he told Tom that Nopie is doing good, even said "He is a playful son of a gun" :D Nopie has a great appetite and seems to be feeling much better since he's getting care and attention. I'm really thankful to this trainer for taking such good care of Nopie.

Next Sunday I'll be headed up to GEVA with a couple of folks that really care about Nopie, all faces and voices that Nopie will instantly recognize from his time in the Steve Sherman barn at Golden Gate Fields. I'll be making trips up to see Nopie at least every week or two until he's ready to move to his new home. I'm fortunate to already have several people who have expressed interest in giving Nopie a home so I get the luxury of picking the very best place for him to live. What matters to me is giving him the best environment possible for him to just be a happy horse where he can get lots of attention from people, this horse just really seems to love people... and obviously there are people that love him right back!

Great DC. Take some pictures would you?

Also, if it works out, I hope to retire in the next 10 years and may need a place for me to just hang out and have fun.

Can you and Tom start looking into this for me?

Thanks,
Spyder

Can they get you for $2500 or do you need your expenses covered? ;)

Do you care to name the "great trainer" in Nebraska who taking care of Nopie for you? Some positive press might be a good thank you. (I aready know who the other trainer is who you bought him from.)