Lexi

age: approx 8 years old
sex: mare
breed: Quarter horse type pony
color: chestnut
height: 13.3 hh

Purchased by SAFE from Columbia Basin Equine rescue in 2005

Status: Available for adoption

Located in Monroe WA
Adoption Fee: $750

Lexi is a pony mare who was rescued from a feedlot by SAFE in 2005. She is a beautiful, big-bodied Quarter pony. Lexi came to us with terrible front feet, with some deformation of the pastern/coffin bone area and around the tips of the coffin bone. This deformation placed all her weight on the inside of her feet, putting a lot of strain on her tendons and fetlock joints. After years of corrective trimming, her feet are vastly improved, and our vets and farriers have determined that as long as she stays sound, she can be used as a light riding horse. She is a very active and playful young girl. She is about 13.3-14h, and very well-built, if not for her feet.

Vet update (6/28/08):
Lexi was seen by Dr. Hannah to evaluate her soundness and ability to be started under saddle. We had xrays taken in 2005 and then again this spring by NW Equine for comparison purposes. Armed with her xrays, Dr. Hannah did flexion tests, trotted her in straight lines and in circles, and determined that Lexi showed NO SIGN of lameness! Lexi has been given the green light to start in groundwork training, and can be started under saddle after a couple more trims to get her feet back where they need to be.

The only concern with Lexi right now is her weight, she is a bit on the tubby side. Given that she is a pony plus she has those feet issues, she needs to lose some weight and come off the pasture she is on, which is 5 acres of grass she shares with only one other horse. So, she is going to be introduced to the grazing muzzle.

Update (5/16/09):
Lexi spent the past year in foster care, just turned out in a pasture. It is time for Lexi to start a new adventure in her life. Despite her weirdly-conformed feet, she has remained sound so we are going to get her started under saddle and see how she does. She will be in training with Andrea Lucianna of Half Trak Farms.

Training Update (5/29/09):
Lexi is doing well in her first couple of weeks in training. She has learned to cross-tie, lunge, get baths, and is wearing a saddle and bridle. She wasn't thrilled with the bit at first (was trying to spit it out) and bucked the second time she was saddled but has otherwise been very good. She is also now great about being caught (an issue at first) and walks right up to you to be caught.

Training Update (6/25/09):
Lexi's training is coming along very well. Like Rhythm, she is also now walking and trotting around the big arena under saddle. We also, after much discussion and getting Dr. Hannah's blessing, put front shoes on Lexi as she seemed like she was getting footsore. She walked off immediately more comfortable with the shoes on. It's a bit scary making *any* changes with her feet but my farrier felt confident she could help her without making her sore, so we are giving it a try.

Training Update (6/27/09):
Well today was the big video day for Lexi. And wow! I know it's always exciting seeing these horses under saddle for the first time, but with Lexi it was even cooler, because the change to her FEET with the shoes has been amazing! She almost looks normal! Just that little bit of support from the shoes has not only made her more comfortable, but she is straighter in her entire leg and her front feet are no longer rolling inwards. You can see that it has given her relief - the tendons in her front pasterns that always looked stretched and bulgy are now normal looking as well. Our shoer spent a long time with her - looking at her, watching her move, reshaping the shoes, and did a really nice job. I am stunned at how much straighter she looks!

And then under saddle, wow! They have been working only in the indoor arena, but they are redoing the footing in the indoor so Lexi went in the outdoor for the first time today. Andrea started out with long lining her as she has been doing instead of lunging, so that Lexi does not do a lot of extra circles and does frequent changes of direction interspersed with straight lines so that again, she doesn't get a lot of strain on her front legs.

After that Sharon, her working student, got on Lexi and Andrea was on Sharon's trusty steed Dakota whom you have seen in some of the other videos being a lead horse. Lexi had a few issues at the start as she was insecure in the outdoor arena but just getting her front end moving got her unstuck and once she started going forward she was really super good. She's still a little fussy in the bridle - less at the trot then at the walk. She likes to express herself by shaking her head. But she looks so amazing under saddle and is SUCH a cute mover! I mean, really nice!

Training Update (7/10/09):
Lexi is doing fabulous with her training. Training sessions are still being kept short but she has remained completely sound even with a consistent 4-5 days a week of work. She has now done some short canter sessions under saddle as well. She is described as very smooth to ride and is going fairly consistently on the bit now. She will still flip her head a little at the very beginning of a work out but it goes away as soon as she starts work. She is very willing and responsive, easy to train. She is very confident and not spooky at all, she is going to be a wonderful amateur or kid's horse. She will be going out on the trails soon with Rhythm.

Training Update (7/23/09):
Lexi's doing great in her training. She's not quite consistent with her canter work yet, she has a hard time maintaining it on the corners with a rider but is getting there. She's totally unfazed by anything that is going on around her and very calm and easy going. She pulled a shoe yesterday and her foot immediately began to roll inwards so it is our consensus now that she needs to just stay in front shoes. If she gets her shoe back on tomorrow she'll be heading out on the trail ride with Rhythm tomorrow.

For ongoing updates on Lexi, please visit her thread on the SAFE message board.

Send email to adopt@safehorses.org if you are interested in adopting Lexi.

If you are interested in sponsoring Lexi, please click here to learn more about our sponsorship program.

Please read SAFE's adoption policies prior to submitting an adoption application for any SAFE horses listed on this site. SAFE Adoption Policies can be found HERE. SAFE has a strict no-breeding policy.