His name is Martini and he is a 14.2 hand, four year-old thoroughbred gelding.  Martini just has the sweetest temperament.  He was retired from racing in November 2007 and entered into the 2007 Hoosier Park Paddock Sale.  When no one bid on him, he was donated to another Indiana equine rescue that fell on hard times over the winter.  USERL, the Fans of Barbaro and many other people stepped into help the horses in their care and Martini joined the FFI family.  Martini has been hanging out in a very wonderful and caring foster home recovering from the winter and gaining weight.  He is up to date on all vaccines and has had his teeth floated.  As soon as he is at full weight, he will begin some retraining.  We think Martini will make a wonderful horse for a 10-14 year-old or smaller adult.  He is smart, sensible and sane. 

Update May 2008:  Martini had his first ride - here is what Kelsey has to say:

"I got on Marty for the first time and he is one smart little guy! Before I got on I had lunged him around with my dressage saddle on him to see if the different kind of saddle would bother him, and he didn't even seem to notice. When I actually got on him, he was a little tense, and looking around at everything in sight, but after about five minutes calmed right down. When we started trotting, it looked like we were drunk. We were EVERYWHERE and he was flipping his head like crazy. The second time we trotted it was steady and quiet, and he even kept his head down in the beginnings of a frame. I was amazed at how soft his mouth is! I don't think I have ever been on a horse with quite so soft a mouth. It took a little convincing for him to realize that contact wasn't the end of the world, but even convincing him wasn't a difficult endeavor. I took him in the wash stall to see what he thought about water, and he didn't care. He is a really smart and sane guy."


Update June 2008:
Marty and Kelsey are doing very well together.  His learning to be quietly go walk, trot, canter and is beginning to maneuver some ground poles.  He is a bit nervous when they begin, but they are working through that.  Marty has been sticked and he is 15 hands tall.