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| Chocolate aka Condo Star |
Chocolate is one of those dear old racetrack campaigners who had long careers and won a
little but not enough. I found him on a farm in West Virginia where he had come to the end of
his racing career after fracturing his sesamoid. I was there looking at Chestnut mares, and as
it often happens, fate stepped in and I just couldn't leave this dear, kind horse behind. I paid
$500 for him and was given his JC papers and loaded him into my trailer. We knew that
Chocolate had "ankles" and wouldn't be sound enough for a show career, but thought he'd
make a fine walk/trot trail horse. His wonderful personality was evident from the beginning.
He is the type of horse that is very careful and polite and wouldn't dream of crowding into your
space. His ground manners were impeccable and when we eventually tried him under saddle,
he was quiet and gentlemanly. He even gave pony rides to young children. All went well until
the fall of 2003 when I noticed that Chocolate didn't look "right" behind. He wanted to keep up
with the herd but would canter sideways like a crab. We called out the vet who diagnosed a
neurological problem and tested him to rule out diseases such as WNV. Chocolate was
negative for everything except epm. We decided against the invasive spinal tap procedure
and treated Chocolate with Marquis and other drugs. Then came a very difficult 6 month
period. Chocolate's balance became progressively worse until one day we found him down
and stuck in the mud. My daughter and I tried to help him up for 45 minutes without success.
He looked so frightened and helpless and I left him to call my vet, thinking that I couldn't stand
to see him like that. I was talking on the phone with the vet when I heard my daughter calling
to me, saying "Mom, he's UP!!", and there was dear old Chocolate staggering and sliding but
making his way determinedly to the barn! I told the vet he was up and received treatment
advice. We spent 2 hours with him in his stall, brushing off the copious amounts of mud and
gook and just staying with Chocolate because he seemed to be upset whenever we left. It
was about another 5 months before we began to see definite improvements. Chocolate fell
several other times, but he always managed to get himself up again and he wasn't ready to
quit. Several years have now passed and Chocolate is once again steady on his legs and
enjoying life. He stayed sweet and calm and affectionate throughout the entire ordeal. Now at
13 years old he has a job on the farm as "weanling uncle". When our foals are weaned, we
turn them out with Chocolate who gently but firmly teaches them how to be horses. He'll
always have a home with us.
little but not enough. I found him on a farm in West Virginia where he had come to the end of
his racing career after fracturing his sesamoid. I was there looking at Chestnut mares, and as
it often happens, fate stepped in and I just couldn't leave this dear, kind horse behind. I paid
$500 for him and was given his JC papers and loaded him into my trailer. We knew that
Chocolate had "ankles" and wouldn't be sound enough for a show career, but thought he'd
make a fine walk/trot trail horse. His wonderful personality was evident from the beginning.
He is the type of horse that is very careful and polite and wouldn't dream of crowding into your
space. His ground manners were impeccable and when we eventually tried him under saddle,
he was quiet and gentlemanly. He even gave pony rides to young children. All went well until
the fall of 2003 when I noticed that Chocolate didn't look "right" behind. He wanted to keep up
with the herd but would canter sideways like a crab. We called out the vet who diagnosed a
neurological problem and tested him to rule out diseases such as WNV. Chocolate was
negative for everything except epm. We decided against the invasive spinal tap procedure
and treated Chocolate with Marquis and other drugs. Then came a very difficult 6 month
period. Chocolate's balance became progressively worse until one day we found him down
and stuck in the mud. My daughter and I tried to help him up for 45 minutes without success.
He looked so frightened and helpless and I left him to call my vet, thinking that I couldn't stand
to see him like that. I was talking on the phone with the vet when I heard my daughter calling
to me, saying "Mom, he's UP!!", and there was dear old Chocolate staggering and sliding but
making his way determinedly to the barn! I told the vet he was up and received treatment
advice. We spent 2 hours with him in his stall, brushing off the copious amounts of mud and
gook and just staying with Chocolate because he seemed to be upset whenever we left. It
was about another 5 months before we began to see definite improvements. Chocolate fell
several other times, but he always managed to get himself up again and he wasn't ready to
quit. Several years have now passed and Chocolate is once again steady on his legs and
enjoying life. He stayed sweet and calm and affectionate throughout the entire ordeal. Now at
13 years old he has a job on the farm as "weanling uncle". When our foals are weaned, we
turn them out with Chocolate who gently but firmly teaches them how to be horses. He'll
always have a home with us.
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