FINDING NEMO and DORY; A SAGA

By Roger Rittenhouse

Aug 2005

The beginning, 2005

This year has not been the best year for me and my wife Carol.

OMNI RETIRED

I decide along with my vet that my horse OMNI should no longer compete. His very straight stifles were to the point he required injections. I have never in 30 years competed a horse that required injections of a joint. I have said if a horse needs that protocol to compete then he does not need to. I retired Omni as of last year. I only play ride him around the farm. He is only 14yrs old and should have many more miles left, but it is not to be. I think and so does the vet, that he is showing signs of damage and long term problems related to fall we took in 2001. He has about 750 LD miles and 850 endurance at the 50 mile level. He never did a 100. He still likes to go out and just walk around with some trotting on the flat, but the downhills are too much for him now. This is the first year I have never competed at some level since the mid 70's. I have missed the rides. Of course I knew this was coming, so I have been looking for a replacement for many years, thus the Finding NEMO theme. I also ride my 'baby', Fame, my home bred mare of 26. She has settled to going easier on trail. I guess she figured out we no longer have to condition for competition. I have considered donating OMNI to a riding for the handicap program, but he may be too big. He sure is quite enough and could really do well with the heavier riders in the programs. I will look into that option, he really needs a new job. I will keep looking. In the short term., I will just ride him around here and maybe some camp trips.

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