Success Stories

Faraday's Hope | Tag Heuer | Hedgerow's Curious George | Lynerd Skynerd | Nathan

Hey Stacey, I finally got the last picture I was waiting on for the testimonial. So here it goes:

After riding for only a year my husband decided in September of 2004 that he wanted to switch from western riding to english. The thought of me being able to do something he wasn't, like jumping, was getting the best of him. :) Not only did he decide to try english he wanted to get into 3-day eventing. WOW, what a drastic change. The current horse he was riding had never even thought about actually picking his feet to go over a jump so the search began to find the ultimate "packer" or forgiving teacher as the term "packer" really means. We really did not know where to start so we began by asking people we knew and trusted in the eventing world how we could go about finding this "perfect" horse. As my husband stands 6 foot 7 inches tall we knew we were up against a mighty search. Everyone we talked to said that it would probably take us at least 6 months to find a suitable partner for my husband. Well, patience is not one of his virtues, so we went into it a little discouraged from the beginning.

We were referred to Stacey Emory from one of our friends who had purchased a green prospect from her and she said Stacey had a TON of contacts in the north Florida area and that if she did not have something suitable she would find us one. After talking with Stacey and telling her what we were looking for she immediately lined up several prospects for us to look at and off we went to Florida. We met up with her on day one and followed her over to Longwood Farm training home of advanced 3-day event rider, Ralph Hill. We were told upon entering the gates that this horse was a TRUE packer and had a heart of gold. Stacey said that the 9 year old 16.3 hand Irish Thorougbred gelding, Faraday's Hope, had just successfully completed the world renowned Rolex 4-star competition in May of this year. We were not completely convinced that this horse could possibly be calm enough for my beginner husband to start competing at BN. Needless to say, the search was finished on our first stop. Stacey and Ralph took their time in taking my husband out on the beautiful grounds of Longwood XC course and had a rider who had never been on Faraday to show him to us. After she rode him, it was my husband's turn. It was love at first sight, or ride, I guess in this case. My husband had never been on a XC course let alone over one of those kind of jumps. By the end of the "lesson" he was galloping through water and over 3 foot hogback's. I still have that picture. :) Ralph and Stacey were there every step of the way while my husband was on him helping, and coaching and making sure he was comfortable. We knew that the horse was priced very reasonably for what his show record was and even though I intended on trying to bargain some more my husband's first words out of his mouth while still gasping for air once they trotted over to us after their last jump was, "I want him.. I love him!" Stacey worked out everything for us and set up the vetting for the upcoming days since we had to head back to Georgia. She was honest and helpful during the whole process and called us after the vet check while still there with Faraday and arranged for us to come pick him up the following weekend. When we did come to pick him up, she met us again and went over with us to get him and all the paperwork. She took the daunting idea of a long 6 hard month search to a one day exhilarating visit to Ocala where we purchased a once in a lifetime partner for my husband. After buying over a dozen horses and encountering a multiple amount of problems with each transaction, this one was quick, easy, and perfect. No headaches, stress or problems. He was exactly what she said he was.

It's been a little over a year now since we purchased Faraday for my husband and together they began competing in Jan 05 at the tadpole level...Can you imagine a Rolex horse going tadpole calmly 9 months later.:) Well he did, and he took care of Rich every step of the way. Every trainer, every rider, every friend that saw Faraday fell in love with him. They competed on and just finished their very first season of 05' at Novice level, where they have ribboned 4 times. Occassionally we will come across one of Faraday's ex-grooms or exercisers that worked with him during his previous advanced career and they have to come over and kiss him.

I just don't know how I can say Thank you enough to Stacey Emory and Ralph Hill for helping Rich go from western to novice level eventing in one year and for finding the ultimate partner who is part of our family now and forever!

Sincerely,
Rich & Rhonda Gailey
Peachstone Shoals Farm
Covington, Georgia

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We just recieved another awesome e-mail from Tag's new owner. See what they've been up to! Below is the email...

Hey Stacey,

I just wanted to send you a little update on Tag and his wonderful experiences in the past year. He has really turned out to be the best little athelete and partner :) He has earned himself a spot in not only my heart but also those at my farm and my family.

It has been exactly a year since the last email when I took him out at Beginner Novice where we placed 6th. In a year, we completed 2 Novices and this past April we moved him up to Training level where we placed 11th out of 15 in his first Training level event at Pine top Farm. His second Training level event was this June at Poplar Place where we ended up 6th out of 17!! He is such an awesome horse!! His dressage is coming along great, he jumps anything in sight in stadium, and he is always a super star out on cross county with no stops.

I origionally bought Tag with the mind to train and sell but I know now that he will always be with me. He has the best attitude about his job and has such a great personality! He makes faces for me at the farm when he is bored and acts like a puppy dog when handled. I am so thankful that I came to your farm when he was there because I can not imagine a better horse for me! Thanks a million for all of your help and support and we look forward to seeing you and Maxx at the Adult Team Challenge in September at the Kentucky Horse Park :)

~Colleen

Photos
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Top photo by Dean Graham.

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We just recieved an e-mail from Gee's new owner. Below is the email...

Dear Stacey,

I want to take a moment to thank you for all the assistance you provided in helping us find just the right pony while we were in Florida. When I set out to find a quality pony to show on our A circuit here in Canada in September of 2004, I had no idea that it would be so difficult to find one that I could afford. After an exhaustive search throughout Canada, I turned my sights stateside. This, too, was a frustrating endeavour. I knew no one and had no american contacts. I had only some internet sites to search from. Countless emails and many videos later, it was now January, 2005 and I still had no prospects and my daughter was beginning to think that we would never find the "right one". In my search, I found many "agents" willing to help me but none listened to what I said I was looking for. Many times, the ponies that were presented to me were way outside my budget or unsuitable for what I was looking for. Every time, there was commission on top of commission that pushed ponies that I should have been able to afford outside my budget. I became more and more frustrated and disillusioned with the shopping process and seriously considered pushing my daughter to take up another sport.

A family trip to Florida for the month of February, 2005 had been planned for months. It was to be a family holiday with no four legged creatures to interfere especially horses but, I was desperate to find a pony. I knew now, that I could not do it alone but still, I did not know anyone in the Florida area. A simple post on the COTH bulletin board requesting some HITS information resulted in a response from you. I did not know at the time just how lucky I was that you responded. Your response to my post indicated that you were in the horse brokering business and that you would help me in my search. Even though I had heard this before and been disappointed, I grasped onto this small thread of hope that you had the contacts and the ponies in your area to meet my requirements.

Immediately upon my arrival in Florida, I contacted you. Not only did you have some ponies for me to look at. There were five of them in one small area that we chose to look at in one day. All were within my price range and all met or exceeded the criteria that I had given you. One pony in particular stood out from all the rest and after one ride and one afternoon, we decided he was the one. Unfortunately, during the prepurchase exam, an issue arose that made him unsuitable for us. We were again extremely disappointed but you did not give up. We looked at more ponies, all of which were within my price range and quality that I was looking for but none jumped out and grabbed me. I was probably the most frustrating client that you ever had but you remained patient, cheerful and confident that we would be successful.

The month passed and we came home empty handed. We barely had our bags unpacked when you called to say that a pony had just come in to a farm that we had visited previously that you thought would be suitable. You went and looked at him for me, sent me a video, negotiated a price and sight unseen I bought him. I would never have thought that I would be comfortable enough to buy a pony from a video. I did so because I trusted you to tell me the truth. By now, you knew exactly the type of pony that I liked, the movement that I wanted and the jump that I needed to have a successful A circuit pony in Canada. I know have one that can not only be successful in Canada but in the USA as well.

You attended the prepurchase exam and called me every time something came up that may have been an issue for me. You handled all the export arrangements and when the shipper seemed to be missing in action, you even called the State Police to see if there had been an accident. Fortunately, there was not. It was just a time delay. You kept in touch the whole time the pony was in transit until you were sure he reached here safely. You have continued to stay in touch to monitor his progress.

We have had "Gee" for almost 3 months now and he continues to impress us with his rideability, trainability and intelligence. So, Stacey, in closing, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the caring and conscientious person that you are and for being a knowledgeable horsewoman. When the time comes for Gee and Casey to part ways and for us to find a junior or children's hunter, it will be you that we deal with.

I have enclosed some pictures of our new pony "Hedgerow's Curious George" a registered 1/2 Welsh 1/2 TB large hunter pony. In Canada, he will show under the name "American Graffiti" as he is proud to be an American pony.

I hope that you will continue to stay in touch and even consider us friends as I do you.

Didi and Casey Genge
Kingston, Ontario
Canada

Photos
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We just recieved an e-mail from Lynerd Skynerd's new owner. Below is the email...

Stacey,

I went to my 1st horse show. Oliver was great, I was in the ring alone and you know, horses are herd animals and so they get freaked out when alone but Oliver acted like he's been showing his whole life. He won 3 blue ribbons. Maybe he has been to shows but I don't know well he listened to everything I told him to do. He was great!! Next show I know I'm doing walk, trot but I also might do walk, trot, canter and if he's good enough, I might jump him!!! Random people just came up to me and asked if they could pet him and one girl thought he was all Thoroughbred. Well here are some pics from the horse show. Well I hope I can do that training thing with you and Christle maybe this spring or something when ever you're free.

Lots of Love,
Alexa

Photos
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