Breed: Thoroughbred

Birth: 2000 Gelding

Coat: Dark Bay

The gelding had been with Erin since the early 2000s. While working as a racehorse exercise rider, she bought Big for $4,000 with 5 other horses. Big ran up to 5 races before fracturing his pelvis. During Big’s rehab, Erin retrained him as an eventing horse. In September of 2004, she got kicked in the face but was given an offer to move to Masterson Farm. She brought all she had with her—Big and her dog. In 2010, Big and Erin made it to Prelim without a trainer. During his last show, the pair went double clear. However, Erin heard something in his chest and decided not to do the Cross-Country phrase. After having a vet check him out, he was diagnosed with degenerative lung disease.

What happened to the 5 other horses, you may ask? One horse was traded for a pool table, and 2 became broodmares.

Breed: Thoroughbred?

Birth: 2018 Gelding

Coat: Dark Bay

I had always wanted another dark bay without any white in it since I lost Big. My friend Kara was aware of this. She galloped for Ian Wilkes, so I would ask her if she had anything planned for when some of her horses retired from racing. She gave me a handful to test, but none of them truly spoke to me. I had no idea what tricks she was planning to pull. She called one cold morning, asking if I might come look at one at the track. No, I replied, I was occupied. I received a headshot of a dark bay from her. I could see no white on him. Saying I was on my way, I gave her a callback. My trailer was with me, so I brought him home that day. He was 4 when I bought him, and he is currently 6 years old and preparing for his first preliminary exam.