Ian Veenendaal has come a long way from his home in Zimbabwe to become a permanent Canadian resident in Abbottsford, BC after a tough, seven-year struggle. However, the journey to find his potential hunter or jumper horse was much quicker. You could say it was love at first sight.
“The Lip, aka Charlie, literally walked into my life the day I saw him come off the trailer at Allbury Farm in May 2015,” said Veenendaal. “I was impressed with his presence and confident demeanor and kept my eye on him over the first month he resided at Allbury.”
Allbury Farm, a privately owned facility, serves in part as a training facility for New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society, a volunteer-driven retired racehorse placement group founded 13 years ago.
The Lip was just a four-year-old when he entered the New Stride program following just two races in 2014. Owned and bred by Bill and Susan Stewart’s Black Canyon Thoroughbreds, The Lip, a son of successful Kentucky stallion Spring at Last, simply was not fast enough to race but, according to those who have been around him, Charlie likes to keep busy.
Stewart said The Lip is a “gorgeous” horse but he could not keep him as he already had a “rarely ridden” saddlehorse.
“We had high hopes for Charlie on the track,” said Stewart. “He got his name because just four months before he was scheduled to sell as a yearling at the B.C. sale he got his head caught under a fence. He damaged the long nerve down the left side of his face which resulted in a droopy lip.”
Charlie quickly became a favourite at New Stride, displaying a “comical nature” with a penchant to pick things up and untie rope knots.
When the giant 17hh, bay gelding arrived at Allbury, Veenendaal, an accomplished hunter and jumper coach, took time from his busy schedule of training horses for clients to watch how Charlie adjusted.
“I am always on the lookout for talent in horses, be it for clients, and now, for myself,” said Veenendaal. “We are a stone’s throw away from Thunderbird Show Park, North America’s second ranked show park next to Spruce Meadows.”
Veenendaal submitted adoption papers for Charlie within a month of seeing him and in the fall of last year, received a call from New Stride that the gelding was his.
The early lessons for Charlie involve allowing his still-large body to grow and mature while introducing him to the world of jumping.
“He is showing a keen interest to work under saddle,” said Veenendaal. “His program at present involves developing a top line frame and muscle in general as well as conditioning to fully maximize his growing phase.”
The gelding has already caught a glimpse of Thunderbird Show Park and experienced a beginner’s show. This year, he will be shown in beginner jumper classes. He will be re-named Le Boss for the show ring, but he will still be Charlie to everyone who has spent time with this personable fellow.
“Charlie is a self-assured horse and very happy,” said Veenendaal. “He has freedom in his large grass turnout daily at Allbury. He is a delight to work with and a fast learner.”
