Everything's "Rosie" at Belleville's
Off Spring
Farm
Tucked away in a corner off a country road in southwestern Illinois lies a little piece of Midwest heaven; a fledgling thoroughbred breeding operation known as Off Spring Farm in Belleville.
When asked how I entered the business of breeding race horses, I answer, “by default.” After all, I was the owner of a Hunter/Jumper equestrian center. Truly, though, I believe it was my destiny, for on a hot and humid July afternoon, fate intervened and forever altered the course of my life.
In June 2006, I boarded a sickly, underweight mare, a race horse who was recovering from pneumonia after surgery to repair a collapsed lung. She was under my care for about three weeks when her owners made the decision to euthanize because they saw no hope of recovery. The mare’s trainer, acting on behalf of the owners, offered to give her to me.
I knew nothing about race horses. What’s more, there was stiff opposition from my boarders, who were deeply concerned that an unhealthy horse might infect the entire barn. Yet, something inside me said I could not send this horse to her doom, so without hesitation I agreed to keep her. As he walked away, the last thing her trainer said to me was, “you better call your vet.” Not fully comprehending the severity of the mare’s illness, and much to my everlasting chagrin, I didn’t make the call.
By the end of the following day, I knew something was dreadfully wrong. It was Fourth of July weekend, and no vet was available. In desperation, I phoned the vet who accompanies my equine dentist. She made the two hour drive from Missouri telling me that the mare’s prognosis was grim. “This horse is on the brink of death,” the vet said. Though shaken, I pleaded with her to help me do whatever we could to save this horse I feared I’d let down.
With determination and resolve, I worked tirelessly to nurse the mare back to health. By late fall, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, she had gained 400 pounds, grew a glistening, shiny coat, and was spectacularly vibrant and full of life and spirit. She frightened everyone in the barn!
The name of the 10-year old dark bay, who one raced at Belmont, is Have a Herat, sired by the great Petionville, whose runners have earned more than $24 million. We call her “Rosie” because she has the confirmation of a Breyer horse model. The first time I let her out to run she took my breath away with her graceful and fluid movement. Even now, when I watch Rosie move, I have to catch my breath.
After recovering, this amazing mare needed a new career, so I wondered, “Now what do I do?” One of my boarders, who had worked at the Del Mar, CA breeding farm of the late John Mabee, convinced me to breed her. So, in 2007, Have a Herat, aka. Rosie was bred to Marquetry. We now have a gorgeous two-year old colt that recently entered training. In addition, Rosie was bred to the great Artax, which resulted in a beautiful, smart filly named Bellevegas Babe, born in May.
Some say “It is something unknown” that makes a great race horse, but I believe what gives a horse the edge to outrun his competitors is an indomitable spirit. I wholeheartedly believe Rosie’s offspring have the drive and determination she so valiantly displayed overcoming terrible odds, and that they will be champions.
At least that’s my dream,
for I do not believe fate intervened randomly. I saved Rosie, but in
return she has saved me, and has given me far more than I can ever
hope to give her.
Cynthia Dixon, a life-long equestrian, opened Richland Equestrian Center (now known as Off Spring Farm), a Hunter/Jumper boarding and training facility in October, 2005. In addition to “Rosie” and her off-spring, Cynthia and business partner James Watkins operate a small stable of race horses and race their client's horses throughout the Midwest. Call 618-977-4475 for more information.