’10 Pleasant Dixie

In April of 2010, Pleasant Dixie presented her last foal, a handsome colt by Curlin. This promising young horse was foaled and raised on Stonestreet Farm in Kentucky and then began early training at the Stonestreet Training Center in late 2012. In 2013, the ‘10 Pleasant Dixie colt graduated from the training center and sights were set on running, but in May of that year, he sustained a mild injury to his suspensory tendon. The injury healed but by August of 2013, the decision to retire the un-raced colt had been made.

While his racing career ended before a name was registered, Jennifer Lewandowski of Shoeman Road Farm affectionately knows this now five-year-old gelding as Todd. In September of 2013, after being given several months to recuperate, Todd found his home with Jennifer after she adopted him from New Vocations.

After three months at his new home and receiving a clean bill of health, Todd was walking, trotting, and cantering under saddle and enjoying ring training. “He is loving to jump and goes nicely and bravely in the ring and cross country,” boasted Jennifer in her first update in December of 2013. It appeared that Todd was meant for this new career.

By March of the next year, Todd had been training so well that Jennifer began to plan the first show. In updates to New Vocations, Jennifer was happy to report that he was doing very well and a “perfect gentleman inside the ring and out.” Feeling he was ready for novice eventing and first level dressage, Todd’s first show was set for mid May.

Since May, Todd has competed five times, first at the beginner level then moving on to novice level. He proved himself by impressively winning all of his dressage classes, beautifully completing cross-country, and improving in show jumping.

Jennifer and Todd continue to be a successful team. Todd has been working hard and improving consistently in both dressage and show jumping. According to Jennifer, he has proven to be an honest horse that enjoys his new career. For 2015, their sights are set on starting out at novice for their first show of the year in May.

Jennifer and Todd are still located at Shoeman Road Farm in Michigan and we look forward to following this pair as they continue to progress in the eventing world. The days of race training are far behind Todd now as he proves that a promising future does not always mean taking a single path.