This is the pic that drew my attention.
I took Wall Street Bull off the track when he was barely 3 years old. I was accepted into the Retired Racehorse Program in 2016, and he was the horse I selected. I was looking for a horse with a certain movement and conformation, and I saw it in a picture posted by Darcy Scudero - he was doing a BIG trot around his field, and yet his expression was calm, indicating that he normally moved like that, and not just out of excitement. I remember thinking “that’s my horse!”
When I went to try him out, I did not expect that I would be able to ride him. I figured he would need some ground work, and would be too excitable. But, Darcy showed me how calm he was by pulling him out of the pasture and riding him bareback to the wash rack, where we tacked him up. She rode him first, and then I rode him in all 3 gaits. I remember thinking what a good rideability he had along with a good brain. A couple of weeks later I brought him to the farm I was working out of, and started working with him.
When I competed him at the Thoroughbred makeover, he was still just 3 years old, and yet he handled the travel, the atmosphere, and change of environment like a more seasoned horse. In fact, we came in 8th in the freestyle and beat Tik Maynard! It is a big deal to place in the top 10 in a national competition like that, and I was proud because my family traveled to see me compete as well.
Me and Bull right before competing in the freestlye at the Kentucky Horse Park
After the competition, I began marketing him for sale, since I had originally bought him as a resale horse. I always regretted having to do it, since he was so talented and easy to train. He was schooling all 2nd level movements easily (no pressure) when I sold him at 4. He was bought by a student of mine, but I moved away shortly after she bought him, so I was unable to continue working with them.
Me schooling 4 year old Bull
I had a few messages from her through the years letting me know that she was having problems with him. She said he was kicking out and not wanting to go forward. She had him checked out and found he had kissing spine and then did surgery on him. It does not sound like she did much with him after the surgery, and my understanding is that she bought another horse to ride, and just used Bull for trail rides. We kind of lost touch, and then about a year ago I got a call from her husband saying that she is ill and needs to get rid of her horses. I agreed to take Bull and his best friend, Mr. Big.
I traveled to the panhandle in mid July to pick them up, and the rented trailer ended up blowing not one, but TWO tires on the way back. The poor horses had to stop and go and stop and go for about 10 hours because we had to keep stopping to change out the tires, and then go get another spare in case it was needed - which it was! By the time we got home, Bull had stopped sweating. He did that to me one year when he was younger also, but his owner said she never had trouble with it. I spent a lot of time and money treating his anhidrosis that year. When he finally started sweating again (when it cooled down - nothing actually worked) it was like a switch flipped and he sweat like normal the rest of the year.
I was hoping that his body had reset itself over the winter, but as soon as it got hot again, he stopped sweating immediately, despite trying all the supplements and acupuncture we did the year before. I tried a misting fan, and that backfired. It drew more flies to his stall and caused him to stand with his head in the back of his stall.
Bull and I at the Kentucky Horse park with my support group! My family does not get to see me ride often, so it was a treat!
I knew a trainer who had air conditioned a stall and gave her a call. She gave me very specific instructions on how to build it, and what to avoid. I talked to Matt, my super-supportive boyfriend, about it and he made a plan. One Sunday, before it got too hot and humid, he bought rolls of insulating material and nailed it all around Bull's stall, fixed a traditional external AC, extended the electrical line, and voilà, the thermometer indicated 75 F, and when we closed his look-out window which is also insulated, it was 70 F! The result was that Bull started to sweat again when he is ridden. To help him further, he gets a cold shower before and after riding. He especially likes the rain shower from above, another installation by Matt.
Bull may be a little high maintenance in some ways, but he is worth it! Since coming back into work in my program, he has progressed immensely. My saddle fitter helped us find a saddle that fits his high withered back, so that he does not have pain while he is being ridden, and he has never kicked out. I try to also make sure he is ridden by students who know how to get him over his back, which is the best way to protect his kissing spine. From time to time he gets a tune up ride, and I’m always amazed as his level of rideability. He is light to the aids and forward without running.
Natalie has been half-leasing Bull for about a year. Here is her story:
During my first ride on Bull, I felt an instant connection and could tell he was special. I've learned so much from him in a short period of time. He is the most willing horse, giving you his all with every ride. He is also very light to the aids, which provides near instant feedback. With his history of kissing spine, my goal each time I'm in the saddle is first and foremost to ride him therapeutically, doing whatever is best for his body that day – focusing on stretching when he needs it, working towards getting him supple, and engaging his top-line to build those muscles. I enjoy every moment I get to spend with him, whether that's in the saddle or out. He has a heart of gold and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to get to know and love this one-of-a-kind horse Bull.
Celia has also part-leased Bull. Here is her story:
I started taking lessons from Collette last October (2025). I hadn't ridden for the last 20 years, so getting back in the saddle for this 74 year old was quite a challenge! I've been riding since I was a kid and did mainly Hunter/Jumper riding. But nothing prepared me for the experience of Dressage riding! It was like learning a new language! Collette was very patient with me, and once I started riding Bull in a lesson, I knew that I found my perfect partner! He is sensitive to every aid so you get immediate feedback as you practice. Bull is always willing to do whatever is asked of him and has a lot of patience with this novice dressage rider! I am so grateful to have an equine partner in Bull and Collette as a knowledgeable and patient coach, and I am so glad that I'm a part of the amazing and compassionate 3 Wish Stable family!
Bull is my non-sweating, kissing spine, cribbing, best horse ever! I always say once I sell a horse and he comes back, he will never be for sale again, so Bull is with me for good, and I’m so grateful to have him back in my life.