This year, St. Patrick’s Day gave us additional cause for celebration because it’s the birthday of the newest member of our herd, who’s name is… you guessed it! Saint Patrick! Paddy is a 16-year-old Thoroughbred who arrived at The Lily Pond in 2024. He was born into the racing industry, but showed a disinclination to actually run on the track. The breeder did the right thing and found him an adoptive home. We were contacted when the owner’s health issues began to make it difficult to care for him.
Years ago, Paddy shared a paddock with our horse Dutch Treat and they recognized each other immediately when Paddy stepped off the trailer the day of his arrival. Despite their friendship, we decided not to put them together in the same paddock because Dutch is strongly bonded to our gorgeous heartthrob of a mare Waverly.
A jealous boyfriend, Dutch will not hesitate to fight off any potential new suitors. So to avoid any ruffled feathers or crimes of passion, Paddy joined Lou de Fontaine, Super Tuesday and Charlie in the main paddock where he and Dutch can still see and communicate with each other.
Paddy settled in well and we quickly discovered that he is highly food motivated. Highly motivated. Just because he wasn’t cut out for racing does not mean that he can’t put on some impressive speed. He loves to prance around the paddock, but when it’s mealtime, Paddy will gallop ventre a terre to the grain bucket and disappear every morsel in a matter of seconds. The first couple feedings, Paddy hoovered his grain and then looked around to see Lou and Tuesday leisurely munching at their grain buckets.
He promptly got between them and with a strategic hula-hoop hip move, bounced Lou and Tuesday to either side and happily gobbled all their grain while they stood blinking in surprise. Oh dear. So now Paddy enjoys meals in his own paddock to prevent him from gaining 3,000 pounds in one week and allow everyone else to eat in peace.
We hope you will come visit Paddy and all of our wonderful horses. If you bring a small gift of an apple, carrot or peppermint, Paddy will zoom across the paddock to be the first to greet you at the fence, blessing you with the Luck o’ The Irish!