Lucy is, herself, a registered Oldenburg filly. She is classified as a roan but appears to be destined to be a gray.  Her Dam is Genny, an Oldenburg mare listed in the pre-mare book.. Her Sire is Landwerder, AKA Silver Lining. Landwerder comes from proven lineage sired by the top producer Landadel and out of the fourfold stallion producing dam, Fureida II (from the famous Heida line). Fureida II is of the successful  Gotthard / Furioso II cross which also produced Voltaire.

Lucy has her dam’s soft and gentle temperament combined with the high degree of self awareness and confidence she gained from her early exposure to Willy. 

These traits serve her well as she matures.  Lucy was recently backed by Christine LaRose of Rosendale Acres, a job made easier by the countless hours Paul spent with her – tacking up, lunging and teaching.  Paul is now continuing her training under saddle and will be showing Lucy this summer at some local dressage shows.

Lucy is a barn favourite and this is her story:

I opened my eyes to the noise. There were people in the field. There were big trucks in the field. What is going on? Where is my momma? At first, I could not see her. I looked around quickly. Whew, there she is over by the water trough. I ran over to her. 

"What is going on, momma?", I asked nervously. 

"Nothing sweetie, nothing to worry about."  she answered, as she moved me to take breakfast. But I could see she was worried. Her eyes told the story. Just then people started to move towards us. Momma moved slowly away them and I stayed close to her side. Before I knew it, one of the men had a thing on my face and was pulling me by a rope attached to it. Momma was following and a man attached a rope to her and walked her along.

"Momma, what's happening to us?", I shrieked.

"We're going for an adventure, sweetie. It will be full of new things to experience. Stay close, sweetie, stay close.", she said. The worried look was gone. She looked tired but she held her head high. At that moment, I thought my momma is so beautiful. I scooted closer to her. The man holding the rope moved to allow me to be close. 

There was a big truck and a large container attached. They started to lead momma into the container. She was not afraid so I hurried to be beside her. Others in our field followed and before I knew it the door was closed and the truck was started. After a while, it was so hot inside but I stayed close to my momma and knew that it would be alright. 

We stopped moving and suddenly I was blinded by the light when the doors opened. Momma said, "Stay close, sweetie." There was no way I was going to move from her side.

We were unloaded into a large area and led to a barred stall. Three others from the field were put in with us. Others were put in similar stalls around us. Water and food were provided to us and the lights went out. I could hear the others talking. I heard the words auction and sale. 

I asked my momma, "What is an auction, momma? What is a sale?" 

"I have heard of auctions, sweetie but I do not know what they are. A sale is when we change owners." she answered. I noticed the worry come back to her face. 

"Momma, what is going to happen? What is wrong?" I pressed. 

"Do not worry, sweetie? Everything will be fine. It will be a wonderful adventure. Get some sleep and tomorrow will bring a brand new future." She responded, but her face still showed that she was worried. I pressed her more and finally she said, "Sweetie, there may be a chance that we will be separated. I want you to be strong and to watch the others. Learn from them."

"But I don't want to leave you, momma.", I softly said.

"I know sweetie, but this is our life. It will happen some day. I just wish we had a little more time. It never seems that there is enough time to teach you everything you need. I hope it is enough.", she started to ramble.

I bit my lip and nuzzled her. Morning would be here soon. 

When the light of the sun came through the windows signaling a new day, everyone started to move around.  People started to come in and touch and feel us. Most of the people were looking and touching my momma. Very few looked or touched me but I stayed close to her.

Soon the people left our stall and we were alone. Momma turned her head towards me and said, "Whatever happens, sweetie, remember to be proud and noble. Keep your head high. Show that you were raised right, make me proud."  

Just as she finished, two men came in and attached leads to us both. We were led down a corridor, through some doors to a large area and released. I looked around and I could see more people than I thought existed. A man with a loud voice called my momma's name, Genny and said some words that I did not understand. Suddenly, he started to talk very fast, I could not understand anything. He was pointing out at the crowd of people. Finally, I heard, "SOLD" 

I heard him ask, "Do you want the mare or the filly, both can be had for the same price?"

The man in the crowd yelled out, "The mare". I heard two other softer voices near him say "Take the filly as well". After a moment of hesitation, he said, "OK, I'll take them both." 

I looked over at my momma, she was smiling. She looked so happy. The two men returned and took us back to the barred stall. I nudged my momma, she turned and I asked, " What happened, momma?"

Her voice trembled a little when she said, "We are going to be together, sweetie. He wants us both. It is going to be such a fine experience."

Time passed, and I looked up to see the man who made my momma so happy, right there with a lead. A lady with him took my momma and he attached his lead to me. We were taken to a trailer outside. I was a afraid, but my momma said," Come on, sweetie, let us start our new adventure." I followed her on and the doors closed. 

After a while, we came to a stop. The doors opened and we were backed out of the trailer. The man and the two ladies that told him to take the filly were there waiting for us. They led us to a stall inside a small barn. 

"Is this our new home, momma? Are we going to stay inside? Shouldn't we be outside? Where is the grass for me to lie down? What do we do now? ", I had a million questions. She shushed me and said, "I think so, sweetie, wait for morning and we will see what we will see." 

The light shone through the doors and was warm on my face. "Momma, wake up, wake up, it is morning. Does the adventure start now? How will I know? What am I to do? Are there other horses around?" The questions built up in my head until I thought I would burst. My momma calmly said, "You will have all your answers in good time sweetie, just be happy that we are together."

The man who brought us here came through the door with a lady. They attached leads to us and took us to the paddock next to the barn. I ran around and around. In the other fields, I could see other horses. They were big. In the far field, there was a very beautiful mare. She must be a queen. She looked so regal. In a field, near us was a big handsome boy, WOW. Am I going to grow up to be like them? They looked so happy and proud. "Momma. Momma." I whinnied, "Look over here, Look over here." 

She trotted to my side, looked out into the fields and said, "I think we are going to be happy here, sweetie. There are some fine horses here. We are going to be alright, sweetie." She turned and slowly walked off to munch on some hay that was left for us.  

The man spent a lot of time with me. He brushed me. He touched me. He rubbed me. He would put a lead on me and would talk to me. 

"Walk on", he said and if I walked forward, he would praise me and caress me saying, " Good girl, 153."   

"Whoa", he said and if I stopped, he would again praise me and caress me saying, " Good girl, 153." 

"Back",  he said and if I went back, he would once again praise me and caress me saying, " Good girl, 153."  

My momma was right, this was an adventure. It was fun. I liked the attention. I just didn't know what he meant by 153. I know, ask momma, she knows everything. "Momma, why does he call me 153?" 

It seemed as a cloud came over her face when I asked. She looked at me and said, "That was your sale number, sweetie. He hasn't given you a name. If people don't give you a name, it makes it easier for them to sell you."

"What can I do? How do I ask for a name? I have tried but the words won't come out. Momma, help me. Please."

" I wish I could, sweetie. I wish I could. Just be yourself and maybe they will give you a name.", she whispered.

I tried everything from that time on to get him to like me. Give me a name. Give me a name, please. I thought hard, hoping he would hear me. I tried to give kisses. I let him lift my feet, I did as I was told. I would stop when I heard whoa. I would walk forward when I heard walk on. I would back up when I heard back. I nuzzled him when he praised me. I would go to him as soon as I saw him. All I wanted was a name. 

One day, it was like just like the others, the same exercises, the praise, the caresses. What was that he said? Did I hear something other  than 153? I'm not sure. I must pay more attention next time. "Whoa", he said. I stopped immediately and perked my ears forward. "Good Girl, Lucy", he said.

All the praise that day was the same. "Good Girl, Lucy". I could hardly wait to ask my momma. 

"Momma, momma, what does Lucy mean? He called me Lucy instead of 153. Is that a name?" I asked her when we were walking back to our pasture.

"Yes, sweetie. That is your name. Yes, my Lucy. You have a name.", she beamed.

When we were set loose in the paddock, I ran around loudly declaring, "I have a name, everyone. I am Lucy."