Achak (IRE)

Name: Achak (IRE)

Barn Name: Achak

Birth Year: 2006

Gender: Gelding

Height: 16.2hh

Color: Bay

Location: Los Gatos, CA

Starts/Win/Place/Show: 48/9/8/5

Career Highlights: Maiden winner in Ireland, won at $62,000 optional claiming level, Stakes placed at Del Mar, Placed 5th in Native Diver at Hollywood Park in 2010

Total Earnings: $300,525

Last Race: 9/14/2013

Sire: Invincible Spirit (IRE)

Dam: She’s So Lovely (GB) (Distant Relative (IRE))

Other Pedigree Notables: Danzig, Northern Dancer, Sir Ivor, Round Table, Somethingroyal, Ribot

Description: Achak is a former Neigh Savers horse. His owner, Brooke,  is relocating to Europe and is asking for our help in finding him the perfect home. She writes:

Achak is a 16.2hh gelding who was born in Ireland on March 1, 2006 (10 years old). He raced 48 times, with 36 top five finishes. With around 10 ownership changes by his last race in September 2013, his longest ownerships were while he was being trained by hall of fame trainers such as Doug O’Neill, the late Mike Mitchell and Jerry Hollendorfer.

Achak was retired in September 2013 following his final race at Golden Gate Fields. He was surrendered to Neigh Savers with a body condition score of 2. He was badly underweight, had worms, and hooves so abscessed and poorly shod he could barely walk.

He has been entirely under my training, with 5 jumping lessons from grand prix trainer and eventer Ruben Arce (who said Achak is, “a very good looking horse”, “very useful”, and “loves jumping”). Aches is a 2’6” packer and he would be happiest just jumping around the 2’6”-2’9” forever. With a good rider in a training program, he could be a great project for the 3’ Thoroughbred hunter division at the USEF shows – or a great horse to just have at home, hangout with and jump once in awhile. He needs to be taught his lead changes. He also has potential to be a great dressage horse.

His favorite thing to do is ROLL. If you are walking through thick sand, you better hold close to his face, because he’s going down! He absolutely loves all fluffy footing/bedding. If you put a new bag of shavings in his stall he’ll come right over and roll in it with you still in the corner. One of his nicknames is “chinchilla.” He also loves the Mrs. Pastures cookies, and granny smith apples are his favorite, really all cookies or food –he loves to eat. He’s amazing to groom. He loves being brushed, petted, wrapped, massaged, anything that has him standing there being loved on. He’s good to shoe, good to clip and trailers well.

Achak goes in four shoes with pads on the front. We put a thin piece of leather (to keep the hoof dry and healthy, and keep the plastic off the hoof), then with a wedge pad – both the leather and wedge pads have holes drilled through them to promote ventilation. This has been a great solution for Achak and he’s been very happy. We do his shoes every 6 weeks.

Achak’s overall disposition is laid back, calm and cool. He’s a big, smart, confident, handsome guy. He loves kids, pets, jumping, staring at the hills/open land, and eating. He’s been such an amazing horse and I hope his next home is the perfect one for him, he’s done a lot of work in his life and he deserves a supportive and fulfilling next home.

April Update: We are pleased to announce that we have successfully readopted Achak (now Zeus) into a second loving home. We believe his first off the track owner Brooke says it best: “Today I waved goodbye to my boy Achak as he went home with his new mom, Cheryl Spence. I can’t thank Achak enough for these past two years, they have been the best years of my life. Two years ago I adopted a thin, unhealthy, neglected horse who had the kindest eyes and the biggest heart. This morning I sent away a strong, hearty, bright eyed boy with a big future. Achak was not just my horse; he was my best friend, my life, and my everything. As my life changes though, Achak’s is changing as well.