Warning Zone
Warning Zone had a successful career as a racehorse earning over $300,000. Warning Zone’s biggest win came in the Sunset Breeders’ Cup Handicap in which he won almost $100,000 and was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. After a racing injury and a year in rehab, it was determined that Warning Zone should no longer race although he was cleared for other disciplines. It was then that trainer Kristin Mulhall asked Neigh Savers Foundation to take him. Kristin felt he might have a second career in the show ring and when delivering him said: “Good luck with him! I am so happy that you got him and guarantee you will love him!! He has the smoothest canter and is an incredible mover as well.” His hidden skills and talent were not oversold by Kristin.
Warning Zone was taken to Kimberlee Farms. When Ozzie arrived at Kimberlee Farms, Kim immediately took to him, contacted Neigh Savers Founder Karin Wagner and asked to take Ozzie under her wing, pay all of his expenses and not make him available for general adoption. After a few months of settling in, Ozzie started working with dressage and natural horsemanship trainer, Amelia Newcomb who is the resident trainer at Kimberlee Farms. His beautiful gaits really started to show and when he had about nine solid months of flat work it was time to incorporate a little jumping into his program. Long time friend of Kimberlee Farms, Shauna Pennell, a hunter/jumper trainer with much experience re-training OTTB’s was engaged to teach Ozzie to jump.
Ozzie proved to be a smart and naturally talented student. With a very light jumping training schedule of 1 to 2 sessions a week, Ozzie went from cross poles to full courses at 2’6” in just a matter of a couple months. In July, Ozzie showed in his first horse show in the baby green hunters and received good placings despite being a little “up” with all the activity similar to the environment of the race track.
His next horse show was at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on October 20 and 21st, 2011. He again showed in the Baby Green Hunters. He won every class entered and was Champion Baby Green Hunter. He beat all the fancy Warmbloods including one that ironically Kim von Disterlo had bred! At the show Ozzie became a minor celebrity as many people commented on him and Shauna relayed his story to anyone who would listen.
As Kim says: “Ozzie has been an absolute joy. He is smart, sensible, sensitive and immensely talented. He has gone from the Winners Circle to a Champion in the Show Ring. He is going to his first “A” rated show in November. I couldn’t be more proud of our boy.” When contacted, former trainer Kristin Mulhall said: “He was always so nice to ride and such a pretty mover I knew he had it him. Hopefully he will be a super star again!!!!”