UPDATE: GoHorseShow is happy to report that Marvin had a great debut at the Prairie Classic this past weekend in Oklahoma City. He was shown in the Green Hunter Under Saddle and Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and placed Top 5 in the green under all cards and Top 5 in the amateur under two cards in very deep classes.
“I haven’t shown that class in about 10 years and have some work to do, but Marvin acted like it was just another day at the office,” Karen Ogle told GoHorseShow. “I love my Starvin Marvin.”
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In July of 2013, amateur Karen Ogle and her daughter, Kailyn visited Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue in Jones, Oklahoma. The family was immediately drawn to a big red gelding named Marvin that reminded them of their retired hunter. Marvin was seized along with ten other horses as a result of an animal cruelty case.
“He had only recently arrived at Blaze’s and was still significantly underweight, but with his kind eye and sweet disposition, we instantly knew we had to adopt him,” says Kailyn, who shows on the AQHA Circuit in the hunter events. “Marvin as we call him, quickly adapted to pampered life.”
After the Ogle’s got his papers, they began to research his past and saw that Marvin had been run through a couple of sales before being seized. Upon searching his pedigree, the family found out he is a full sibling to several successful race horses.
“Although he was bred to run, he is the most laid back horse I’ve ever met, and it’s easy to see why he never raced,” Karen Ogle told GoHorseShow. “The first time I saw him he was letting his lower lip hang and resting his leg in a funny way just like my old hunter used to do. I had no intention of showing him, just wanted to fatten him up and give him a good home.”
Kailyn adds, “He is the sweetest horse we’ve ever owned. I plan on rescuing another one when I’m done with school. It makes me sick that there are people out there that just quit feeding and caring for their horses. He has always been incredibly sweet and quiet but he has definitely shown us more of his personality as he got back to being healthy.”
As Marvin gained weight and the Ogle’s started working with him, it became obvious that Marvin not only had a heart of gold and a great mind, but was also very talented. His new registered name is Howd Ya Like Me Now and he is currently under the guidance of Ron Horn Quarter Horses. He will make his debut in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Renee Leggett and Amateur Hunter Under Saddle with Karen Ogle this spring at the Prairie Classic in Oklahoma City this weekend. (pictured left before and after being rescued)
“Regardless of whether he is a successful show horse or not, Marvin has just been an enormous blessing to our family and we are so happy that this sweet horse has a home with us,” Kailyn says.
Karen continues, “Marvin approaches every task with a quiet demeanor and never says no. Just a sweet, quiet horse that I have been blessed with. I plan on showing Marvin this spring after a two year hiatus. I feel like Marvin will take care of me the same way I took care of him. I can’t wait to see what our future brings. You can count on one thing, Marvin will be pampered and loved.”
