Braggin Rights

About

'Braggs' is a gray beauty who arrived in pretty bad shape, and in a pretty bad way of transport. She arrived at Our Mims Retirement Haven in November of 2014, as an unknown mare, and was given the name 'Lady Jane'.

Sometime after Braggin’ Rights’ last foal was born in 2011, she was sold outside of the major Thoroughbred auctions and landed in a kill pen. She was purchased by someone who saved her from a kill buyer, but that person was unable to provide proper care. When the mare’s condition began to deteriorate, that person needed to find her a place to go. A lady who takes 'meat' to the local zoo was contacted to pick her up. That person realized Braggs was a Thoroughbred and contacted Jeanne Mirabito to see if she would take her, and Jeanne agreed. Braggs arrived in the 'meat' trailer, and when Ann Cheek and Jeanne opened the trailer doors, Braggs bolted out of there and headed to the back corner of the farm. She feared for her own life after being in that trailer, and it took her quite some time to realize she was 'home' and there was no safer place than the Haven. She scored a 3 on the Henneke body scale, and needed some work.

The following summer of 2015, donors helped the Haven do DNA testing, and people were pretty sure who this girl was, but needed confirmation. And they got it - but were shocked it wasn't who they thought. So Braggin Rights was finally, and officially identified and got her personalized halter, her personalized stall door, and more importantly - her identity.

In late summer, early fall of 2015, our board member Sidna finally got to meet the mare on one of her visits. And in a matter of minutes, Braggs established that she was going to be her human. Sidna must look like, or smell like someone who loved her in her past. In less than an hour, she was napping on Sidna’s shoulder - soundly! And letting her love her. Ann and Jeanne had no luck with her and she was always stand-offish. So, Ann tossed Sidna some grooming tools, fly spray and literally anything she could to see if Braggs would allow her to use it. And she did. Jeanne even came down to the barn to watch Braggs melt in Sidna’s hands and just couldn't believe what she saw.

Every time Sidna visits, Braggs either sees her, hears her or smells her from wherever she is, and comes to up to say hello. As the years have gone by, she has warmed up to other people, and enjoys tours and all the visitors that come. She and Exciting Bucket are BFFs and are the only gray girls on the farm, but both have completely different personalities.

Sometimes, all it takes is finding the right person, and then The Lady knows she is home.