Amazing Horse Rescue Story

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081225.whorses26/BNStory/National

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hay Ride at Christmas Lights Display

Copyright © 2008 "DJ" author of Blog & Pony Show. All Rights Reserved.

Camel & Arabian Horse Doing Dressage Routine

"Imagine a Horse" video

Autumn Ride

R.I.P. Templado

Cavalia star Templado passed away on Oct. 3rd. He was 22. I saw him perform in person. He was awesome! Here's his story.

More Eye Candy!

U.S. Arabian Horse Nationals Live Cam

Just 3 days left to view the classes live at
http://www.myhorsecam.com/shows/usnationals/default.aspx

Eye Candy!

Wild Horse Monument near Vantage, WA

15 steel, larger-than-life sculptures overlook I-90 east of the Columbia River.

(read about them here)

Copyright © 2008 "DJ" author of Blog & Pony Show. All Rights Reserved.

Arabian Horse Association Ad

Horse Rescue After Hurricane Ike

Here's an article about the rescue efforts.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26747431/

Arabians and Sunset

Laughing Horse

Rescued Arabian Success Story

Now this would be my kind of horse! Looks, brains and a wonderful disposition. Here are the links to the story. (Sorry, I hear he's been adopted.)

http://www.csrdt.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=971

http://www.csrdt.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=979

http://www.csrdt.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=980

Miniature Horse Doing Dressage

Here's the link to the video. Scroll to the end of the page and click the video link.

Friesian & Buggy at The Fair

Copyright 2008 "DJ" of Blog & Pony Show

Another Horse Laugh

The Flying Frenchman & His Horses

http://canecorso.com:80/lorenzo.htm

Horse Rides in Car

Horse Laugh

It's August!

Hubby's test was good!

My hubby's medical procedure went well today. He needs to eat more fiber and drink more water to help prevent future Diverticulitis attacks of the colon. Other than that, everything looked fine. Hopefully, surgery can be avoided with the new diet.

Longest Horse Tail

Click this link
http://curiousphotos.blogspot.com/2008/03/longest-tail-on-horse-at-12-feet-6.html

Breyer Model Horses Sighting...

at the new Centerville Western Store in Centralia, WA next to the outlet mall. We stopped by there Tuesday on the way home from the Oregon coast. Several old and new Breyer models, along with various brands of toy horses, and other western-themed items were on the shelves decorating the top of the walls in this huge place. The best part of going here was being successful in finding a western shirt that I liked. They're hard to come by in the Seattle area where I live.

Hubby is home!

I picked him up at the hospital today, but probably won't be back to posting on here regularly until some time next week. He's being treated at home for Diverticulitis, a colon infection. Hopefully, he won't need surgery.

NOTICE: Hubby in the hospital

I'll be taking a break for a few days because my husband was admitted to the hospital last night for tests due to lower abdominal pain.

Your prayers are appreciated! Thanks!

"Celebrate the Horse" Report

After discovering we had a flat tire on our van Friday night, and no one was open to fix it, hubby needed to take the van to Les Schwab at 8:00am this morning before we could leave for the horse fair. He had to wait about 15 minutes for them to get to him, but they fixed it for free!

He came home to get me and we were on our way to the "Celebrate the Horse" fair in Puyallup. We got there about 10:15. We had a schedule of the events which were located in 3 places of the horse stable area; the main indoor arena/stadium, the red barn, and the covered outdoor warm-up arena. There were also food stands and vendors selling horse-related items, artwork, crafts, photos, jewelry, clothing, and advertising their horses, ranches, training, health care, etc. There was also the horse rescue organization "People Helping Horses" with information. This was their fundraiser.

The first event we saw was the Warhorse Challenge. They demonstrated using spears and archery on targets (stationary & moving) from galloping horses. We also saw a group of girls doing circus stunt vaulting on a black Percheron draft horse's back, as it trotted in circles. Other demonstrations we saw were carriage driving, horse training using psychology, natural horsemanship (no bridles), and horse first aid.

The breed demonstrations we saw consisted of trained Kiger Mustangs (from southeast Oregon), a trained Nakota Mustang (a descendant of one of Sitting Bull's horses), Peruvian Paso horses, Marchador horses of Brazil (demonstrating archery), Friesian horses & a colt of Holland, Akhal-Teke horses (rare, ancient breed of the Turks), Gypsy horses of Ireland, Norwegian Fjord horses, Icelandic horses, Andalusian horses, American Miniature horses, Warlander horses (a new breed from crossing the Andalusian and Friesian), Arabian horses, Appaloosa horses, and Welsh Ponies. Many of these horses did tricks and showed what skills they can be used for. We met this Warlander mare and talked with her owner who rides in full armor for the Seattle Knights.

We both learned new things at the fair. We walked through 3 barns and saw many of the event's "stars" and talked to some owners and grooms. I also met and petted 2 of the rehab rescue horses. They were loving the attention everyone was giving them!

Gypsy Horse

Look at that long, thick mane!

Feathered feet of the Gypsy horse

Riding Demo

Friesian and Warlander

American Miniature Horses
Very small Miniature Horse

Akhal-Teke horses and ethnic attire

Only 3,500 exist in the world! These 3 live in Washington.

(All photos Copyright 2008 "DJ" of Blog & Pony Show)

Happy Independence Day!

"Celebrate the Horse", July 5 & 6

Tomorrow is my birthday and my hubby asked what I wanted to do to celebrate. I couldn't think of anything exciting or different, so decided to look online to see what our two closest fairgrounds had to offer in the way of horse-related events. "Celebrate the Horse" will be held this weekend at the Western WA Fairgrounds in Puyallup. I told hubby that's what I wanted to do, so we're going on Saturday the 5th! I bought the tickets online today. (You print your own out.) I've never been to anything like this, so it should be an interesting, fun time!

LOTR Horse "Shadowfax" on the Beach (with music)

Natural Horsemanship Tricks (with music)

Horse Plays With Umbrella (with sound)

Exciting Hobby News!

The 2009 North American Model Horse National Championships will be held in Portland, OR in June. I will finally be able to compete in person at this! I've been waiting since 1999, when I started showing model horses, to compete at a Nationals that would be held within a day's driving distance. Back in 2002, a friend proxy showed a custom model of mine at Nationals in Pamona, CA. That model won a large Top Ten rosette ribbon. So far, I have 9 models qualified for the 2009 Nationals, but I'd like to get a few more qualified. I'll need to try to show some before next May, to meet the deadline. I haven't shown at all this year, so far.

Another Triple Crown Loss

The Triple Crown Championship will have to wait at least one more year. Big Brown lost to Da' Tara in a huge disappointment to his fans, owners, trainer, jockey, etc. He doesn't seem to be hurt, but had to be pulled up in the last turn, because his jockey had no horse left.

I love this quote in the paper by jockey Kent Desormeaux, "I had no horse...there's no popped tires, he was just out of gas!" The jockey was concerned for him, so he did the safe thing in pulling him back to a canter across the finish line. Big Brown came in last out of 9 horses.

There are many unanswered questions, but I think mostly people are stunned and disappointed. Some are turning angry, thinking they were duped out of "a sure thing" and lost a lot of money on betting. I don't bet or even attend horse races, but one thing for sure is that there are NO sure things in racing! There are way too many variables that can affect the outcome.

My thoughts are that the heat, humidity and lack of some recent workouts, might have played a large part in Big Brown's loss. From what I've read, I doubt the lack of a steroid shot in mid-May had much to do with it. He also might have been too rank and bumped around too much at the start trying to get into a good spot. I don't think Big Brown likes that sort of thing, and he looked to be in a "mood" yesterday.

Unless there is something physically wrong with Big Brown, I feel he will come back to win more races before he's retired to stud. Personally, I'd like to see Big Brown go up against Da' Tara again (he beat Da' Tara by 23-1/2 lengths in March's Florida Derby) and also have the Japanese horse Casino Drive, in that race. Then we might get a better idea of who's the "best" 3-year-old, this year. But then again, there are just so many variables.

Ready for the "Big Brown Race"? (Belmont Stakes)

I haven't been following the sports news on the race tomorrow, but heard from my son 2 nights ago that there's another strong contender for the Belmont Stakes besides "Big Brown". He's a Japanese-owned horse called "Casino Drive". We could see another upset this year for the Triple Crown, but I still think Big Brown has the better record, experience, and late speed to win it all (his overdrive gear!). If he does win the Belmont tomorrow, he'll be the first horse to win the Triple Crown (the 3 races including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes) since 1978! "Smarty Jones" almost won the crown in 2004, but took 2nd in the Belmont. Only 11 horses since 1919 have won the Triple Crown, many more have failed in the final race at Belmont.

My son was born in 1979, so he has never seen a Triple Crown winner. He's a people sports fan, not horse racing, but he knows the rarity of a winner. We're having him over tomorrow to watch the race on our high definition big screen. Should be a very interesting race and commentaries, especially with "Big Brown's" steroid controversy.

UPDATE: I just read at http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0645596020080606 that Casino Drive has a bruise and might end up being scratched from the Belmont tomorrow.

Missing Show Stallion Found!

I only caught part of the story on the TV news at 11am today, but I did hear that a woman admitted to taking Capone I, and she apparently has all the appropriate paperwork to have custody of him. Perhaps she's the rightful owner from Canada taking Capone home from the unscrupulous trainer in Washington. Let's hope so!

Here's the story I found online
http://lyndentribune.com/node/2926

Thoughts on 2008 Triple Crown & Big Brown

I'd like to share my thoughts about this year's Triple Crown hopeful, Big Brown. I won't get into a lot of detail, but I'm not as excited about his possible victory, as I would have been if I didn't know about his genetically bad feet and how they've been put back together, glued to light shoes, and basically re-built. I also heard about his monthly steroid injections on the special round table discussion interview, that was televised prior to the running of the Preakness on May 17th. This really put things into perspective, for me.

Maybe I've been naive about what goes into the making of a race horse champion these days, but I feel "bionic" feet and monthly steroid injections are ways of cheating. Big Brown may or may not be a great race horse and champion. I don't know how we can really know for sure. The injections are legal if the horse is healing from an injury, but it's possible by next year that steroids will be illegal, altogether.

The Thoroughbred breeders need to stop breeding horses with flaws, such as soft feet & bones. Breeding for speed has not proved to be the solution for winning the crown, if that's the ultimate goal. I'd love to see some stronger-boned horses (Arabians) introduced to the weak Thoroughbred gene pool. My other issue is the fact that racing a 2-year old is pretty ridiculous, when you consider their bones have not matured. One solution would be to train at 2, start racing at 3, and the Triple Crown for ages 4 and up.

Here's a well-stated post on another blog at http://me-mira.blogspot.com/2008/05/triple-crown-races.html

If Big Brown wins the Triple Crown this year, time will tell whether that was an unfair win, especially if steroids get banned. I'll be watching the Belmont to see if we finally have another champion crowned after 30 years, but I won't be very thrilled about the way it came about (if it does). Perhaps all the modern "greats" were on steroids and we didn't know about it. I'd like to find out.

What do you think?

NEWS ALERT -- Show Stallion Stollen

I'd like to help get the word out about this. Here's the news information
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/415627.html

Foaling Season!

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been watching live web cameras on MareStare.com. It's been fascinating and very educational. They have messege boards for discussion, and also to help keep watch on pregnant mares, before, during and after their foals' birth . It's a good community of people helping each other.

I will warn you that the live births can be graphic and stressful to watch, at times. (It might also keep you up late at night!) There have been some sad outcomes, but most are very happy and heart warming. Give it a try, if you're game. I'll leave the link on my permanent sidebar.

Happy viewing!

Murphy's Horse Laws

1. If you do a thorough check of your trailer before hauling, your truck will break down.
2. There is no such thing as a sterile barn cat.
3. No one ever notices how you ride until you fall off.
4. The least useful horse in your barn will eat the most, require shoes every four weeks and need the vet at least once a month.
5. A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching.
6. Tack you hate never wears out; blankets you hate cannot be destroyed; horses you hate cannot be sold and will outlive you.
7. Clipper blades will become dull only when the horse is half finished. Clipper motors will quit only when you have the horse's head left to trim.
8. If you're wondering if you left the water on in the barn, you did. If you're wondering if you latched the pasture gate, you didn't.
9. One horse isn't enough; two is too many.
10. If you approach within 50 feet of the barn in your "street clothes," you will get dirty.
11. You can't push a horse on a lunge line.
12. If a horse is advertised "under $5,000," you can bet he isn't $2,500.
13. The number of horses you own increases according to the number of stalls in your barn.
14. An uncomplicated horse can be ruined with enough schooling.
15. You can't run a barn without baling twine.
16. Hoof picks migrate.
17. Wind velocity increases in direct proportion to how well your hat fits.
18. There is no such thing as the "right feed."
19. If you fall off, you will land on the site of your most recent injury.
20. If you're winning, quit.

~ author unknown

I've Been Tagged....

by Pony Girl at http://ponygirlridesagain.blogspot.com/

Here goes:


1. What was I doing 10 years ago? I was still a volunteer band booster even though our son had graduated from HS in 1997. I was also still enjoying walks with our yellow Lab "Bogie" (RIP).


2. Five Things on my to-do list: Buy new blinds, get rid of junk in the house & garage, plant flowers, go on a vacation this year, replace our windows.


3. What is a snack you enjoy? My top 3 are cold cereal, buttered popcorn, ice cream or popcicles.


4. What would you do if you were a billionaire? Give lots to charity, put away for retirement spending, travel the world, attend the Arabian horse National & World Championships, buy a piece of land and build a nice ranch house with an indoor pool & spa, have a couple of horses and hire staff to help with the care. (I'm getting too old to do it all myself!)


5. Places I have lived. California and Washington.


6. Do you have any bad habits? Spending too much time on the internet!


7. Jobs I have had? Kitchen worker at an assisted living center, Keypunch Operator, Data Entry/Office Specialist, and being a wife & mom!

Saw the Filly Being Born!

We were up until after 3am this morning watching the new filly at http://www.marestare.com/twins.php (You can right click the video screen after it loads, then click "size" to make it as large as you want.)

I watched the camera off and on yesterday and just happened to see the mare lay down at 11:25 to give birth last night. The filly was born at 11:45, after just a few pushes and the owner lady pulling on the front legs.

Then we watched as they dried her off, put the coat on her to keep her warm, helped her stand about an hour after birth, and spend a lot of time trying to get her to figure out where & how to get her "breakfast". They even put horse milk in a syringe and gave it to the filly. She was and still is pretty wobbly. I read that she's very constipated, so they gave her an enima and might still need to call the vet.

Birth photos are at http://risingrainbow.blogspot.com/2008/05/too-pooped-to-post-but-more-1000-word.html

I've watched web cams of pregnant mares before, but never tuned in at the exact time to see the birth live. It was pretty exciting! She's a lively, cutie pie!

Watching a Foaling Camera

Since yesterday afternoon, I found out and have been keeping watch on a mare at Rising Rainbow Arabians. She's the only mare who was bred this year, and has all the signs of being ready, even though she's not due until May 18th. This is her 4th foal, but it's her first by Scandalous Legacy ("Legs"), the bay stallion from the show I attended last Saturday (click here to see my video and photos of "Legs"). Bint Gamaay Rose ("Lucy") has had 3 fillies. Here's the link to the foal cam http://www.marestare.com/twins.php .

"Run For The Roses" song lyrics

"Run for the Roses" by Dan Fogelberg

(The 134th Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 3rd)

Born in the valley and raised in the trees
Of western Kentucky on wobbly knees
With Momma beside you to help you along
You'll soon be a-growin' up strong.

All the long, lazy mornings in pastures of green
The sun on your withers, the wind in your mane
Could never prepare you for what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --

And it's run for the roses as fast as you can

Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand

It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance

And it's high time you joined in the dance.

From sire to sire it's born in the blood

The fire of a mare and the strength of a stud

It's breeding and it's training and it's something unknown

That drives you and carries you home --

And it's run for the roses as fast as you can

Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand

It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance

And it's high time you joined in the dance

It's high time you joined in the dance --

Daffodil Arabian Horse Club Spring Show (video & photos)

Below are some photos and a short video from the Arabian horse show I attended yesterday in Puyallup, WA. It was a long day, but I enjoyed seeing the beautiful horses! Sorry for the poor quality on these photos. I was too far away for my camera to get decent ones indoors.


Video of Scandalous Legacy ("Legs")
12 y/o bay Arabian stallion, a grandson of Khemosabi.

Scandalous Legacy ("Legs") web page

"Legs" cantering

"Legs" (center) in the 14-horse class lineup

"Legs"

"Legs"

Scandal Sheet ("Dandy") web page
18 y/o bay Arabian gelding, full brother to "Legs" above.

"Dandy"

"Dandy"

RAW De Bolero with American flag during evening ceremony.

RAW De Bolero receiving the Legion of Merit award.

Cavalia horse show video advertisement

A couple of years ago, I was privileged to see Cavalia in person. It's mesmerizing! Cavalia video

Lorenzo the Flying Frenchman and his horses

This is an amazing video displaying the training and trust between a rider and his horses (all stallions). The Lorenzo video

Horse Chow for People

(From the following web blog at http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2008/04/scott-nearings-horse-chow-conclusion.html)

In the early 1930s, before health foods and granola became household words, there was a dish called Horse Chow. At that time raw oats were not being eaten by humans. This is the simplest granola of all and perhaps one of the earliest. It was dreamed up in the Austrian Tyrol, where people holed up one winter in a village far from supplies and with a very slim larder of hit-or-miss articles, but with great appetites.

4 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned, not the quick-cook kind)
1/2 cup raisins
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash of sea salt
Olive oil or vegetable oil to moisten

Poem

"The old mare watched the tractor work, a thing of rubber and steel, ready to follow the slightest wish of the man who held the wheel. She said to herself as it passed by, 'You gave me an awful jolt, but there's still one thing you can't do, you cannot raise a colt.'"
by George Rupp

Spanish Dancing Horse Video

Found this video on YouTube. It's beautiful!

Foals I've Known

Me & Stormy (Half Arab yearling) 1970

Commanche (grade pinto), Morning Star (1/2 Arab x pony) & Me, 1972

Paint colt, 1-day old (born on my 50th birthday)

Flash, Sunny (Half Arab yearlings) & Me, 1970

Benny (Welsh Pony yearling) 1970

"The Foal" poem

I'll lend you for a little while my grandest foal, HE said.

for you to love while he's alive and mourn when he is dead.

It may be one or twenty years, or days or months, you see,

but will you, till I take him back, take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,

you'll have treasured memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

but there are lessons taught on earth I want this foal to learn.

I've looked the wide world over In my search for teachers true.

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, with trust, I've chosen you.

Now will you give him total love, not think the labor vain,

nor hate me when I come here to take him back again?

I know you'll give him tenderness and love will bloom each day,

and for the happiness you've known, forever grateful stay.

But should I come and call for him much sooner than you'd planned,

you'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and someday, understand.

(Author unknown)

Funny Horse Photos

Cigar

Our lives with horses are rich with feeling

(borrowed from a discussion board in 2005)

You know this if you've ever...

• choked back tears watching a new foal wobble to his feet for the first time...
• or watching your good horse wobble to his feet after surgery......
• or seen the ends of the reins float straight out as a reining horse spins beneath them...
• or chuckled to yourself as you watched a tiny tot on a patient pony trot through a barrel pattern at a saddle club payday...
• or felt the building tremble as an eight-up hitch of feather-legged giants towed a hand-carved beer wagon into the arena...
• or had your heart stop when you saw your horse lying motionless in the pasture on a sunny day and waited breathlessly for an ear to flick...
• or cheered at the screen when "The Man From Snowy River" slid Dennie down the mountainside....
• or when Seabiscuit made his final surge to beat War Admiral...
• or cruised along the highway and seen a horse in a pasture and wondered what he's like to ride or pictured him as a prospect...
• or sucked in your breath as a horse and rider approached a six-foot wall...
• or sworn a solemn oath to your horse that together you would triumph...
• or flipped through the TV channels and stopped when you saw a horse even when it was a commercial...
• or laughed aloud when you rubbed your horse's face and he rubbed back...
• or gotten chills hearing Dave Johnson's "and DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!" (or "Run for the Roses" circa 1980 ish?)...
• or stood in awe at your horse in morning play as he sprinted around the pasture then stopped head erect and snorted defiance at the rest of the world...
• or been thankful to see wild horses grazing casually at the foot of a hill...
• or felt calmed by the sleekness of a silky hair coat beneath your hand...
• or felt your jaw drop as watched a Lipizzan perform a capriole...
• or if you've ever seen someone in the grocery store wearing a certain kind of hat or boots or buckle or have a certain cut and length to their jeans and felt some remote kind of connection...
• or felt warmed by a soft nicker greeting as you entered the barn...
• or slid your hand under your horse's blanket to straighten it out, only to pause in the glowing feeling that you get when you touch the warmth of his coat....
• or riding on a trail with your horse, thinking how that trail over there looks nice and almost without asking, your horse has sensed your slightest movement in the saddle and he's now taking you there....
• or pulled up to your barn where you board and only your horse greets you with a welcoming hello from the sound of your car or your voice....
• if you've ever been moved by any of these feelings, I hope you enjoyed the time you spent reading this.

The "Snickers" horse

The "Snickers" candy bar by Mars Company was named after the Mars' family horse.