My first Arabian, Shaka. I went to look at him one fine day to potentially buy. He was young and a hot-blooded fellow. I used a mounting block, which his owner decided not to mention he hadn't seen before, so............he tossed me over his body to the ground so fast it seemed like it could not have happened. Shortening the story, I said I'd buy him. The owner's jaw nearly hit the ground. I loved this horse from that day until the day he died on Thanksgiving 2009, and still love the memory of him. Talented, opinionated, he knew he was a star. He was training Prix St. George when he retired due to arthritis in a knee.
The first American Saddlebred I owned, Spenser. His trainer, in the photo, took him to a harvested cornfield to ride and came back overflowing with excitement. He could rack! The rack is an animated, fast, high stepping gait. The surface of the corn field brought out the ability he had that we didn't know he had. I did not intend to show him so it wasn't important other than the amazement that he could do it. Instead, this fancy fellow became my trail horse. He also was taught to drive and he really liked doing that. His cart is still stored in a shed.
39 comments:
A beautiful horse!!!
Both of them are gorgeous. As a child I wanted a horse, one of my little friends had one and they were such good friends with each other. I didn't understand the expenses of both time and money, things my parents didn't have much of. Never got the horse, but always loved looking at them and watching horse shows on TV.
Gorgeous horses! I giggle when I ride a gaited horse! It seems so foreign to move from side to side instead of being impelled up from the saddle!
They're beautiful!
Horses are amazing animals, a true friend of mankind. Your memories have brought back memories, such as my father and his horses. Thank You for posting
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I didn't know about the rack. No wonder his trainer was pleased he could do something so special.
Back in a billions years ago, a friend of mine offered me an old show horse/lesson horse for $25, the cost of trailering him to our little farm.
I took it.
His name was Rocky [it was much longer than that but you know how that goes]. My son fell in love with the big goof. He was a bright chestnut Saddlebred. He was thin, he was old, and he knew his stuff. When I had the vet come out to give him his vaccinations that spring I learned that Rocky had had a wonderful show career and then was used as a lesson horse. After his show career, he wasn't treated as a star. He was no longer valuable. His health declined as did his living 'quarters'.
The Vet commented on how well Rocky looked at my place and how he seemed content. I was given a 20 page printout of his vet history.
I used his medical history to teach students about owning and caring for a horse. One 4H'r became a vet assistant because of Rocky.
Rocky blossomed as a 4H kid horse for others to learn with. His tail was crooked, his neck gracefully arched, and he had amazing gaits.
His patience was incredible.
His health improved while he lived out his life with us.
He never won a ribbon in 4H because he was old and not as pretty as the thousand[s] of dollar quarters that he was in the arena with.
But Rocky became a legend on my farm. Every kid wanted to ride him. None of the kids saw this old horse as 'ugly'. They saw him as an elegant old man with beauty and smarts.
So many people would call Saddlebreds 'hot' and wired, but when Rocky found his place in life, he was kind and gentle.
He lived out his last years with 4H kids fawning over him, giving him baths and braiding his mane and tail.
Thank you for spurring those fond memories for me.
I love that he knew he was a star.
I love the pictures of your horses that you share with us! You have had and still have some beauties! I love the story Val posted today too!
Gorgeous!
He was impressive, Linda.
I hope you got to spend time with your friends horse, Ami. They've always been a part of my like and I am glad for that.
Thank you for sharing these memories, Val. Saddlebreds are, in my opinion, an overlooked breed. They aren't just high-stepping showing horses. They are actually easy to work with and enjoy as a trail horse. Rocky showed you what they are.
He was a good riding horse, Dreaming.
Thank you, Pixie.
I'm pleased to know you grew up with them, Tommy!
They do give me a smile and they own my heart, Cheerful!!
She looked like she might actually be walking on air, nick!
Oh, he knew. He never lacked a strong sense of self, Ivy.
Vals story is something I wish all the discarded horses would know, Lori.
Thank you, e.
They are both beautiful! :)
Beautiful animals
I think I can picture racking although the word is new to me.
I can see they both knew how Special they were.
I showed an Arabian one summer. He was called Wiz and of Polish blood line.
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Thanks, Rita.
Thanks, Miss Merry.
The language of the horse world is foreign to most people, AC.
Yes, they did, Dawn!
My bloodline includes *Bask, a Polish Arabian, Dora.
This just showed up a minute ago. My feed is weird. But I love your horse stories. Yours, too, Val.
What great memories, and great horses. I love to watch a racking horse (is that the right term?). They just look so sleek and stylin'! Thank you for sharing these guys. Our critters are as dear to us as family, and sometimes even more so!
Thanks, Boud. They and I have a long history together.
Yes, it's the right term. Mark pointed out years ago that we are closer to our pets than our families. We are with them everyday, 365 days a year. We talk to and interact with them constantly.
I have never owned a horse but think them magnificent. Thank you for sharing yours.
They are magnificent, they would agree, Denise!
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