A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-21-03....My Kingdom for a Horse

Billie

[Billie]

Thanks, Dan! Great post, great tag line! And I'm jealous you've actually SEEN the Lipizzans LIVE! (AND the Budweiser Clydesdales!)

[AnAmericanMother]

Thanks for the ping and the great pix!

Hope your baby is soon better, livius, we've all spent time with the bandages and the Epsom salts . . .

My girl and I rode in the fall Hunter Pace at Shakerag last month - it was such a howling success (our team won our division) that we're going out with the Shamrock in December. This will be the first time in 25 years that I have "followed the fox" -- but with my girl doing the heavy lifting I am supremely confident. My trainer put every jump in the ring up six inches "for practice" and she flew everything like a bird, jumps everything out of her stride, paces herself, just a sweetheart.

In the life's embarassing moments department, I dug out my old hunting stock and discovered that when I had put it away back in 1973 or thereabouts, I had disassembled it to wash and iron. It was a pre-tied stock and I couldn't figure out how to put it back together! So I went out to the local horse store and found a "real" stock, washed, starched and ironed it and it is easier to tie than the supposedly "convenient" one. So at least this trip we'll be authentic!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Horsey Friday !

Have a cup while you Freep !

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

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OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons TexKat................son, step-son Spruce.....................daughter Explorer89................brother Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece visualops..............cousin

[Billie]

Would love to see a picture of your girl! Enjoyed your post - thanks for sharing with us. :)

[Billie]

Morning, Meekie! :)

[Calpernia]

Oh Billie! I can't wait to pick Amanda up! She is going to LOVE this thread.

[Calpernia]

Good morning to the Finest!

[Billie]

Hi, Cal! Great! Was such fun writing about these beautiful things!

[MEG33]

Wonderful,beautiful subject Billie.I have not been on a horse since I was a youngster,nagged,begged,pleaded to have a horse of my own to no avail!I loved the information on all these beautiful creatures.Thank you!

[Billie]

What a sweet animation!

[najida]

Thank you for the pictures everyone!

I want to have a horse....
One day (when everything is more stable...excuse the pun)

[Billie]

Thank YOU, Meg. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Calpernia]

Hey, where are Gail and Rus with my coffee? I'm stuck being served from a Neanderthal!

[AnAmericanMother]

OK, I'm gonna brag here, I apologize in advance . . .

but I've actually been lucky enough to RIDE an honest to goodness Lipizzaner - pedigree, brands, and all.

There is a couple from Austria here in Atlanta that used to run a riding stable over on the east side of town. They brought some Lipizzaners with them from Austria. When I was going to school in Decatur I rode at their barn, I had just come back from 4 years at college in the northeast, and it was quite a change from riding the big leggy hunters in the hunter-jumper shows for my college equestrian team.

For one thing, the Lipizzaners are SMALL. Tiny. Almost pony sized. I usually rode this beautiful neat mare, and I could climb on her from the ground - that means she was small, folks, because I'm always looking for a bucket or car bumper or fence rail to climb on with. It's their extreme musculature and tremendous presence that gives the impression of size. And they are STRONG. This little mare was like a big Dodge truck - you had to hold her with all your might and push her forward into the bit to get her into frame - after riding her for an hour I was absolutely worn out!

[Calpernia]

One day, my daughter will have a horse. I intend to keep that promise.

[lonestar]

I love horses, too. Now.

I have lots of horses. I ride them everyday.

Roy came for Trigger long before I got here.

Weinie

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Calpernia]

I don't advise chasing squirrels on horseback!

[AnAmericanMother]

Here is my darling girl - "Full of Grace" is her name, but everybody calls her "Gracie".

We were looking at her teeth Wednesday night, and we figure she's about 18 years old (hence the dip in her back). She's a registered Thoroughbred, IIRC Bold Ruler and War Admiral breeding - but she was sold as a yearling because even then it was apparent that she could NOT catch cold. Speed is not her thing - but she has lovely conformation, beautiful gaits, and was born to jump. My trainer is big into combined training, but until I went with this trainer about 9-10 years ago all I did was hunter-jumper. So every now and then I braid up Gracie's mane and take her to the local hunter shows, where she cleans up. The last show I took her to (it was a small local and unrated show) she won EVERY class she entered.

My trainer bought her at age 13, unbroken, she had been a broodmare making beautiful Appendix babies with a Quarter Horse stallion (one of her colts was National Halter Champion). We literally threw a saddle on her back and got on, she never objected, her attitude was, "Well, if the humans want me to do it I guess it must be O.K."

I need to get some good action shots of her. I have some old ones but I'm ashamed to look at them, let alone post them. Now that I've lost almost 20 pounds I don't look like such a lump on top of a horse . . . but I need to lose another 15 as I am still not a credit to my mount . . . :-(