Boy, my last post reads like a darned jigsaw puzzle, and I just don't feel like sorting it out. Sorry, darned tangents. You'll notice that since Fern is back, well, just sayin'. It's the pressure, Captain!
I will require you all to ooooh and aaaaah at my Sparky. He's the bay, naturally. In the fences pic, look at his kneees. I KnoW the standard and his black legs kinda blend, he still had the perfect tight knees. Table-Flat back, but hey, Sparky was also a wonderfully safe method of transport. Sparky was just as saintly as Leo, without the tension. Sparky had a caterpillar canter. 1234,1234,1234. He could do changes so clean! His legs never really left the ground much anyway. Sparky never needed bute, and was happy to sail along, smooth as silk, his broad back catching beginners as they lost their balance.
Sparky was my textbook ringbone, jack spavin etc. case. Sparky would sure snap, crackle and pop, in the morning, but he always limbered easily. Sparky was good to himself. Oh, I loved Sparky's face! The type to carry a baby gently, and still have enough fire to show off, if wanted. Sparky never offered anything more than was needed to his rider. Sparky never turned into the centre of the ring in disgust. He'd try to move more softly, if he could, or he'd stop. I had to yank a child off, when she kept jerking on his mouth. She didn't come back. Sparky had a very soft mouth, incredible with his age and experience. Sparky was a baby-sitter. Yes, they really do exist.
Oh, Sparky was a kind one. Sparky's back was made for bareback riding. His intelligent face just looked right into you. Notice he's a plain bay. Of CoursE! No white, except the cutest little star. Sparky thrived and blossomed with me, and people who'd ridden him at other schools would come over at the shows and ooh and aaahh at him too. "OH, is that SparkY?? I used to ride him at(..) Oh, doesn't he look great!"
Spartacus was a show-stopper. Just keep the fences under 3 foot, for fairness. Sparky LoveD to jump, as you can see with his handsome face looking through the bridle over the giant oxer:) Those perked, happy ears! His rider is still riding, I hope. Such a nice family, the Walmsleys. Michelle was very gifted. 1983, people.. Gawd, I've seen some years..
Sparky's worried in the pic of the strange blue-tank shirted woman with white shorts, touching his hind quarter. Yeah, I know how to dress for schooling shows..
It was 120 degress with the humidity that day. I did not wear heavy clothes when I taught:) "My" pony, the gray Quarab Raindance is visible to the left, behind Sparks, Rainy's hind leg cocked in boredom.
Sparky's worried about me, quite rightly. A horse I brought to the show died there that very day. Only a few moments after it happened, this picture was taken. Sparky was my rock, and the student Michelle, (how many Michelle's were there??) was so great to hang in there and keep smiling, as I tried to. That's another story...
Sparky was my 15.1 hand Morgan cross. Maybe he was full Morgan, impossible to know. I met him at the grand old age of wow, that OLD? About 18, maybe 20.
Sparky usually carried the rider that Leo dumped on her head on the hack, but we had a less "experienced" rider that day, so... I know, I know. Leo was planning something. He always planned ahead, my Leo.
Sparky's coat was a gleamer, yes? That healthy bloom is what all good animals deserve. We (my students and I) rubbed on those horses. A lot. The father of the girl jumping Sparky also took the picture of me teaching, Raindance and the barn ahead of me. You'll notice the round shape to the big barn roof to the right.
Yeah, I look funny. I'm making them laugh, and pretend riding, at the same time, doing my Christilot knee bend exercises:) I think Rainy's laughing, too.
Well, after a huge snow-fall, record-breaking, I'm teaching one night. All five (one horse always got time off) horses are at the end of their lesson, neatly lined up for dismounting. An avalanche roared up above us, suddenly, all the snow sliding raucously down the curves of the barn roof. Guess who only widened his eyes, but didn't move a single stood foot. Spartacus, strong, brave and safe.
All the other old farts reacted, in various states of hilarity for us. Old BeauJangles, the truly ancient one-eyed SaddleBred cross, actually ended up the farthest from the dismount line. LeoBear coiled into a ball, and leaped forward, ancient Johnny jumped around a bit, silly RainDance (the youngest) teleported straight up and then forward. It was very funny to watch! Good thing it was all advanced students, it was a great experience for them. I look on everything that happens as an opportunity to learn.
Sparky calmly choked one Sunday afternoon, and eventually cleared himself, me fretting the whole time. Sparky was a VERY easy keeper:)
Ok, enough blather for one day.
Ooohs and aaaahs accepted at the door. No commenting without relevance:)
To Great School Horses.
I honour their memory, having known them and loved them. They honoured me, it's the least I can do.
To
Johnny-Be-Good, BeauJangles, Chinook, Spartacus, Leo Bear and RainDance.
Listed by probably oldest first. All were wisest, too. Ok, except Rainy. Hey, he was pure luck to me! Wish I had pictures of ol' Nookies.. Beau, too. No pics of them, nada. I had no camera! Shoot me!
eloquence, FAIL:)
27 comments:
Eloquence fail where?
I loved reading every word. What beautiful and kind horses you've known.
Wow, I think Sparky is my favorite horse so far. I just love him in that third picture. Look at that face!
Hey, thanks!
I forgot to mention, just thought of it, I never believed in show sheen, not for my schoolies, not for my horses.
just sayin'. Elbow grease, hellO?
Nothing like a good grooming for a horse.
Nothing like it.
To the Horse!
You are always eloquent, event your tangents flow my friend. Love the stories of the horses "sparky" sounds like one of those "worth his wieght in gol" fellas that I think my Johnnie will one day be.
Good to be back
Does your shit sparkle?
Go:
Have loved all of your pics. Some amazing schoolies you have had the pleasure of working with and I truly appreciate the care and respect that you obviously gave them. I wish every one felt that way. Too often, a schoolies life is not a good one and it makes me very sad. They are definitely worth their weight in gold.
AofG
You forgot to change your avatar.
Of course it does.
can't you see?
:):):)
If you are a real TurdBurglar, I have a job for you.
Meet Flip, the poop eatin' dog.
Steal all ya want:)
Now, lower your cuss-meter, young lass, or beheading is imminent.
*Giggles* Thought you'd find this amusing. Love the schoolies!! I need a pic of flip for The Turdburglar's avatar.
It's like the guy who robs a bank and writes the hold-up note on his own deposit slip. Glad to amuse you.
Damn Go:
Another troll, it posted a comment on your last thread as well.
Unfortunately, it lacks imagination, intelligence and wit. It must be made of what it has named itself. That means it is nothing more than a waste product, you know, excrement to be disposed of.
I couldn't resist. I may take Ttb over to fhotd for a little fun. plenty of shit to cart away from that blog. Will try and find another avatar though.
Alright, now I feel kinda stupey. I guess my sense of humor fails at times especially when talking about certain topics.
AofG:
You are a berry, berry bad gurl!!!
Sorry, Ccc. I may take Ttb over to Fhotd till the troll bug stops biting.
Oh, he looks like my BarHawk! Remount Morgan, reads blazes on trees way better than I do. To the great horses and kind people who love them!
Dear Turdburglar,
In your eloquent diatribe, you forgot to mention STDs. It's always a nice touch.
GL- how many sleeps until your clinic?
Let's see, Three More:)
Today's Wednesday, right?
:)
AofG, jeeeeeshhh.
I wonder..
Oh awesome! You have such interesting pictures. The good old days hhmmm? I haven't met too many schooling horses that could be described the way you describe yours. Then, maybe I haven't actually ridden with many riding schools...
Veddy nice Go.
And P.s. Love the name spartacus.
Sometimes I call my horse that- I don't know why.
Or I call him Dukis-maxi-mass.
Dont know why. Spartacus is an awesome name.
NicelyDun
yup, yup.
25 years ago. Half my life, fcs.
What's been so striking for me, "coming back to horses by way of the internet" is how the basics seem to have disappeared. I mean, vanished. POOF!
So many bad broke horses, with so many incompetent riders. I find it a bit overwhelming, when I hear some of the stuff going on.
I think how "across the pond" does it, gives you a better rider, in the end.
The Pony Club Manual, you know?
It's a gold-mine, and no-one seems to know it anymore.
I really believe that buying a horse and never riding anything BUT that horse, can narrow your views too much. Narrows your ability, as it were.
They all have so much to teach, the different types.
They all combine to make anyone a better rider.
The British Horse Society's programs are still very well-respected. Very few programs in the States or Canada have that kind of "prestige".
Witness DIJ's experience. Findlay College didn't teach her much.
Okay, I shaddup.
Thanks for noticing how old the pics are;)
Shiny horses are purdy, in any decade:)
Spartacus was sometimes called Fartacus, for obvious reasons..
EASY keeper. Air Fern Horse:)
btw, Spartacus was a great movie, with Kirk Douglas.
REALLY old movie:)
Spartacus is a great name.
By the way, you've been smited.
I am really enjoying this walk through the schoolies. I had just gotten Red in 1983. :)
The story about the avalanche on the roof, and Sparky just standing there, maybe looking a little alert... Priceless.
Thank you for sharing, GL. Your posts get better and more informative every time. :)
2 more sleeps!!!
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