Sea Biscuit. "This horse set records still unbroken". Every time I look at him my emotions run wild. One of my brothers who had a lot of physical disabilities bought a horse that was a mare that looked just like Sea Biscuit, and he couldn't ride her due to his physical disabilities,and I was 11 yo at the time but ready to ride. I had heard of the stories about the horse, that she had put my schoolmate in the hospital, but I wasn't worried about myself, just ready to ride her. Roy and Gene rolled into one. He bought her, and let me ride her, she was so fast and became my horse, I couldn't believe it. I rode her for over two years and won every race, I had with her. Every Sunday we ran a race at the canal, where it was a horse race going on. Never lost a single race. When you would let her reins down, she jumped at least 4 horse links in the air, and if you weren't ready it could hurt, happened to me more than once. Anyway, after a couple of years of riding her, my little brother said he wanted to go out riding one day. I was really protective of him, being the only brother younger than me. So being 12 thought well I will put my bridle on my other brother's horse to make sure he will be safe, and be able to stop, "MISTAKE". So we headed out and sure enough, they began to run on the dirt road and he jumped off and I didn't so as me and the horse got closer to the paved road I thought he would turn toward the house on the right so I turned her to left and she landed on top of me on the paved road. Well, it crushed my right leg and I was up before her and watching my leg jump up and down. It took six months with a cast from my hip to my toes and three pins in my leg, before I could learn to walk again. I did, but, every time I see Seabiscuit, this is the extreme emotion that goes through my head.
Tubi on Roku had an interesting documentary. Pioneer Quest. Two couples were given the trappings of the 1800's to go out and set up housing, farm fields, etc in the middle of Manitoba, like the pioneers did. I love those shows. I always wanted to do that with my daughter. But I am too old now. I saw a different documentary like this a few years ago. I was yelling at the tv screen because they set up the house in a small valley at the base of a hill, and dug up the sod for the floor. Huge rains came and flooded them out in their first few weeks. This second series, I was thinking, when thy busted sod for planting, while waiting for a horse drawn disc, Why didn't they use the sod clods to start a building, pig barn or whatever. I yell at the tv but no one listens.
We spent the summer once in North Carolina up in the mountains and there was a field of llamas next door. Among the llamas was the sweetest little shaggy stumpy pony with the most beautiful blue eyes, like giant pale blue marbles. He'd always come over to visit at the fence, especially if I had brought carrots. The llamas were standoffish. I don't think I had ever seen a horse with blue eyes before.
, you're so right, I love seeing all the different breeds, so beautiful to look at them, brings a peaceful feeling over me.
At the same place I mentioned earlier, there were also two horses being boarded in another field. They were riding stable horses who were used only on the weekends so they were in the field only weekdays. Very friendly fellows, they were. I'd take carrots over to them and one guy didn't like to share with the other one so there'd be a lot of body-checking and shoving going on. One time, I said, "OK, Mr. Greedy, your pal's going to get both of the carrots this time!" and managed to give both carrots to the other boy. As I turned away, Mr. Greedy slammed me between the shoulders with his nose and knocked me flat on my face. Guess who didn't get any carrots for a week after that? Mr. Polite got 'em all.
With the storms I started worrying about the Chincotegue ponies. I do after almost every storm. But I guess storms are what landed them where they are, hundreds of years ago. Something on my bucket list was to attend the auction but hubby worries I might buy something.
Good to see someone helping these horses. Remember the old movie with Clark Gable and Marilyn, The Misfits';I think was the name.
I love all gaited horses, but my most favorite is the Peruvian Paso. Riding one is like floating along…… no bouncing or jarring of the body like on a non-gaited horse at a trot. They have a kind and easy going nature, but are incredibly beautiful to watch as they move . One unusual thing about the Peruvian gait, is that they throw their front legs in a kind of circular motion as they travel. They were actually bred to do this. In Peru, the Peruvian horse has been used for long-distance travel through the centuries, and because there is a lot of sandy desert, when the horse was moving, the front feet would throw sand back onto his belly and the rider’s legs. So they bred horses that moved their front feet out to the side and the sand missed both the horse and rider. People who are unfamiliar with the Peruvian horse often think that the horse is doing what is called “paddling”, which is caused by deformity in the front legs, and not by the specific gait of the horse.
Well, the only horse I wanted but didn't buy (could not afford) was a Gypsy Vanner. It was kind of a dream horse and since my grooming time was mostly to dust off saddle and girth area, it is just as well I didn't get one because it would have needed a buzz cut. I have had some pretty horses but these just make me smile. A friend of mine is from England and she says they are butt heads. But any horse can be. People who read they are so calm and gentle and don't know horses probably spoil them when they look like that.