My Jacques Mamou Lagniappe

Here's my happy fellow on May 31st, 2009. He is large and in charge of his world.

My Girl at Fence

I am writing this note on February 8th. Here's my girl around dinner time, waiting for her turn to be brought in for hay, grain, and a drink. She's so funny because lately she's been acting all thoroughbred. When I show up, she jets up to the gate and is very bossy around the other horses about getting attention first. And a week ago, I showed up to check out the new gate, so I was trotting along the fenceline and heard a noise behind me. I stopped in my tracks and turned and Violet was right behind me, eyes shining with a twinkle of naughtiness and excitement She froze still, head held high, and when I turned to trot on, I could hear her behind me trotting again. She just loves to mimic and play and wrastle around!

Full Celebration! Look at Those Ladies

I think the expressions on those ladies by the van say it all. Their jaws are dropped in amazement. Mine probably was too!

Renny rubbing on the Fence

Here is a photo and video right before Barbie and Doug and I fixed a few of this naughty pony's problems. He's such a brave little creature that he figured out how to climb this one hill to leave the pasture. He would do it like a little billy goat and just practically traipse up the incline. Doug and Barbie had to put up gates. Then he got a new halter which is larger -- my little guy is growing up. Within a week of getting this halter (the old one is in this photo), he managed to pull it off in this pasture and chew right through the headpiece. So, we are now waiting for "Just for Ponies" to send a few replacement headpieces. So, I can only say that I am proud of this growing, troublemaking, fat and furry little guy! Only nine months old and earning a reputation!

Full Celebration! Go, Go, Go!

Namaste!

Vi's Winter Walk

Here's my beautiful girl, walking toward me through the snow on a sunlit morning. She's related to royalty. And she chooses at all times to be a playful, goofy, intelligent, sensitive, joyful creature. Violet is excellent company. I am proud to be her friend.

Full Celebration! Close Up at Rolex

The horses run by so closely that you could actually reach out and touch them. Such power and strength and grace and beauty.

Winter Fenceline

Here they are on January 21st, relaxing in the snow, enjoying their lives. Violet is resting at the fenceline, waiting for a passing farmer or the boy from down the way.

Full Celebration! Flying at Rolex

Talk about courage!

My Violet's Soft Eye

Here's a photo and video from January 21st, and I write this on February 8th. Violet is such a wonderful girl and she's so enjoyed her changed circumstances this year. As of June, she's had almost daily outdoor turnout with a herd of girls and now a herd of girls and babies. She thinks she is the queen of this herd with her sidekick, Hailee. And you can see that this nice arrangement leaves her with the sweetest expression and eye. She is a happy thoroughbred girl!

Full Celebration! More Sunken Road at Rolex!

I just can't believe how much trust and bravery these equines have to jump down into a hole and then power up all their strength to jump on out! What amazing gorgeaus creatures. Namaste.

A Frosty Graze!

I am writing this entry on Sunday, February 8th. The photo and video are from late January, 21st. You can see that we were blessed with excellent snowy groundcover for part of the winter, for a nice full month. The horses had daily turnout. But as of yesterday, this entire pasture was green and brown and under water! We had an enormous melt!! So, we'll be having indoor turnout for quite awhile now!

Full Celebration! The Sunken Road at Rolex

Namaste.

Jack with Scarves

I am writing this entry on February 8th, beginning in the evening of a lovely Sunday. Tomorrow morning, I leave for Pittsburgh to help out with my new nephew! So, today I just took it easy, packing, cleaning, balancing checkbook, doing dishes, etc. It was wonderful. And each time I saw my little Jackmandu, he was relaxing in a new place. He laid on Lynn's quilt. He laid on his ma's best tv chair. He growled in his sleep at one point, probably capturing a mouse. I am going to miss him very much over these next two weeks. I feel very lucky, however. Danielle said she'd look out for my critters. Amijo said that she'd take super good care and even come over and knit to spend time with my critters and bring Zelia over to her house to hang out with her dogs. Barbie, of course, will take great care of my herd and even give Violet exercise. And on Friday, I had dinner with Jorge, Christine, Danielle and Todd, so had a nice fun over-the-top evening out before leaving. I am blessed. And soon, we'll all get to meet Melvin! Namaste!

Full Celebration! Such Beautiful Creatures

Namaste.

My Winter Foundation Mare!

Here's a January 20th photo of Hailee booking out of the arbor to avoid me. See that high-stepping trot and those back-pressed ears. She is pretty certain that I may pet her! I love that beautiful crazy girl. Where she is scared, Rennyis brave and solid.

Full Celebration! Cross-Country Saturday!

Namaste.

Winter Trot

Here is my beautiful Violet, scooting through the snow with her ears pricked forward because she wants to avoid her mama! What a beautiful, playful girl! Okay, so I am writing this entry on Saturday, January 31st. And we got this huge snowstorm on Wednesday, so today was the first day they had turnout outside. When I got to the stable, Violet was goofy and joyful in the outdoor paddock and she lifted her face in happiness to play lip smackers. Her eye was soft and filled with calm love and satisfaction. She is the pride and joy in my life. Namaste.

Full Celebration! The Good Witch's Trust!

Here are more photos from that sequence of The Good Witch's fall. You know that she and Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe are close and trust each other. As soon as "Pooh," as she's called, stood up, her entire demeanor displayed her opinion that Jennifer was supposed to take care of her. She stood perfectly still, but you could tell she was annoyed. She kicked her back hooves into the soil, without taking any steps, because she was mad about her slipped boots. And she waited for her mom to decide what to do.

The news reported that thought she was taken by ambulance, she was fine. She earned 7th last year at Rolex, so this fall was disappointing. But the news was that she just bumped her knee on a mis-step. I *saw* that bump. Even as she jumped at the Double Diamonds, I saw that she dropped a leg and it got caught on the fence and she rolled on over her dropped leg. But what a champion girl. She was wonderful in the way she stood up and turned to her teammate for support. And she's going to compete in July!

In more sad news, a horse died during competition -- Kingpin. He was halfway through the cross country when he collapsed after a jump and died quickly. His post mortem suggests that he had a natural rupture of a major artery unrelated to his exertions.

The Winter Arbor!

Okay, so I am writing this entry on January 31st. Here is a photo and video taken last week of my boy and his girls and they are down by the arbor, relaxing. Do you see that fence. It's the fence that follows the base of a steep incline which is not fenced. These horses can leave this pasture. Renny figured this fact out quickly and simply. And he is fearless, confident, happy, and satisfied with the working of the world. So, he has no problem just walking up that slope for a stroll around the Showgate grounds. What smart little boy!

Full Celebration! The Good Witch's Rolex Fall

On Saturday of Rolex, the Cross Country Day, we had extraordinarily beautiful weather. I'd had a great day -- morning thoroughbred workouts, a driving lesson with Breimer, and then a jaunt to the KHP. Here was the only terrible event of the entire weekend. I was at a jump and saw The Good Witch, ridden by Jennifer Wooten, take a sharp fall and roll. She was chosen at the number 1 eventing mare of 2008, so you know she's a competitive top notch girl.

My Winter Mares!

I am the most fortunate woman I know. I am blessed. Please may I fulfill the social contract with these beautiful big-hearted girls.

Full Celebration! The Racehorse Trainer!

Okay, part of what was really great about the Thoroughbred Center tour was that Mike Cameron, a racehorse trainer, generously gave us some of his time and let us visit his barn at the facility. He was really a hoot. He talked about how the horses are supreme athletes, very competitive, and that's why they will bite you, strike you, kick you, etc. He was very clear that they are not pets. He told us great stories about racing and the fun of training. He said that horse racing is not for those "with short pants." And he said that he felt that any handicap horse in the country, including Better Talk Now, who I threw out in the mix, could beat any of the current crop of 20 three-year-0lds entered in the Derby. He said that older race horses were just better and faster and wiser. He told us that he didn't like that horses were retired to the shed so young, rather than proving that they are true longterm champions. And he told us something really cool about how you need to be BRAVE to be a Kentucky Derby winner, let alone a Triple Crown winner. He said that there are more people at Derby Day than the horse has probably ever seen and that if you sometimes see horses bobble coming around the far turn to home, it's because they suddenly hit that turn and see a WALL of people in the stands and a SEA of people in the infield and they hear a steady obliterating ROAR. It has to be scary for them,they need to be brave to want to win. He said that his favorite horse he ever trained could "run through a hole in the wind." I really liked this trainer, he was a super ambassador for the sport!

Cute Winter Rears!

Here's my little man, with his best girls, chewing on a fallen tree limb. He totally digs his girls. I am writing this on January 31st. I went out to the barn this afternoon and Renny was indoors because he had escaped his pasture yet again and Lexie had saved him from his curious self. I was ambivalent, experiencing a weird mix of pride in his resourcefulness, playfulness, bravery, and intelligence and sad and upset with his flat-out pony naughtiness! But anyway, Barbie, Lexie and I tried putting him out with Shelley and Mona's geldings and they just chased him down and made him fall on his rear as he worked to get away. He didn't seem scared, but he sure didn't seem happy. So, that's out. As I write this entry, I am waiting on the solution to this temporary problem. What a troublemaker this darling boy is. I am so glad that he is a part of my life. And let me tell you, I remember with happiness how glad I was waiting in these weeks for his arrival last winter. And I remember with happiness the night of his birth! Rotten scruffy teenager!

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Starting the Race!

Here are two exercise riders who took the time to stop and chat with us visitors and who let us pet their charges. And then they turned gracefully away from us and took off for a little friendly head-to-head racing!

Goofy Spring Girls

Here they are, my lovely, lovely perfect girls. They make my heart sing. I just think they are wonderful. Today I worked hard at work. I submitted an article for review, met with a student who is working so hard on her dissertation proposal, got a new computer, had coffee with a dear friend. It was a special day.

And then I went to the stable at 4pm on a cool, but beautifully sun bright afternoon. Barbie showed me how to lunge with side reins to help Violet carry her shoulder. And then we had the most relaxed joyful drive. Violet was light on her feet and light on the bit and eager and happy and even in pace. She did nice tight little figure 8s and worked hard to circle standards. And then we drove right along the length of the barn, laughed happily in the driveway and then drove right up through the stable all its long length. Violet truly knocked it out of the park! We are a great rolling team!

Trotting for the Joy of It!

These picutures and video were taken on January 20th and I am writing this entry deep in the night of January 31st. I love this herd of Hailee, Violet, Renny, Sedona, B, and Lily. Today as I write this entry, Nicanor, Barbaro's full brother had his first race ever. He placed 10th. He's had a pressured life from the beginning with many high expectations pinned on him since his brother's passing. But his placing just goes to show -- you can't catch lightning in a bottle. I hope he has a good life and finds lots of adventures and love.

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Light Hand Gallop

Here this young colt is being held on a firm hand by a young woman exercise rider. He is going for a light hand gallop!

Running B Girl!

I am writing this entry on January 31st, deep in the night, and I am so tired, but in a good way! I edited a paper with diligence this week. I helped with our job search. I went and enjoyed happy hour, pool and shuffleboard with a good friend. I went to a student's art gallery opening. This morning, I grocery shopped for a Super Bowl party, bought yarn for a baby blanket, picked up Renny's baby food, and met Rick Pollard at the stable for his farrier work. It was a great busy day, but I am dog tired and took a nap before cleaning my house! Okay, so here's the news today. Renny totally enjoys escaping his pasture and just walking up that hill. He's such a smart, joyful fellow. Plus he was just a bit naughty with the farrier and it matters now because he is stronger as well as smart. I know it's not nice to say, but I wish I were rich. So, I know that I could keep him forever, as well as his mama and Violet!.

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Morning Routine

Here are the baby racehorses, learning their trade and being goofy, fast, and young!

Breaking News! Filly takes Preakness 2009!

Yesterday was pretty amazing. I spent the morning with my horses and then went to a flea market and purchased a wooden sewing kit, like my Aunt Ruth and mom had. I worked quietly on organizing my crafts and then watched television coverage of the 2009 Rolex (which I had attended in person) and then knitted while watching the coverage of the Preakness Stakes. The Stakes were sponsored by Blackberry and Canon, my two favorite sponsors, if you have to like corporations!! And NBC did a spectacular job covering the event, completly redeeming themselves for their shoddy coverage of the Derby. They covered the horses the entire time. They gave in depth stories about each horse. They live interviewed the jockeys, trainers, owners, grooms. They had really expert coverage with professional bettors and oddsmakers. They went into the jockey room and covered the jockey photo. They took us to the barn, to the paddock, to the saddling area. They walked with each horse from the barn to these other locations. They had coverage from hock level up close and personal. You practically felt like you were in the saddling area!

And what a week we had leading into this event. The filly's original owner made a big deal of saying that he wasn't sorry he hadn't entered his Oaks winning filly in the Derby because the Derby was the showcase venue for the world's best upcoming stallions. Boo. But Jess Jackson, the 79-year-old head of the winery, organized a purchase of the filly, transferred her to Steve Asmussen as head trainer and Scott Blasi, assistant trainer, and sent her to Pimlico in Baltimore! Then, as if that weren't exciting enough, the trainers and owners of Mine that Bird and Pioneerofthenile tried to bar her entry by exploiting a rule. But the owners of Luv Gov, named jokingly after Eliott Spitzer, caught wind of those shenanigans and Marylou Whitney said she would pull her horse, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, if Rachel Alexandra stayed at 15th and couldn't earn the 14th slot. Her husband, John Hendrickson, said, "We think Rachel Alexandra is wonderful. We entered our horse because we thought we had a shot. But if we are the deciding factor on whether or not Rachel Alexandra gets in, then we'll withdraw and wait until the Belmont. We're for sportsmanship and what's best for the game. It is ladies first for us."

So, she made it into the race. And what a race. She had the outside post. She broke clean and quickly was in front and pulled in from her wide place. She was in front from gate to wire with Mine that Bird making good tracks at the very end. She won by a length. It was *amazing* and here's why. First, she won from Post 13, the first time that's ever happened in Preakness history. Second, she was the first filly to win the race in 85 years, since Nellie Morse in 1924 when Calvin Coolidge was president, for goodness' sake! Third, she won from the front the entire race which is incredibly wildly rare for a horse to be able to do -- grabbing and holding onto the front for an entire race! Plus, fourth, she had a jockey who in the first time in history won two jewels of the Triple Crown while riding two different horses! Amazing! It was a great, great race.

Steve Asmussen credited Scott with keeping her in tip top shape. They said when she arrived at Pimlico, "You could tell she was happy going to the racetrack. You just watched her ears. She's very intelligent. She has seen it before." They joked about how soon she'd be visiting Curlin, another living legend they trained and raced. And Scott talked about his love for him and his recent visit to the champion in which Curlin did a dance of happy love, a greeting dance, and threw one of his shoes, "That horse knew me. There is an emotional attachment. That is why we get up early and go to the barns. People in this business love our horses." And when he went to pick up Rachel Alexandra from her trainer, Hal Wiggins, last week, he said, "He's one of my best friends. I know it's tough. I remember when Curlin walked out of our barn."

This sort of reporting made me happy. I'm glad the filly got a chance and did well. I'm glad that NBC did such great coverage and had an *amazing* woman interviewer who was *everywhere*, including on a track pony conducting the interviews on horseback. I'm glad that everyone had such positive things to say about the beauty, intelligence, majesty, and emotional connections of horses.

This year has been a great year for racing. Rags to Riches, the 2007 Belmont-winning filly, foaled her first Giant's Causeway filly, and Rachel Alexandra breezed out with power to win the Preakness!!! Go, Grrrls!!!

Hailee Leaning in the Snow!

Here is a January 18th photo and video of Hailee leaning into the snow, so she can chomp on a board! What a goofy, snowy, gorgeaus girl!

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Exerciser

Over the next few days, I'm going to be simply posting the different varieties of exercise riders I saw that morning. They varied in nationality, ethnicity, gender, clothing, demeanor. Some used racing saddles, some used small exercise saddles, some used western saddles. I really enjoyed watching them and wish I were visiting them again this morning!

A Winter Tussle!

Here's a little January 18th photo of Renny and Lily taking time out of winter grazing for a little grabbing, wrestling, and halter-biting!

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Art Work

Okay, here is a photo right next to the track at the Thoroughbred Center. I love this photo because it reminds me of paintings I've seen by impressionists of horses going to the track. They are beautiful creatures, so elegant and fleet.

Renny Winter Grazes!

On January 18th, Renny went out into a very snowy deep pasture with his girls, aunt and mama. He is such a professional! He knew exactly how to dig in the snow to look for grass, and in these photos, he is even teaching Lily. I am sure she is pleased with the little guy who leads her herd!

Full Celebration! TB Training Center Farrier Statue

Okay, so here is a photo taken on Friday, April 24th, right outside of the Thoroughbred Training Center. In this statue, you see two hard-working gentleman, shoeing a thoroughbred. I think it's very nice that they honor farriers. I can tell you that the art of trimming and shoeing is very important and I sure value the farrier in my life. He keeps my horses trim and sound and I think he's exceptionally talented. I can tell you that people keep their farrier list close to their heart.

Violet Winter Scoots Away!

Happy girl, zipping away from her mama!