Kentucky 2007: Paris and Louie's!

Here are photos taken from my August trip to Paris. In the photo are Tom, Barbie, Montgomery, and Karrington. After our drive past Stoner Creek Stud Farm and Claiborne Farms, we stopped at Louie's restaurant for a great Southern-style lunch. It was fantastic. There are photos of famous horses, trainers, and jockeys hanging everywhere, and since the restaurant is just a stone's throw from Claiborne Farms, Secretariat is featured heavily. This is a local place where the hard-working horsey people come. In the morning, they can come for the Sire's Breakfast Special and you'll see the place filled with grooms, handlers, etc. This place is so famous that around Kentucky Derby time it becomes packed with famous people, including Keanue Reeves who stopped by. You can read more about my favorite Parisian restaurant at the following links:
http://www.louiesrestaurant.net/
or
http://www.courier-journal.com/html/derby2005/derbymag/louies_place.htm
or
http://www.parisky.com/restaurants.html
or
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=307

Kentucky 2007: Count Fleet's Stoner Creek Stud Farm!

When I visited Kentucky this past August, Tom took us for a drive through the Paris countryside to see different horse farms, and pastures filled with mares and foals, and fields filled with big beautiful yellowing tobacco leaves. As part of this beautiful afternoon drive, we passed Stoner Creek Stud Farm where Count Fleet lived and is now buried. This fabulous farm was once owned by John D. Hertz and his wife Fannie, but now has become a standardbred breeding operation of international fame.



You wouldn't believe how huge it is. We just drove and drove and drove along this Scottish stone wall and then took a left and drove and drove and drove until we came to these gates. It's an enormous gorgeaus facility. Someday I'd like to take a tour and visit Count Fleet to share a few words. You can read more about this farm at the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoner_Creek_Stud

Kentucky 2007: Thoroughbreds at Valentine Hall Farm

Here are two photos taken at Valentine Hall Farm this August! In the first, is a snapshot of a foaling field where young baby thoroughbreds are hanging with their mommies! In the second photo are "rescue" thoroughbreds, thoroughbreds who Barbie and Tom found in dire circumstances -- one penned in a chicken coop, one in a dangerous junk yard with untended hooves -- you get the point. Anyway, these grand dames are resting and relaxing in a beautiful pasture in Paris, Kentucky. The fortunes of animals depend on the angels of our better natures.

Kentucky 2007: Plump Hailee!

Here's my sweet girl. When I first showed up, she wasn't that interested in greeting me. But after awhile, she remembered me and was willing to accept my love. Here she is looking happy and cute. We shared some private words and stories. Look at how she's battered that halter. She has a real passion about being free!! What a smart young girl!

Kentucky 2007: Hailee and Friends

Here are photos of Hailee with her temporary friends before she is released back with the pregnant girls in the back pasture. She is having a snack with Faith, her old pasturemate and friend from Showgate Stables. When they were young girls together, they used to stand face to face and rub their heads and teeth along each other's backs. They would hang out with Hope, Faith's mom.

In the photo below, she's enjoying an early foggy Friday morning after a relieving night of rain that broke the oppressive heat. They are all hanging their heads over the fenceline, hoping that Marty will give them a snack. They are looking for some food and love!

Kentucky 2007: Hailee and me!

Here is a photo that Barbie's eldest daughter, Montgomery, took! Didn't she do a terrific job!? I just love how she caught the glint of the sun off Hailee's brass name tag on her halter!

Kentucky 2007: Hailee is a Broodmare!

I visited Barbie, Tom and the girls August 15th-17th and had a great time. I'll be reporting over the next few weeks about this Kentucky visit. I went down to see the Hunter Pony Sales at the Kentucky Horse Park and also to see my own little broodmare!


Here's Hailee in her pasture looking plump and fit and sleek and happy. I can't believe how lucky I am!

Hailee's Special Moment!

Here's a photo of my sexy beautiful happy girl, standing in her little moment in history! She is living the life she never could have dreamed was possible! She is a broodmare in Paris, Kentucky -- the most lovely place on earth to be a horse. You can tell by her shiny coat, sweet pointed ears, and intelligent expression that she knows, she senses that she is Just that Special!!!

My winter girl, Hailee!

My girl, enjoying a Kentucky winter, thanks to Barbie and Tom! It's a beautiful snowy morning here in Bowling Green, just big lazy flakes. I took Zelia for a walk in the early dark before daylight and it was fun to walk on the warm wet snow. The park was gorgeaus and grey and homey. Hi to Hailee from all her family in Ohio!

My Sweet Beautiful Girl!

Photo by Barbie Valentine

Beautiful Noble Hailee

Photo by Barbie Valentine of Paris, Kentucky. Hailee at Valentine Hall Farm. She's getting ready to become a Blue Hen!!

My Winter Pony!!

My beautiful Hailee during Winter 2007 in Paris, Kentucky. What a fat, fit, and happy girl! Thank you, Barbie, for the beautiful photos. And thank you for taking such good care of this sweet pony!

Hailee on a Christmas 2006 Jaunt

Hailee having fun at Christmas time! These photos were taken by Barbie Valentine.

Hailee in her home in Paris, Kentucky

In May, 2006, my beautiful Hailee moved to Paris, Kentucky to live at Valentine Hall Farm, 70 acres of paradise. She lives in the same town where Secretariat lived at Claibourne Farms. She's going to be bred this spring to a Welsh cross pony, Blue Who. I hope she becomes pregnant! You can take a peek at her "intended" on my friendly links at Sugarbrook Farm. He's handsome. His mom used to be the Kennedy children's show pony!

Come visit soon to see posts about her amazing heritage as an American Foundation Horse!!