Taking a Stroll and then a Snack

Namaste.

The Starlets

Again, they are so beautiful, they should be in the horse movies.

Beautiful Girls in the Shade

Look at these gorgeaus girls, enjoying beautiful weather, green grass, and a bit of shade. I cannot believe that I get to share time with these glossy creatures. They are really so intelligent and funny and noble. I know people say that all the time, but it's true. And it's so funny because they just inspire you to treat them with dignity, respect and fairness. They just are so gracious and special.

My Main Man

Okay, so this photo and video are from June 18th and I'm writing this post on June 28th. Today is a beautiful Sunday and I am enjoying the breeze and various birds. I'm enjoying my leisurely Sunday. But for the past two days, I had a few hilarious, but quiet private moments with my main man here, little Renny. He's been put into the far pasture with his girlfriend, B, because they are smaller and presumably will be less hard on the pasture space as the big girls or geldings. But because they are babies, they miss the other herds, so they uniformly hang beneath the shade tree by the creek or walk along the bank, talking to the moms and babies across the way. I am sure little Renny misses being in the baby pasture where he ruled the world as the cutest foal on the face of the earth with the leggiest girlfriend.

Anyway, on Friday, I went to visit him in his pasture and he really milked it. He would kiss and nuzzle me and he and I shared my iced coffee. And each time I tried to leave, he would stand at the fence line and put his cute face over the top rail and just shoot darts of love at me with his beautiful saucy eyes. It took me forever to say my goodbyes that beautiful sunny morning. He was hilarious. And some gnats had bitten his chest, so he just kept rubbing against the fence with his little pushy baby body and then he was just so darn good and happy when I scratched his bites. We get each other. I love Renny. And he loves his grandma.

Then yesterday, he was out in the cool, but very sunny day from 8am to 3pm. So, when I brought him in along the road with his girlfriend, I could tell that they were both tired. Someone was on a tractor and Renny skittered a few beats, but he knew he had to be good for his grams. And so here's the funny part. He got into his stall and unwinded. He had a little snack and drank some water. And he gave greetings and pointed interest ears to all the other horses as they were brought in for the day. And then he listened patiently as Pat and I chatted about life. Until he drifted off in his spacious stall with the shade and cool breeze. So, I walked over and he looked at me with lidded eyes and just soaked up the love and attention and feather pets I gave him on his face and neck. You have not seen a happy pony like my little Ren. A day out in a beautiful pasture with a beautiful filly friend, a loving grandma with your ma and aunt in the stalls next door. All the food and water you could want. And someone to tell you that they love you, love you, love you, as you drift off for an afternoon pre-dinner nap. A happy summer pony.

The Far Pasture

Here are the four top mares, enjoying the far end of the far pasture. I have a feeling that if they found a gate or small opening, they would stroll through and continue on their adventures to the pasture beyond. They might even walk up the road to the abandoned school house and then head to town for a Rita's ice cream cone and a sit beneath a shade tree by the river. Such silly beautiful girls.

Beautiful Happy Grazing Girl!

This week, the third week in June, was wonderful with my Violet. She and I went driving several times and we chatted and enjoyed each other's company. Barbie rode her and worked on her skills. And in general, she just enjoyed time grazing with her mares and her sister, Hailee. She's my darling girl and I love her so.

Fat Hailee too Seeks Greener Pastures!

These photos are video are from June 8th, and I am sitting on June 28th, as I write this post, I am sitting on Aunt Ruth's little chair, in my study, with a cup of strong coffee and a cool breeze. Behind my shoulder is my beautiful garden, bird feeder, bird houses, butterfly house, and the rustling of the trees and kerplonk of someone's wooden wind chime and the busy day song of working birds. I'm telling you, I feel blessed.

Violet Looks for Greener Pastures

New Orleans Street Trash

Can you believe my blessings? I have two wonderful creatures from New Orleans living with me. My little Jacques Mamou Lagniappe and Zelia Orleana Cypress. They both are getting older and changing their shape, but they still rule my roost and my heart with velvet paws. Jackie is a happy cat who is proud of his family and his home. And Zelia's heart is so big and loving and sweet. They are intelligent sensitive creatures.

Breaking News! Violet Plays the Thoroughbred Card!

Here's a photo from 2007 of my beautiful energetic talented girl! See her sweet eye and happy ears? I am writing this entry two years later and the young Miss has become a super talent. She's learned to jump, basic dressage, drive a cart, long-line, lunge with side reins, hunter-under-saddle. She's just phenomenal. Yesterday morning I was out at the barn and Doug and I were chatting and he said that he felt that Violet would do anything you asked her. And this I firmly believe is true!

Anyway, this is the last day of Fall Break. I had a wonderful Fall Break. I cleaned my house, slept, read a novel, started a book by a sociologist about life at the track, and rode and drove Violet. Yesterday she was just terrific and responsive under saddle and today was unbelievably Cool with a capital C! She was fresh and ornery because they've been indoors for more than 2 weeks. Ugh. So, I took her and harnessed her up on a cold sunny breezy October morning. And her ears and head were up, up, up! She was up for adventure. And we drove past the chattering corn all lively and had a great time. She trotted with energy and bounce and vivaciousness and she was keen keen keen to canter. She proved she was a good girl by making many full loops at the canter, taking diagonals, and cantering as quiet and light and full-natured as you please. And each upward and downward transition she took with precision and relaxation and on the upwards, she always took her correct lead. We went around the grass lawn and up the driveway, she was just spectacular! I really do love this mare and just wish I could give her frequent regular grass lawned turnout!!

Big kisses from me and from the best Big Horse!

Breaking News! Sea the Stars Retires!

The following photograph was take from the Telegraph and the story is from today's Thoroughbred Daily News. I am including the story in its entirety because I really like how his trainer talks about him. His trainer is eloquent, reasoned and clearly passionate about his young talented colt -- and really there was no need to be so eloquent and fantasticaly well-spoken. After all, his horse won 6 G1 races this year, including the Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas and Arc de le Triomphe. I mean really, the accomplishments would leave anyone speechless! Happy baby-making SS!

Thoroughbred Daily News internet news item:

"Christopher Tsui's Sea the Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}--Urban Sea, by Miswaki) will not race again. The bay colt recorded six straight Group 1 wins during his 2009 campaign, topped by victory in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last Sunday at Longchamp. "It has been decided after discussions with Mr Christopher Tsui (owner) that Sea The Stars will not take part in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Nov. 7," trainer John Oxx said in a statement early today. "He's had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March 3, with his final workout on October 2. He's been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July. We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months. He's come out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race. He is now retiring from racing, but I have no information on stud career details, and an announcement will be made at a much later date when plans have been finalised." Oxx later paid further tribute when adding, "It is hard to say there was any highlight with a horse like that, as they were all major races in their own right. When you win a Guineas and a Derby, it became even more important for him to win and as the anxiety builds up as the year went on, every race brought tremendous relief when it was over. I suppose winning the Derby was marvelous--the way he ran his race there was a joy to watch, with how he handled the track and coasted down the hill before sauntering up the straight waiting to go and win. That was a great sight and it must be unusual for a trainer to watch his horse in the Derby and feel so comfortable with the way he is going right through the race. After that, he developed a great public following and everybody quickly realised they were watching something special. There has ben great excitement every time from Sandown onwards and he had a tremendous response from the racing public and also the wider public towards the end as they realised that there was something special happening. In the Arc, I wasn't as anxious as everyone else was, as although he ran along more strongly in the bridle than most people would like, he could do that and get away with it. I knew he had such a great turn of foot and he could get out of trouble. His success was down to a combination of everything, but mainly to his tremendous cruising speed. Ballydoyle tried their best to put in pacemakers and make it tough for him, but they could never get him off the bridle. He could just travel up behind any pace totally at ease--that's his big thing--and then quicken up off it. He could do that because he has great heart and lungs, but he's got this beautiful balance, lovely stride and a great length to him as a big strong horse. He's a close-coupled horse in one way, but very long in another and he has this tremendous athletic stride. He also has a great temperament and never worries about anything, was always the calmest horse at the races and it is courage and temperament at the end of the day that bring the best horses to a different level." The half-brother to leading sire Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) compiled a record of 9-8-0-0 while earning £4,417,163. His other trophies include the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 2000 Guineas, G1 Coral-Eclipse S., G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Juddmonte International S."

My Peaceful June Garden

I took these photos on the morning of June 27th. I was so happy and quiet. The morning was cool and I was just sitting at my window, watching birds eating. I was happy because I had just finished watering the garden and the world was before me. I was going to lunch with I-Fen and Hsueh-Sheng. I was going to visit other friends who were busy working on their new home. A friend from the stable texted me to tell me something funny about Ziva, the little baby filly, who engaged in high jinks while all the horses were being put out. It was a wonderful day.

Dramatic Fence Line

Namaste.

Girl Coming for a Peek

On this beautiful early June day, I was sitting underneath shade trees on a fallen log, just relaxing. AndI saw my beautiful red girl just slowly swirling in for a peek and a kiss. Step by step, she worked her way toward me with love and a gleam of naughty happiness in her eye. And here you can see that gleam in this photo! What a girl!