Gallant Bloom and my girls!

Gallant Bloom was voted the #79 top race horse of the 20th century, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977. She was a 1966 filly from the famous horse, Gallant Man, pictured here in this photo taking second place to Iron Liege in the 1957 Kentucky Derby. I'll mention that in a moment. Gallant Bloom was a tiny horse who in spirit was a hell cat who liked to break loose on the track like a speedster. She beat the very best fillies and mares of her day, including Shuvee, Gamely, Amerigo Lady, and Singing Rain. In her 22 race career, she finished 16-1-1. She earned Champion 2-year-old filly in 1968 and Champion 3-year-old filly in 1969. In fact, she won 12 races in a row from ages 2 through 4. She was so popular for her fierce racing that she swept the voting ballot for Champion 3-year-old, though Shuvee had won the NY Racing Association Triple Crown, by taking the Acorn, Mother Goose Stakes, and Coaching Club Stakes. She had a sort of checkered breeding career, having difficulty getting into foal, though she did make some babies. She passed away in 1991 in her paddock in Old Frankfort Place, Kentucky. My girls are related to her through several lines, including Bull Lea, Plucky Liege, Mahmoud, War Admiral, Bee Mac, Gainsborough, and Dark Ronald.



Now, about her dad! Gallant Man was a very famous horse, not the least of which because Bill Shoemaker had the biggest "duh" moment of his career on him. Gallant Man was winning the Kentucky Derby when Shoemaker misjudged the finish line and pulled up and stood in his stirrups in early victory. Iron Liege took his chance and put a nose in front of Gallant Man for the win. This has followed Shoemaker forever! And followed his trainer, ex-jockey and Hall of Fame trainer from Nebraska, John Nerud! Even the greats have their mistakes! Anyway, Gallant Man was a small tough guy (a little over 15 hands) who ended up beating Bold Ruler in the Belmont Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap! He raced during the golden era of Round Table and Bold Ruler. he earned #36 of the Top 100 race horses of the 20th century! In his stud career, he produced Genuine Risk (through one of his daughters) and, of course, our lovely little Gallant Bloom! You can read more about his daughter at the following link:
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=76

Wood County Fair -- Steve and the Percheron!

Steve and I went to the fair on Friday. We ate corn dogs, pork-a-lean, french fries. We drank lemonade. We strolled the midway. We strolled through the poultry and chicken barn. We visited the stables, and watched a bit of the trail riding competition. I played the dart game and lost lots of money, but won a stuffed cow which Emma loves!! It was a great evening. Here's Steve, making friends with a Percheron!!!

Kensington Gardens, a Sunday with Family!

Today started out rainy and grey, but I travelled up to Wixom to visit Elena, Steve and the girls. Aunt Mary Jane and Uncle Carlo, and Jane were there as well. We packed up and went to one of my favorite farms, the one at Kensington Gardens. We saw goats, sheep, cows, horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, and many other sorts of creatures. The girls really enjoyed their afternoon there. My sweet nieces are the best companions on a lazy Sunday!

2007 Wood County Fair -- Jean marvels at the Sheep!

So, on the first day of fair, Jean, Deb and I went to see the canning, quilts, flowers, and livestock. We had a great time and ate some yummy food. We tried pork-a-lean at Steve's suggestion, but weren't that intrigued. It wasn't until later in the week, when Steve said you needed to eat pork-a-lean with horseradish that I understood how yummy it was!


Anyway, here's our Jean, remarking on the beautiful sheep and how their coats feel oily, like lanolin.

Hope you all are having late summer fun!

Horse Sense: Riding the Horse You're On...

This Blog was written two weeks back, in Mid-July (7/19). Violet and I had a great week riding last week.

So, last week (mid-July), I had a riding setback. I was so nervous, perched, and tense. I worried that Violet might be more girl than I can handle. What's funny is that she was rock solid and sweet like usual. She took an interesting in her changing surroundings with the addition of the new barn, but was solid on foot and trying.



So, this week, I decided to just put it behind me and not give it another thought. So, I had riding lessons on Tuesday and Thursday and they were great, today especially. We had people driving by in golf carts, people and cats popping in and out of the new barn addition, and lots going on. But Violet and I focused on our work and figured out how to move off the leg, round up, move floating, and transition up and down. She was charming and fun. We ended our lesson with a pattern from Whinny Widgets and we had a blast. Violet plumped forward in a big floaty trot and seemed to really enjoy herself. It was a fun pattern, with big half moons, circles, broken V's to cross the ring. My girl is a lovely sweet thing! And it was fun to ride and know that I was sitting deeper and riding with more leg than I usually do! And I caught the correct diagonal the majority of the time today! So, I am putting last week where it belongs!!



Here's some thoughts from that natural horseman, Pat Parelli. We give rewards and punishments after the fact. We give positive and negative reinforcements at the fact! Also, predators need praise, recognition, and money! Prey need comfort!



It's true that my girl, Violet, is happy, sweet, relaxed, and long in her stride and reach, when she feels comfortable and settled with me! And when we've been working really hard on a task and we stop and I pet her and give her sweet words, she gives a huffle whiffle exhalation and drops her head a bit just to say that she is comforted that we did well!!

My Favorite Ladies!

My dad sent me this photo this morning, very very early. I was working quietly at my computer and it arrived! What a nice way to start my day! He took this photo at the stable at Holiday Acres and it shows my sister, Elena, my mom, Ann, and my two nieces, Emma and Clara. These are my favorite ladies.

2007 Wood County Fair -- the BG Midnight Riders

The Bowling Green 4-H equestrian club calls itself the BG Midnight Riders! I love that name, it's adorable. Here's a cluster of members hanging out at the horse barn on the first day of fair. Each of the competing clubs has a stretch of the show barns where they set up their shop and keep their horses. Not only are they judged for their horse showing classes, but they are judged on their horse and barn management skills, and their ability to make an appealing visitor's space for guests walking through the barn. Some of the clubs really were outstanding in this regard! They decorated with funny posters showcasing the teams of horses and riders. They put a lot of thought and care into their presentations. The fair has a great class called the Horse Cleaning Competition where a team of grooms provides a horse, judges muddy him, and they have a short period of time to do their best to clean that dirty ol' pony! I just think the fair is great!

A Happy Moment at Breezy Acres!

Here's a photo Jane took when she visited in June. Violet is in her stall and I am just having a quiet chat with her. From her window, she can look up to the house and see what's going on with her Breezy Acres family, Norbert, Connie, and Stephanie. She really enjoys her comfortable home!

Emma Loves Horses!

In late June, my sister and I drove up to Rhinelander in a Town and Country van packed with my two nieces, 3 cats, and 1 dog! It was a big trip! We were visiting mom and dad, and grandma and grandpa. Mom planned such a great week. We went swimming, took boat rides, went to an amazing petting zoo in the northern woods, visited a children's museum that was fantastic. And on one day, we took Emma to Holiday Acres to visit the horses. She *loves* horses. She practically flung herself out of Elena's arms in order to get into the saddle, and she so enjoyed taking a small little ride. The stable was set in the woods and had several horses. And Emma had words of love and praise and petting for each horse. She cried so hard when we left, and before she would get in the car, she walked from horse to horse and said, "Bye, horsie!" It was such a nice adventure!

You can read more about the Holiday Acres resort at the following link:
http://holidayacres.com/

2007 Wood County Fair -- Beautiful Cow

Here's a photo of a beautiful cow from this year's fair. She looks relaxed and happy in her good looks and is proud of her participation in the 4-H!!

Breaking News! Wood County Fair Time!

It's time for the 2007 Wood County Fair and I just returned from a fun evening at the fairground. In this photo, I am getting ready to eat a piece of Key Lime Pie with chocolate on a stick! Yum! Right before this photo was taken, Jorge and I sat in the grandstands, drinking lemonade, eating both a bucket of french fries and a bucket of curly fries! Yum yum!! We spent the evening watching the pari-mutuel racing of trotters, checking the livestock barns, watching some of the Draft horse events, and eating! Happy Fair Days, all y'all!!

Breaking News! Emma Loves Horses!

Here's my little niece, Emma, up in Rhinelander at Holiday Acres Stable, taking a horse ride. You should have seen her. I was holding her and she flung herself, leaped at the saddle, she was so excited to get on! She was a super duper riding girl! You'll see another post about this exciting day tomorrow! These photos are from my dad!

Hindoo and My Girls!

My girls both are related to one of the most important racehorses ever, one who reinvigorated the Byerley Turk line in thoroughbreds. Hindoo was born in 1879, and raced 35 times. He never was out of the money, winning 30 times, placing 3, and showing twice. His dad, pictured here, was Virgil, and his mom was Florence. He was trained by two Hall of Famers, Ed Brown, one of the most distinguished Blacks in horse racing and training, and the also inestimable, James G. Rowe, Sr. He was truly extraordinary. In his third year, he won the 1881 Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes, but what was truly exceptional is that he won 18 straight races between May and August of his 3rd year, 19 if you include a dead-heat run-off on the same day! No horse has ever equalled this prodigious accomplishment. Not surprisingly, he was voted the Champion 2-year-old, Champion 3-year-old, and Champion Handicap Horse. When the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame was first started, he was inducted in 1955. He retired as a leading money winner and was a fantastic sire. He was also a good boy. Here's what one reporter said of him, "A sweeter tempered colt never sported silk. He was like wax in the hands of the jockey. He would never do more than what was asked of him, yet his courage was the highest. He did what was required, and after he had his field beaten, was content to drop down into a canter. He was never excited by contest nor crowd, and was business-like under all circumstances."



My girls are lucky to have some of his most wonderful children in their pedigree, including Sallie McClelland (in Whisk Broom's tree), and Hanover. Hindoo is also responsible for my girls' Pocahontas! You can read more about their Kentucky Derby fella at the following links:
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Hindoo.html
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindoo_(horse)
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=90
or
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/hindoo.html
or
http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/hindoo.htm

Leroy Neiman -- Queen at Ascot!

So, the Queen visited our beautiful country this spring and attended the Kentucky Derby to see Street Sense win with Calvin Borel on board! I thought you might enjoy a painting of her by Leroy Neiman -- here she is attending the Ascot! Several of Violet's and Hailee's relatives won at Ascot!