"Soft hands makes soft horses."  ~ Rick Gore

   

My love of horses started early I'm told...

Long before I could talk or say the words I'd see a horse or pony and smile and point and quiver in excitement. It hasn't changed much. Horses still have the ability to lift me to places of happiness I can't find elsewhere.

The 3 photos above are of:
Top Left - My Fair Lady. A mare that was given to me by a kind hearted woman who didn't want to face shipping the mare for auction as dog food. She was named Christie at the time and called Killer Christie by her friends and family. The mare had issues. There were friends that would not ride with me when I rode her and one instructor that refused me lessons and training, "That crazy horse will kill you someday and I don't want to be a part of it." It took a while, but in a few years Killer Christie had become My Fair Lady and was rock solid, courageous, trusting, and the second most wonderful partner of my life. The photo is from our first show together - and is moments before our first winning ribbon. It's been many years since she left my life, and she is still missed.

Top Right - "Beaker". A friend's horse that I rode a lot for a while. An ex-racehorse (Thoroughbred) with a kind heart and willing spirit. Tall bugger, and hard to mount when you're only 5'4", but worth the climb. And that awful nickname he had? Check out the nose on the pretty boy.

Bottom - Danzig. Me and Danzig, one of the world's best ever Thoroughbred breeding studs. A little guy, sweet, lovely to look at. This was during a trip to Kentucky to visit the stallion. My thanks to his handler who allowed me a special private time to meet him.

 

These are not horses.

These are my beloved family of Tibetan Spaniels. In a lifetime spent with animals, and a great many dogs, I have found this breed to be the most intelligent, the most individual, the easiest to train (in obedience and "normal" things), the hardest to train (when they have decided you're an idiot and they choose to make their own decisions on a matter), and dogs with the most shocking sense of humor I've ever experienced in an animal. They're smart. They're fun. And intensely loyal.

All but Poirot and Salem have died in the last couple of years (at ages 12, 17, 17, and 18). They are missed. Sushi was my greatest partner and friend. My life is not the same without her.

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