VIP FOR A DAY, thanks to Altair.  See project in tab labeled Twenty Gallant Horses. My goal is to use the "real" horse pedigree to produce these twenty.  See book by C.W. Anderson, my absolute favorite as a kid.  Thanks for stopping by.           

 Made it to No. FOUR  in Popularity!  for my June birthday!!    

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!! If you see that I gave your DIVINE an apple, 

it is a "Hats  Off" to your better skilled equine. And I just love horses, so I give apples.   

Our woods look like the landscape of my Divine Rock, Onyx --probably my favorite divine.  

The Dale Reed Story:  

My horse persona in grade school was Dale Reed named for Dale Evans and Reed, the name of a boy my friends liked. Dale knew everything there was to know about horses, but as an adult I found out there's even more to know! Somehow money wasn't a factor in owning soooo many horses so she made her way "living the dream". Every horse's name I saw in the racing forms, she had a horse by the same name and owned about five ranches around the U.S. where they were bred and trained. My Howrses will be Breyer models that I owned at the time and will have their appearance and personalities. I also had miniatures that I'll call my "Matchbox Collection." Those I played with when I was younger and for longer hours outside with a running hose creating a river in their habitat. We had the greenest lawn you'll ever see that summer!

My Thorougbred Project: I started a team last summer to breed the family trees of  "Twenty Gallant Horses" appearing in the C.W. Anderson book by the same title.  The project has gotten bigger and bigger as I see some of these horses share lineage. Some errors will occur as I found other horses who already have an ancestor my current herd.  LOL, what can you do? Start over? NO. WAY.  Do you know that racehorse pedigrees can be traced back to the 1600's?  I've met four riders with Off The Track TBs and can find Secretariat in their trees!

My first Breyer model was an Appaloosa Arabian foal named Spot. I do still have him, so he's a youthful 51+ in people years! Sad tale: I discovered that "Someone" had broken--and lost--his back right leg, so I used a pink plastic curler for a full size cast and attached it with a rubber band. We don't shoot horses. So he was the "Tiny Tim" of my herd as the herd grew. Eventually, my brother, who was good in shop, made a mold of his left leg and grafted it on. Now Spot has two left legs, I guess really THREE, so he's whole again through decades of LOVE and has attained his own immortality and become real in my own heart. Therefore, True Love is a "nursery magic" of its own.

See the Writing Contest Winners in the forum. My leprechaun story was one of the top ten. 

     BARN CAT  just hanging around being a cat. (Gift from lady horse. Missing her. R.I.P.)

                   Sky                       Lucinda (retired)                                 Holiday*  (RIP d. 2015)

Haflingers from Spirit Open Equestrian Program (Therapeutic Riding). Please find and "Like" on Facebook.

                 "Hi! I'm Mr Kittyman! And I love being petted!"  

"Spirit" is a white Welsh Pony Arabian mix for whom the program is named. Her likeness is my avatar photo that I found elsewhere on Facebook. As of June 2014, SOEP has added a new mare saved as rescue. All we know is that she is 7, but the new owner said at the auction, they put her through the paces and she responds to the commands and has "good ground manners." Not sure of the breed, but she looks like a Saddlebred. Lots of cuts and scars, three of the hooves have cracks, a little thin. Beautiful mane shines like gold in the sunlight. Glad she's safe now. Her new name is LADY.

RESCUE INFO:  Lady has filled out beautifully and her coat shines like Copper. She's very quiet, but she's turned into a very good school horse. She is ridden by the teens who are the better riders. Our Belgian gelding, Samson, came Fall 2013 and he has filled out as well. He has gotten into better shape and does very well with the therapeutic students.  A new mare was rescued in May 2015. Her name is Sally. She's a small chestnut/bay color mixed breed. Rumor is that she is also a Morgan. She's very shy within the herd, but our "dowager queen" Infiniti has taken her under her wing. Apparently, horses do have wings! 

RESCUE UPDATE: SOEP acquired two new mares on the way to slaughter. They were unnamed so we were going to do a fund raising Silent Auction for the privilege of naming. Unknown breeds, one was a very thin light grey and when she arrived, she took one bite of the grass and laid down.  She died the next day.  We decided that she needed a name immediately and was named Mercy. Her companion was named Grace. Later, another mare arrived; a lovely chestnut mare from Amish country, registered Morgan named Sadie.  More info when they are integrated and working with the classes beginning in January 2016. [But we're snowed in and the parks are closed this week.]

My daughter and I met a lady (Oct 2015, holiday weekend) that has three horses and she needed someone to exercise her pony. She asked if my daughter would be interested. She invited us out to ride Saturday, and we both rode. "Overohorse" had Rosie the Chestnut Paint. I rode Abby, a black Percheron and the owner rode Livie, a light grey QH/Morgan cross. Best day ever! 
Autumn 2016: My daughter and I rode cross country through the woods, over a creek and along the way I got to jump a log in the trail. I haven't jumped since 1984! Best day ever!  Another day, we worked on cantering. Fun, but the borrowed helmet was a bit big and shifted down over my eyes. LOL, I had to follow the hooves of the horse in front of me. I did improve a little each time. I've been sore from my shoulder, but it was worth it to ride again. And yes, I have bought a new helmet of my own!

March 2016--Cross that off the Bucket List!!! Rode a retired racehorse on the beach in St. Thomas!!! 

        Please board at my Friends' equestrian centers.    

If you want me to board at yours, please make sure that you have CARROTS! 

Clean stalls and fertile fields are priority.  Thanks to my friends for Reservations!

I appreciate use of the 3*** tack.   [Suggestions for those who have asked.]

Breyer Collection is complete except for a few newer ebay foals that will be born "someday." I'll have to use a Hera pack to get the right coats. Siblings may be offered for sale "someday." Of course, none of the Breyers or Coat Closet Howsres are for sale.

Buck (My newest Breyer is not a Pegasus, but that is his pose. Thanks, Zimmerman*)         

    King of the Wind (SpringyBirdd)  -- is one of my first Breyer stallions.

 *Two bay mares;  **Breeding pair of Appaloosas (should be Mouse Grey with black-spotted blanket);

  Black spotted blanket stallion (LoveArt02);  Dark bay Morgan (Hanoverian from KrazyKat)   an auction filly for Buck!  Mares for Cloud of the Rockies--Silver Moon    and Aldabaran  

I have one of every breed--isn't there a trophy for that?

YES! I got that. Also my favorites, aren't they all though? 

A pair of Strawberry Roans -- and an Irish Hunter sure an' ya know he's darling!     

And as for this guy, we do have one in our neighborhood --   -- I have no idea what he says! He's pretty quiet around here! 

 attended an Icelandic Horse show in May! Hope you had a great day too! -- I have an Icelandic Horse (they're not Ponies)   for my boutique collection. Thokkadis for the stallion we met!  Owner won the Beer Mug challenge--having the most beer left after the riding event. 

Above snow frolicker photo is my favorite (found on Facebook.)  I'd like Howrse to bring MORGANS and HAFLINGERS too! I have Clydesdale and Morgan models by Breyer. Subs are Gypsy Vanner and Hanoverian which are closest look alikes (designated in name.)  It just seems wrong that the U.S. site doesn't have MORGANS, after all, they are an American breed.   Thanks, Howrse!

     I've fallen and I can't giddy-up!" 

    IVORY Uni from cjhorses! Woot!

  Thanks to Giddyap Cowgirl for my Strawberry Roans and Cowgirl Jessie for Paints. 

Some favorites* or recently read: Lillian Jackson Braun--own all her books; Kenneth C. Fleming "God's Voice in the Stars"; Riordan* Rodda** Rowling, Thoene* "Horse Diaries" series recommended for young horse loving readers.

And thanks to Doctor Who fans, I am now an Avid Doctor Who fan and this was my favorite scene.

Favorite line:  "Hello, Benjamin." (First words said by incarnation of River Song.)

I'll just be trotting along now! Ciao!