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Horse Mania Newsletter #11
November 23rd 1999
Subscriber Count: 409
************************************************************
The NEXT deadline for ALL article writers and things submitted to the
newsletter is December 1st. Please let me know if you cannot meet this
deadline for some reason.
************************************************************
At last, all of my exams are over and schools winding up so I have a bit
more spare time to dedicate to catching up with Horse Mania. Yes, I am
aware that this issue is *very* late and I apologise for that. There is
only one issue of Horse Mania for November but we will be back to normal
from now on so be sure to get your next articles in soon! I’ve also got
some more spare time on my hands so I am thinking up some new ideas for
the website, and I’m planning to plough through all the award applications
as soon as I can! As I warned last issue, Angelfire had put pop up ads on
my page, which are a complete pain! If you really hate pop up ads, why not
turn off Java and JavaScript in your web browser’s settings and you’ll
never have to see them again. :o) I’m leaving the pages on Angelfire for
the moment but long term I don’t know. Anyway, here’s issue 11! As usual
any criticism, comments or suggestions are welcome! All things that are
written here without a name are by me, and everyone else's columns has
credit given to who has written it. See you until next time,
Susan
(thehorse@hotpop.com)
http://horsemania.cjb.net
'\__~ '\__~ '\__~
\ \ / \ / / cantering
In this Issue:
-Wanted
-Breeds in Focus: Orlov Trotter and Icelandic
-Your Opinion
-Tell Us About Yours
-Horse Trivia
-Manes & Tails
-Horse Training
-Thoroughbred Racing
-Horse Care
-Horse Story (part 2)
-The Search
-Websites
-Horse Polls
-Pen Pals
-Voting
-Archives
-Change of Address
-References
*WANTED
-------
I don’t have any regular columns that I currently need done but remember
you can submit anything horse-related you want, poems, jokes, stories
about your horse, experiences you’ve had or once off articles. And I am
always open to your own column ideas.
*BREEDS IN FOCUS- Orlov Trotter and Icelandic
----------------
ORLOV TROTTER
Origin: Russia
Type: Light Horse
Height: Usually around 16hh
Colour: Grey, Bay, or Black
Physical Characteristics: The Orlov Trotter has a small but plain head,
with a long and swan-like neck that is set high on the shoulders. The
withers are also set fairly high and the back is rather long and straight.
Orlov Trotters have a broad chest and a deep girth. The legs are well made
and set square, the required bone measurement is 20 cm (8 in). The hind
legs are strong and can deliver a powerful propulsive thrust. The Orlov
Trotter has muscular but short-coupled quarters and a well set tail that
is carried high in movement.
Use: Orlov Trotters are used for trotting races, riding and harness.
History: The Orlov Trotter has Dutch Blood, Thoroughbred, Mecklenburg,
Arab, and Norfolk Trotter influences to produce today’s modern Orlov. The
Orlov Trotter was developed in Russia in the 18th century both as a
carriage horse and for racing. It is one of the oldest and most popular
Russian breeds. The foundation sire of the breed was a grey stallion, Bars
I, born in 1784.
ICELANDIC
Origin: Iceland
Type: Pony (but often referred to as “Icelandic Horse”)
Height: Usually 12.3-13.2hh
Colour: There is a large range of colours which is a feature of the breed.
Chestnut (usually with flaxen or white mane and tail), Bay, Black, Grey,
Dun, Palomino, Albino, Skewbald, and Piebald.
Physical Characteristics: Icelandic Horses are a small but muscular breed.
They have a plain and heavy head. Icelandic Horses have a compact body.
The shoulders are upright and contribute to the elevated action of some of
the gaits. They have short and strong legs even though the hind legs
appear light. The feet are sound and there are good sloping pasterns. The
hocks produce a powerful action ans are not large, but set low to the
ground.
Other Characteristics: The Icelandic Horse has five gaits, instead of the
usual four. These include the walk (fetgangur), the trot (brokk), fast
gallop (stokk), the pace, and the tolt. (called the rack in the US).
Pacing a smooth and fast gait with lateral movement. The tolt is a four
beat running walk and in this gait the horse is capable of explosive
acceleration.
Use: Icelandic Horses are used for work, carrying packs and people, they
also run in pacing races, and are shown.
History: The Icelandic Horse has been around for over $1,000 years. The
Norse settlement of the island happened between AD 860 and 935, and they
brought their horses with them on the boats. The breed was very pure, with
no outside blood being introduced for over 800 years. Around 900 years ago
there was an attempt to influence the breed with eastern blood but that
failed. In AD 940 the parliament passed laws preventing the importation of
foreign horses into the country.
*YOUR OPINION
-------------
In this section I will ask a question every issue and put in the
responses. Send in replies to me at thehorse@hotpop.com with "Your
Opinion" in the subject line.
Do you have a good question for “Your Opinion”? Please send it in to me at
thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll use it!
This issue’s question is:
“How should horses be trained? Or should they not be trained at all?”
Now we’ll take a look at the responses to last issue’s question which was:
“What is your opinion on showing horses?”
Thank you to everyone who replied!
“My opinion on showing horses is this: If it is done in a humane way, I
agree with it. It is a very good sport, it gives a reason to breed horses
and to selectively breed to get the best conformation etc. possible. It
is good for the riders as well. Some shows I do not agree with. Walking
horses and Saddlebreds are two examples of breeds that are put in a lot
of pain to have tails in the right position and all the unnatural high
action. I wish we could get some better standards in the show world. “
-ddorssom
“I think showing is a good way to show your horse's ability, as long as
it's
not too strenuous.”
~ponybrat103
*TELL US ABOUT YOURS
--------------------
This a section where you can tell us about your own horse, or the horse
you ride.Send it in to thehorse@hotpop.com and I’ll put it in. It can any
length you like.
*HORSE TRIVIA by Brgrey@prodigy.net
-------------
Last Issue's answers:
1. If a horse is cow hocked:
a.it's hocks turn in
2.The term "cold blooded" when applied to horses means:
c.it is a heavy draft horse
3.True or False- Black or blue hooves are generally stronger than white
hooves,and less prone to cracking.
a.true
4.The bit rests:
b.on the bars of the horses mouth
5.True or false: Horses usually are in foal for 9 months.
b.false
6.True or false: All horses should wear blankets in cold weather,because
their winter coats are not warm enough.
b.false
7. What was Roy Rogers horse named?
c.Trigger
8. How tall was Northern Dancer?
d.15.2hh
9.What famous racehorse that was bred in New Zealand died mysteriously in
California ?
b.Phar Lap
Last Issues winners:
1st-TIE-Chelsea and Carli, both with 8/9
2nd-TIE-Jenna,Elizabeth,Corrine,Te, all with 7/9
3rd-TIE-Morgan and Sierra, with 6/9
Thanks to everyone else who entered, look for more trivia questions in the
next issue of Horsemania!
*MANES & TAILS by Jamie
--------------
Manes and Tails
Famous TV/Movie horses, part 2
Hi, horse fans! We're continuing our trip back in
time to learn about horse stars of long ago. As
before, the information in this series comes from the
book, "Animal Superstars" by John Javna.
TONY the Wonder Horse was the mount of silent
screen star Tom Mix, a real cowboy. He found the
horse in Hollywood when looking for a replacement for
his previous horse, Old Blue, had become too old to do
films. Tom purchased an attrative colt from a trainer
for $600, and named him TONY simply because the name
went well with his on the theater marquees. TONY'S
breed was unknown, but he was described as being "A
magnificent chestnut horse with a narrow white strip
and snip with white stockings." TONY was born in
1909.
Tom Mix swore he never really trained TONY; he
claimed he just "showed him what to do," and TONY was
smart enough to catch on. Tom Mix and TONY always did
ALL their own stunts; stand-ins were NEVER used, and
apparently neither one was ever injured.
TONY could do about 20 different tricks,
including untying ropes ( he often came to the rescue
when Tom had been captured by "bad guys.") TONY would
also go for help when Tom was in a fix, and run
alongside speeding trains. Today, this is nothing
special. But this was 1918, and stunts and tricks
like this were NEW. TONY did some amazing stunts in
his movies with Tom Mix, like jumping a deep chasm
which was 11 feet wide in one movie, then he jumped
off a pier and swam to a boat in another film. In
all, TONY made 50 movies with Tom Mix, and they were
always billed together.
In a twist on later movies where the hero always
saves the damsel in distress and they ride off
together in the end, Tom Mix rode off on TONY into
the sunset, leaving "the girl" behind.
TONY became quite a celebrity in his own right.
He had become so well known that when a fan addressed
a letter to "'Just TONY, Somewhere in the USA,'" it
was delivered to Tom Mix's Arizona ranch.
TONY the Wonder Horse Trivia: He performed in
rodeos and in Tom Mix's circus.
TONY left his hoofprint in Graumann's Chinese
Theatre in Hollywood in the cement, along with Mix's
handprint.
TONY and Tom stopped by the White House in 1921
to visit President Warren G. Harding.
TONY was retired by Tom in 1932, and replaced by
TONY, JR. The original TONY OUTLIVED Tom Mix by 2
years; the horse died in Oct. 1942.
GENE AUTRY AND CHAMPION
GENE AUTRY was the first "singing cowboy" and
came along in the 1930s. He died earlier this year,
and was close to 90 years old. His horse was
CHAMPION, a Tennessee Walker. There was more than
one, although this was kept secret for many years, and
the movie producers in this case DID NOT take pains
to see that the horse GENE rode always looked the same
in all his scenes. The original horse was a dark
liver chestnut with three white stockings, but later
horses-CHAMP, JR. and LITTLE CHAMP had four white
stockings. CHAMP,JR and LITTLE CHAMP were also the
regular red or light sorrel color. CHAMPION was
trained by the premier horse trainer in Hollywood at
the time, GLENN RANDALL, who also trained ROY ROGERS'
TRIGGER. CORKY RANDALL, his son, trained CASS OLE,
the Arabian horse who played
THE BLACK STALLION.
CHAMP had a nickname of "'the World's Wonder
Horse'" because it was said he knew more tricks than
any other performing horse at the time. There were
several different horses who played CHAMPION, and
every one was remarkably well-trained. For instance,
CHAMP could kneel, laugh, kiss, sign his name, bow,
and could also do several dances! His most
spectacular performing stunt live was to crash through
a huge poster of himself and GENE. CHAMPION obviously
trusted GENE because the paper would have looked like
a solid wall to a horse.
CHAMPION did achieve something his rival,
TRIGGER, never did: HE had his OWN TV SERIES in 1955,
"THE ADVENTURES OF CHAMPION," which was also made into
a comic book series. The TV series ran for 26
episodes, and CHAMPION earned $2500 per episode.
CHAMPION Trivia: He lived in a deoderized stable
on GENE AUTRY'S ranch.
He was the first horse to fly across the country.
In 1940, his fare to fly on a special TWA plane was
$3,000. CHAMPION couldn't take boats--he got seasick.
CHAMPION was the only equine superstar to have a
locomotive named after him. The "Champion" train
hauled freight from St. Louis for years on the
"'Frisco line.'"
CHAMPION made 77 films with GENE AUTRY, then
there was 'THE GENE AUTRY SHOW and his own series.
Finally, GENE AUTRY held CHAMPION in such high
regard that he purchased a life insurance policy in
1950 and named CHAMP as his beneficiary.
One more bit of trivia about this remarkable
horse, and it's a kick--In 1957 a hit song called
"Tequila" was recorded (instrumental) by a group who
was friends with GENE AUTRY, and they named themselves
after--the horse (their name--The Champs). Can you
beat that?!
That's all for this issue. Next issue, FRANCIS the
mule, FLICKA, and my TOP personal favorite, FURY.
*HORSE TRAINING by Jo Caen
---------------
In the past 4 weeks, Dakota has been through many
changes. She has had several temper tantrums, all of
which have been stopped by the vienna reins she now
wears. She is now allowed to hack and is doing so
nicely, except when she naps!!
Unfortunately, she is now lame because the mud in the
field is so deep that 3 of her shoes have been sucked
off.
We have found that she reacts best to the vienna
reins, better than draw reins or side reins. The
reason for this is probably because the vienna reins
keep her head on 'runners', but they are not affected
by the rider because they attach to the saddle.
We have also found that she responds to a small sharp
smack of a racing whip behind the leg on the inside,
to reinforce the leg aid.
More next time!
Jo
*THOROUGHBRED RACING by Anna Rempfer
--------------------
*************************
Thoroughbred Racing
November 8, 1999
*************************
This was an exciting week for racing, the Breeder's Cup was run at
Gulfstream Park in Florida. It consised of a series of races, (about
4hrs.
long if you tuned in) such as a race of fillies, turf races, a very good
race for older mares, the Distaff (a handicap), and of course, the
BREEDER'S
CUP CLASSIC. My mare's cousin raced in the Classic, BEHRENS. HERE'S THE
SCOOP:
============================================================
LUKAS RACKS UP 15TH BREEDERS' CUP WIN WITH CAT THIEF
============================================================
Everyone said Bob Baffert was holding a strong hand in the
Breeders' Cup, but it was the man with the most Breeders' Cup
wins in history, D. Wayne Lukas, who won two races on the
card, including the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)
with Cat Thief.
All three times the Breeders' Cup has been run at Gulfstream
Park, a 3-year-old has won the Classic. Sunday Silence won in
1989 and A.P. Indy in 1992.
None of the favorites were anywhere close in the Classic,
leading to huge payoffs for the race. To start, how about
$3,058,138.60 for the Pick-Six (five of six was $5,996.20).
Or, $592,907 for the superfecta. The trifecta of Cat Thief,
Budroyale, and Golden Missile returned $39,031.20.
Cat Thief, ridden by Pat Day, paid $41.20, $17.80, and $9.60.
He finished 1º lengths in front of Budroyale, who went off
25-1 and returned $21.20 and $17.80. A head back in third was
70-1 shot Golden Missile, who paid $30.20.
============================================================
DETTORI MAKES UP FOR LAST YEAR WITH FAVORED DAYLAMI
============================================================
The Daylami of old made a big outside move in the turn, then
powered by to win the 12-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)
in the last race of his career. Daylami had won three group I
races this year, but then ran a disappointing ninth, beaten
23* lengths, in the Arc de Triomphe.
In his swan song, however, Daylami made the day for the
European contingent, beating Royal Anthem and Buck's Boy, the
latter the winner of last year's Turf.
Daylami was bred by The Aga Khan and sold to Sheikh
Mohammed's Darley Stud, however he returns to the Aga Khan to
stand at stud next year at his Irish stud farm.
He certainly should be an attractive stud prospect, the
5-year-old horse having been a champion in Europe at three
and four and surely will be so again this year. Daylami, by
Doyoun out of the Miswaki mare Daltawa, shipped to the U.S.
last fall as well, winning the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) at
Belmont over Buck's Boy.
Daylami, enthusiastically ridden by Frankie Dettori, was
favored and returned $5.20, $4.20, and $2.20. Royal Anthem
ran well in second and paid $8.80 and $6.20, while Buck's Boy
was worth $5 in third. Daylami won by 2* lengths, with Royal
Anthem another two ahead of Buck's Boy. The exacta paid
$36.80 and the trifecta $175.40.
The fractions were :23 2/5, :47, 1:10 3/5, 1:36, and the
final time 2:24 3/5.
============================================================
BEAUTIFUL PLEASURE WIRES THE DISTAFF FIELD
============================================================
Beautiful Pleasure holds off Banshee Breeze to win the
Breeder's Cup Distaff. Beautiful Pleasure, allowed to set
all the fractions-and they were quick ones-held off the
closing Banshee Breeze to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr.
I) by three-quarters of a length.
Jorge Chavez, winning his first Breeders' Cup race, sent
Beautiful Pleasure out to run the first quarter in :22 4/5,
but then throttled her down as they ran the half in :46 2/5.
The six furlong split was 1:09 4/5, the mile in 1:34 3/5, and
the final time for the nine furlongs was 1:47 2/5.
Beautiful Pleasure ran in the Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) two
years ago, finishing 10th in a trouble start at Hollywood
Park. Last year, she missed the Distaff, but she came into
this year's race as a solid contender, having impressively
won her last two races, the Personal Ensign and Beldame over
sloppy tracks in New York.
For more information on the BREEDER'S CUP, you can check it out at
www.bloodhorse.com
============================================================
ATTICUS FILLY TOPS WEDNESDAY'S KEENELAND SESSION
============================================================
A weanling filly consigned by Rosemont Farm topped the
Wednesday session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock
Sale. By first crop stallion Atticus, the weanling filly was
purchased by Russell Jones of Walnut Green Bloodstock for
$400,000 on behalf of Hickory Tree Farm. After a fierce
battle, Jones outbid French bloodstock agent Alec Head for
the nearly black filly.
The filly, who sold as Hip 1320, is out of Seattle Summer, by
Seattle Slew, and is a half-sister to Surprising Fact, winner
of the grade III Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. In
addition, she is a half-sister to U. S. Deputy, a 2-year-old
colt by French Deputy, who won his only start in late August.
Rosemont Farm is managed by Tom Eigel.
On Wednesday, prices cooled way down from the Monday and
Tuesday record gross of $99 million and $70.9 million,
respectively. At the end of the session, the sales company
reported 271 horses sold for an aggregate $25,302,000 and an
average price of $93,365. The session median price was
$72,000.
Through the first four days of the fall mixed sale, Keeneland
has sold 1,090 horses for a gross of $235,519,000 and an
average price of $216,072. The cumulative median is $110,000.
Although the sales company does not make comparisons from
year to year for each session of the November sale, the
auction is clearly proceeding at a record pace.
Last year's November sale gross of $264,632,700 was not only
a mixed sale record, but also a record for any public
auction, and with sales totaling more than $235 million
through the first four days, last year's record appears
certain to be exceeded within the next two days. This year's
sale continues through Nov. 19.
That's all for now, but keep on galloping down the track of racing!
*HORSE CARE by Lindsay Casper
-------------
THRUSH
Your Worst Enemy...
Lindsay Casper
Thrush. A nasty, disgusting, foul afflicition that can destroy your
horse's feet. It smells terrible, it looks terrible, and it can do
terrible
things to your poor horse.
According to the article FOOT-LOOSE AND DISEASE FREE
BY Nancy S. Loving in HORSE ILLUSTRATED, the hoof is an extension of the
skin layer. Skin can become infected, and so can the frog (the V-shaped
tissue on the bottom of the hoof). The frog is susceptible to an infection
called thrush. It can develop in the frog or in the crevices (sulci) along
the frog. Thrush is caused by a bacteria that adores an airless
environment.
What's the best way to prevent thrush? Clean out hooves daily, and be
sure to get into every nook and cranny. Thrush can be deadly, and you
don't
want it to strike your horse.
What if your horse does get thrush? Don't worry; if you catch it early
enough, there should be no problem. A cheap-and effective- way to get rid
of thrush is to mix about a capful of bleach in a spray bottle filled with
water. You can also soak feet in epsom salts. Keep in mind, PLEASE~ if
you
can not clear up the case, please contact your vet and farrier. If the
bacteria reaches the blood rich interior, there can be bad trouble. Be
sure
to keep those feet clean!
*HORSE STORY (part 2) by SARAH MCKINNEY
------------
This is quite long, with 11 chapters that will be spread out over several
issues of Horse Mania. This is the second part. It started in Horse Mania
issue #10, if you have just joined Horse Mania recently and missed parts
you can read the previous chapters in the back issues of Horse Mania
starting from #10, located at the archives
https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/archives.html
THE ONLY ONE FOR HER by SARAH MCKINNEY
CHAPTER 2
Melanie awoke in the morning and let out an exasperated yawn. She raised
her arms above her head and stretched, letting her legs dangle over the
side of her bed. Closing her eyes tightly for a moment to get awake,
Melanie remembered the previous day when Lisa had asked her to regularly
ride Flash. She was still excited from it! When she had told her parents,
they had been just as proud of her as she felt of herself. Cassidy was
even happy for her, which meant a lot to Melanie.
Melanie climbed out of her bed and quickly claimed the shower first,
before anyone else could grab it. She turned on the water and let it run
over her body as she closed her eyes in relief.
After showering and dressing in her regular riding habit for her lesson,
Melanie opened the glass door that led to the front of her house and
walked out. Her dog, Woody, a liver and white Springer Spaniel ran up to
her, wagging his tail and panting loudly. Melanie kneeled down to pet her
beloved dog on his head before standing up straightly and walking off to
the barn.
Before stepping into the barn, Melanie glanced to the outdoor ring where
her mother was schooling a young bay horse known around the barn as Nipper
over some jumps. Nipper had just been sold to a young girl about Melanie s
age, maybe older. The two were perfect for each other.
I wish I could find the perfect horse, Melanie thought as she heaved a
sigh and continued to walk into the barn to finish her chores before
riding her bike down to Morning Glory Farm.
Melanie grabbed a wheelbarrow from the corner of the barn and threw a
pitchfork and a shovel into it, and then proceeded to walk down to aisle
to her regular stalls. As Melanie passed the stalls her sister was
assigned to, she noticed that they were all cleaned out and rebeded with
fresh straw. Cassidy must have gotten up early that morning and done them.
But, as Melanie looked around the barn, her sister was nowhere in sight.
She must have ridden down to see Twilight early this morning, Melanie
figured as she started to clean out her five stalls. I wonder what the
heck she s doing?
Quickly and skillfully Melanie whipped through her five stalls in record
time. She wanted to get to Morning Glory Farm early that day so she could
spend some extra time with Flash before their lesson.
But before Melanie could rush down to her lesson, her father stopped her
in the middle of the aisle, wheelbarrow at foot with his warm smile.
“Hey, Mel.”
“Hi, Dad,” Melanie said shortly, eager to ride down to Morning Glory
Farm.
“Ah, Hun, listen for a moment. Your mom and I need to have a talk with
you and your sister after your lesson today. So tell us when you get back,
and tell your sister, okay?”
“ Okay, Dad,” Melanie said, frowning as she looked up at her father.
“What’s it about? “
“Wait until we talk to you,” he said with a smile. “I don’t want you
to get your hopes up.”
After putting her mucking tools away, Melanie ran out to where she had
parked her bike the previous day and hopped on. As she pedaled quickly
down to her lesson farm, Melanie couldn’t help wondering what her mother
and father wanted to talk to her and her sister about. Maybe they were
getting a new horse at the farm! No, why would they have a meeting about
that? It had to be something important; very important for them to call a
special meeting.
Melanie pedaled into Morning Glory Farm s driveway and pulled into her
usual spot. She hopped off of it and threw it to the ground before rushing
into the barn.
Cassidy was standing in front of Twilight s stall with Lisa discussing
something when Melanie walked up. When Melanie turned to smile at her
sister, she noticed the tears in her eyes and the puffy, red marks they
had left when they had fallen down her cheeks.
“What s the matter, Cass? Something wrong with Twilight?” Melanie asked
in concern as she walked quickly up to her sister.
Cassidy nodded and swiped at the tears that threatened to roll down her
face. “Twilight coliced last night. They had to call the vet.”
Melanie glanced into the stall. Sure enough, the side effects of the shot
that had to be injected into the horse to move the bows were definitely
taking place. Twilight hung her usually bright and cheery head and her
eyes, which were usually sparkling with life, were now dull, as she had
ever seen a horse. It looked like she had aged overnight.
“Did they have to tube her?” Melanie asked, using the term loosely.
Tubing meant that the vet would stick a tube down the horse’s nose,
reaching to the stomach to put medicine into it. It was for very bad colic
cases.
“No,” Cassidy replied.
That’s good, Melanie commented.
“Yes, well, Twilight’s going to be out of commission for a while.
Probably to the end of this week,” Lisa informed Melanie and Cassidy
both. Cass, you ll just have to use one of the lesson horses until then.
“Okay,” Cassidy replied flatly, heaving a sigh as she went into her
horse’s stall to drape her arms around her neck. Twilight did’ t even seem
to notice Cassidy was there.
Poor filly, Melanie thought sadly. Good thing they caught it in time.
Melanie and Lisa walked away from the stall together. Melanie turned to
Lisa with a worried expression pasted on her face.
“Oh, she ll be okay,” Lisa assured Melanie with a smile. “I’ve seen a
lot of colic cases like this.”
“How exactly did it happen?”
“I’m not really sure. The vet couldn’t figure out what it was from,” Lisa
started. “But I was checking on all of the horses before I went to bed,
and I saw that Twilight was rolling. I passed the stall thinking it was
nothing until I passed it again ten minutes later and she was still
rolling. That s when I phoned the vet.”
“I’m just glad she’s okay,” Melanie said with a relieved sound in her
tone.
“As am I,” Lisa agreed. “Well, enough on that subject. You go on and see
Flash. I’ll go scrounge up a horse for Cassidy to ride.”
As Melanie brought Flash in the middle of the aisle to brush her, she felt
a pang of sorrow for both her sister and her beloved horse.
She must feel absolutely terrible. I know I would, Melanie thought with a
sigh as she ran the rubber currycomb over Flash s sleek, black coat. She
could just imagine the initial shock when Cassidy had entered the barn
that morning to find bad news of her horse’s health. Melanie knew it would
devastate her.
Cassidy ended up riding a newer school horse, Star; Melanie knew Lisa had
gotten Cassidy the best horse she could find. But Cassidy didn’t seem to
care who she rode. And all through the lesson, she was as out of it and as
limp as Melanie had ever seen her sister.
“Cassidy, you’re on the wrong canter lead,” Lisa instructed gently. As
Melanie looked forward at her sister, Cassidy lazily changed Star s lead
and cantered on. And when Lisa set up a course for the whole class to go
over, Cassidy had taken Star through it without a care in the world.
Melanie hated to see her sister this way.
“What’s the matter with Cassidy?” Rachel whispered to Melanie as Cassidy
rode the course, bringing Seabreeze up parallel with Flash. Melanie
cleared her throat as she talked to her friend without taking her eyes off
Cassidy and Star.
“Twilight coliced last night,” Melanie explained. “She’s pretty torn up.”
“I’d say,” Rachel whispered. “I feel sorry for her.”
“Me too,” Melanie said. “I can just imagine hearing the news for the
first time.”
“Yeah,” Rachel agreed as the two girls turned back to the course. Cassidy
was on the last fence, and Star was doing his best to jump the coop
without much or any help from his rider. He was doing fairly well, only
knocking down four poles so far, Melanie thought, without any help or
guidance. Melanie was angry with her sister. She understood her sadness,
but she didn‘t have to take it out on everybody else; especially the horse.
“Cassidy, that was sloppy,” Lisa said in disgust. “You can do better
than that. Take him over it again, and put some feeling into it, would
you?”
Melanie saw her sister roll her eyes in annoyance at her teacher, but she
turned Star and took him over the course again. Melanie groaned softly.
This is going to be a long lesson, she thought, putting her hands on
Flash’s withers and sighing.
CHAPTER 3
Melanie had been so disgusted with her sister at the end of the lesson she
had forgotten to tell her about her parents meeting that they wanted to
have. She remembered as she started to walk up the driveway to the house
to get a drink.
Oh well, she thought. I might as well save my breath. I’ll be talking to a
brick wall if I try. Melanie jogged up to the house and opened the door,
walking inside after taking off her boots and setting them on the front
porch.
Melanie poured herself a glass of soda and plucked some cookies out of the
cookie jar to munch on as she sat at the table. Across from her laid a
Horse Illustrated magazine. Taking a bite of her chocolate-chip cookie,
Melanie reached across the table and grabbed the magazine. She looked at
the cover, which showed a picture of a man riding a jet-black horse,
similar looking to Flash.
I want a jet-black horse like that for my very own horse, Melanie thought
as she flipped to the cover page. She suddenly looked up. What about
Flash? I’m almost positive that Lisa’s got him up for sale. All of the
pieces fit, but Melanie didn t like the puzzle. She shook her head. Flash
was a nice horse, but she would know the horse for her when she saw it.
Melanie was busy reading an article in the magazine about horses who were
afraid of water, and water jumps, and tips to help overcome their fear
when Cassidy burst through the door, not even noticing Melanie sitting at
the kitchen table.
“Hi?” Melanie asked with a mouthful of cookie. Cassidy ignored her as she
dashed up the stairs and into the room she and Melanie shared. Melanie
groaned again as she set down her cookie and took a drink of milk. Closing
the magazine, but promising herself to come back later and read the
interesting article, Melanie marched upstairs to have a talk with her
sister.
Cassidy was sprawled out on her bed, face down in her pillow when Melanie
came in.
“Cass?” she asked. “Can we talk?”
Cassidy turned her head sideways to look at Melanie before turning it the
other way and sniffing. “I guess,” she mumbled.
“Listen, I know it’s hard to deal with your horse being sick and
everything, but Twilight’s going to be fine, you know that. And you don’t
have to take it out on other people, or Star,” Melanie finished.
Cassidy turned her tear-stricken face toward her sister and nodded
slightly. “I know,” she said. “You know how I feel, though, right?”
“Yeah,” Melanie said. Suddenly she remembered to tell her sister about
the meeting that her mother and father had called. “Listen, Cass. Mom and
Dad want to talk to us about something, and they wanted us to tell them
when we got home. So let’s go find them now.”
Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Cassidy climbed off of her bed and
followed Melanie out to the outdoor ring, where both of her parents were.
Her father was leaning against the white railing, watching her mother ride
Take A Chance in the ring. Chance cantered toward the first fence and
leaped over. Melanie watched in awe as Chance and her mother finished the
course.
When her father noticed the two girls walking up to him, he smiled shortly
and then motioned to his wife. “Samantha! They’re here! Come over here
for a sec!” he called.
Samantha raised her head and trotted Chance over to the side of the ring,
still mounted. She smiled at her two girls.
“Hi, Melanie, Cassidy,” she greeted her daughters, still mounted on
Chance.
“We need to have a little talk with you two,” Kevin said, smiling up at
his wife. “I think you’re going to like what we’re about to say.”
Melanie imagined a new horse, jet-black with no other markings than a
simple star on its forehead. She imagined them cantering through a
cross-country course, sailing over each and every fence with ease . . .
“You girls know,” Kevin started, glancing up at his wife again and
smiling. She grinned back, “that we were thinking of possibly moving to
Kentucky.”
Melanie tore her attention away from her thoughts when her father
mentioned the move. He started to beam.
“I think you girls are really go to like this,” he started. “Your mother
and I just bought a farm in Kentucky, we’re moving at the end of the week.”
To be continued next issue.....
*THE SEARCH by mart1ne@chickmail.com
------------------
For the past couple of months, I have been searching for the perfect large
pony. It has to be cheap, young, a good hunter and it has to have a calm
temperment. I'm dreaming aren't I? It doesn't help that I live in Quebec,
the prices are always super high and if I look in the States, the currency
makes it more expensive, on top of making a long trip to try it out and
then shipping!
Also, my dad is pretty frugal, and both my parents think ponies are for
babies and want to keep me on a horse. I'm on 5 feet tall and I have super
short legs so I have a very hard time controling horses. Plus, I look
stupid on horses, I only suit ponies.
I get so mad when people, particularly parents, think they know everything
about horses and just try to find the cheapest, most macho way way of
equine ownership, when they know squat about horses and ponies.
Please if anybody who's like I just described or if any parents are
reading this, please listen to your children who are riding and helping
out at the stables/ranch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!!
*WEBSITES
---------
If you have a horse website or know of a good one, please send in the URL
to thehorse@hotpop.com for it to be listed here.
All The Neigh
https://www.angelfire.com/hi2/horseclub
An online horse club for horselovers!
Allied Sim Horse Assosiation (ASHA)
http://www.alliedsimassoc.com/asha/
This association aims to unite all the sim horse games on the internet and
to share ideas.
If you are the owner of a sim horse game, or even just a player in one,
you might want to take a look at this site.
Circle Fence Discount Equine Supply
http://www.circlefence.com
TrackPower
http://www.trackpower.com.
This site would be of interest to any horse fan
who would like to watch live horseraces from their home. TrackPower is a
digital satellite service, providing live coverage of horse races across
North America, direct to the viewer's TV.
Heartland Publications: Horse Country America
http://www.hlpub.com
This site contains a free monthly horse care or nutrition article, free
ask the vet service, and
the Horse Country Bookstore. There is reviews for the new book Veterinary
Notes for Horsemen, Feeding Horses. “The knowledge it contains comes from
25 years of discussing problems with horse owners face to face as a vet
and I know it can save horsemen much grief and expense.”
Love Horses?
http://homepages.msn.com/PetsPl/iluvmyhorse/index.html
Mountain Crossing Stables
http://zap.to/MC_Stables
A SIM game
*HORSE POLLS
------------
I have some Horse Polls on the website for you to vote for your opinion!
Go to https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/polls.html to vote!
Current Questions:
Which of these is your favorite Horse Breed?
What style of horseriding do you prefer?
Current Results:
Which of these is your favorite Horse Breed?
Total Number of Votes: 46
Thoroughbred- 8 (17%)
Arabian- 12 (26%)
Quarter Horse- 12 (26%)
Other Horse Breed- 13 (28%)
Other Pony Breed- 1 (2%)
What style of horseriding do you prefer?
Total Number of Votes: 36
English- 18 (50%)
Western- 4 (11%)
Bareback- 5 (14%)
Both English & Western- 9 (25%)
I don't ride- 0 (0%)
*PENPALS
--------
Here is the Pen Pal section for adults and children. If you'd like an ad
here send me (thehorse@hotpop.com) in this form with "pen pal ad" in the
subject line.
First Name:
Email Address:
Country:
Age:
Horse Owner?:
Other Comments: (no more than 30 words please)
You can leave out anything if you don't want to give it out, such as age
or country. ill put in probably a maximum of 5 ads per issue so don't
worry if yours takes a while to appear. Feel free to resubmit an ad, as we
have a regular stream of new people joining Horse Mania in between each
issue.
ads for this issue:
First Name: Rachel Aeschliman
Email Address: tbracehorse@yahoo.com
Country:U.S.
Age:13
Horse Owner?: not yet:-)
Other Comments: I love thoroughbred horse racing. I would like a penpal
about 13-15 please. A girl would be preferred. she doesn't have to be
interested in horse racing because I would like to learn more about other
horse sports.
First Name: Rachel
Email Address: cow72grl@juno.com
Country:USA
Age:11
Horse Owner?: soon
Other Comments: Hi! I have rode 4 1 yr. & a 1/2. 4 the 1st yr. I rode
English, and since July I 've been riding Western and love it. my AOL
screen name is Cow72grl if u want to talk. Bye!
*VOTING
------------
Do you like the Horse Mania website and newsletter? Please go here
http://www.thehorsesource.com/cgi-bin/top100/topsites.cgi?ID=105 to vote
for us in the Horse Source Top 100 Sites.
How would you rate the Horse Mania newsletter out of 10? 10 being best, 0
being the worst. Please visit
http://www.ezineseek.com/cgi-bin/search/rateit.cgi?ID=935772699 to rank us.
Or you can just click on the buttons located at the bottom of the main
page- http://horsemania.cjb.net
Thank you!
*ARCHIVES
---------
Missed an issue? Want to see a back issue? Remember that all Horse Mania
issues are archived at
https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/archives.html Issues usually appear
there within a week.
*CHANGE OF ADDRESS
---------------------
If you have changed your email address and would like to receive the
newsletter at your new one, just fill out the form at
https://www.angelfire.com/id/horsemania/change.html and I will notify you
when I’ve changed your address.
*REFERENCES
-----------
Here is where some of my information has come from and I recommend these
books!
The Encyclopedia of the Horse, 1994, RD Press
The Complete Book of the Horse, 1979 (reprint 1985), New Burlington Books
Horses & Ponies, 1997, Kingfisher Books
The Visual Dictionary of the Horse, 1994, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horse (Collins Eyewitness Guides, 1992, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London
Horses, Ponies and Riders, 1984, Reed Books Pty. Ltd.
Horses, 1981, J. Warren Evans, W. H. Freeman and Company
Starting Riding, 1992, Usborne
--------------------------------
End of Horse Mania Newsletter #11
--------------------------------
