MEMORIES...LIKE THE
CORNERS OF MY MIND
Well friends its fall
again...my favorite time of year...blowing leaves, crisp clear days, chilly
nights and the ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORSE INTERNATIONAL !
Celebration of the
kindest, prettiest, most willing horse in the World.
Remembering the past
shows, the numbers of horses, special performances of horses and mostly the
people, joined together by a true love of these fantastic horses.
My special horsey memories
are of course of Storm Warning ridden and shown by Derick Tipton-the thrills
and the heartbreaks--1994 SAM TUTTLE AWARD WINNER, 1998 and 1999 International
Reserve Grand Champion Under Saddle--both years he was the Stallion Grand
Champion Under Saddle; back then there was only ONE International Grand
Champion. And his babies winning their conformation classes.
My other horsey memory is
watching Fair Warning as a two-year-old showing in her class. Sitting
beside me was Bert Morgan...as I sit there fretting and a nervous wreck Bert
assured me she was going to win...And she did!!!! Over the rail at a high
speed (I was a tad younger then) I went to grab that trophy!
And then there was Cookie
Cutter (the incredible horse, hurt so bad as a yearling we thought she would
never be ridden much less showing) but she was and SHE DID! The year Julie
showed Cookie in the Western Class…borrowed a saddle from Sidney Lansdale (most competitive of all
but with a heart of gold) and some much needed advice to help Julie calm her
nerves. This was the first time for this
team and Julie was afraid Cookie might decide to chase the wind. But Cookie had
the “Heart of Lion” as Julie says and went in and WON THAT CLASS! As I ran out
there to stand with Cookie and Julie in the Winners Circle I never knew it
would be Cookie’s last win as she lost her life in a thunderstorm a month later…
My resent special horsey
memory is Julie calling to tell me Silky (Storm Warning x Fair Silk) and Mikie
Bowen (my Favorite Son- in- Law) had just won the 2010 SAM TUTTLE AWARD!!!!!
I remember the tension
before the final moments and me nearly in tears a lot of the time. I
remember the " big guy" Ronald Risner saying something nice to me and
I broke down and cried ( he is a gentle giant).
I remember the pretty
young girls that Sue Wells taught...Allison, Whitney, Courtney, Myranda, and
how I wished I could ride like them and I wondered how Sue took such great care
of them (and kept them under control). Shew!!
I remember sitting with
Sidney and Sandy one year and Sidney and me both stomping off mad when neither
of our horses won!
I remember the decorations
of stalls and everyone trying to beat everybody else.
I remember our first
years, knowing nothing, and H.T. , Wilda and Larry teaching us gait, rear ends,
front ends, ARGH so much to learn and SO MANY people. Yes at that time
there was standing room only and then probably three deep!!
I remember trying to help
Vera watch Kaylee and Vera so calm, me scared to death Kaylee was going to get
run over.
I remember Gary Gwisdalla
and Rambin Rex showing off and playing at night in the stadium. Gary
yellin “How the Hell R Ya” and Rex taking care of him...because u see Gary was
bareback and STANDING up. It was a dance of its own...with two
partners...a man and his horse. It was one of my favorite things, they
made it so funny but looking back I know it was a performance based on love and
mutual respect.
I remember the
parties---food, music, celebration, and dancing...you know I love dancing
...even on tables!!!
I remember homemade
wine...Yes I Do...bringing friends to try it out...up at the barn on the
hill...Hey Gary Y'all gonna be there this year??
Mostly I remember the love
I felt and still feel for this incredible horse...There are good ones and then
there are the magical, unbelievable devoted, caring ones that steal your
breath....whether thru riding, loving, beauty, grace, parenting or any or all
off the above...THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORSE...The true Mountain Horse that was
bred and developed in the Hills of KY
As far as breeds goes the
RMH is a young breed but thanks to the registry it is starting to be a “set”
type with true Mountain Horse characteristics and conformation showing up
consistently.
GOD BLESS everyone at this
show. Looking to have a good time, tough competition, A Huge Cheering
Crowd and A HECK OF A GREAT TIME
COME ON BY FAIRWINDS (Barn
7) We all need to visit AND HAVE SOME FUN!!
BTW Just keep on singing
POKER FACE
HIlarious!
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