HORSES!
Every sinse I was a little girl I have had a deep love for horses. I remember on Sunday when it was possible my mom and dad would take me to the pony rides and I always picked the same pony, "Tiger" , it was a little black and white pony that I just adored! As I got a bit older and was riding on my friends parents horses I knew that I had to have one for my own. I pleaded and begged with my poor dad until one Sunday afternoon I was told to go out to the street to see who pulled up. I couldnt believe my eyes! It was a horse trailer and when the nice man opened the door, there stood a black and white mixed Welsh pony and Quarter horse! I didnt know what to do!
I knew that my dad worked for the man landscaping his property as I had been to his home. Of course he had a mare and foal that I was in love with! The horse that he had brought to me had belonged to his daughter. He had bought the mare for her before she was married and after a time she lost interest in horses and he wanted her to go to a good home. What I didnt know at the time was that my dad had worked out a deal to pay for her with his own labor. What a dad! I was 8 years old and giddy as all get out! I remember jumping up and down and hugging dad! Then I got my first chore of having a shovel handed to me to clean out the trailer! *S* then a year and a half later I was given the ultimate gift....for me! My dad was landscaping a home of a man that owned a very exclusive Arabian horse farm in Solvang, CA. He had Champions to the hilt, but one was his prize stallion. His name was "Bolero" this horse had to retire as he had won everything that could be won from the United States to Canada! And he was magnificent to just look at! My dad had been doing some work around a wet area of his property in Los Angeles and was stung by numerous ground hornets, it almost took his life. When the man found out he felt terrible though it wasnt his fault that was just his personality, sweet! He had talked to my dad and knew that I was an avid horse lover and offered dad something that was unbelieveable! A 13 month old gelding who's sire was the great Bolero! Yikes! My dad told him it would take him a lifetime to work off a horse like that! He said no....This is a gift to your daughter. He came home and talked it over with my mom and on a cool day in November after I was told the good news and I just about screamed with joy! We drove 120 miles to Briarwood Arabian Farms!
This was all a big surprize to me! And only a month before my birthday! What a birthday present! As we pulled in the horse trainer and owner met us at one of the big barns. We hooked up to one of his trailers and from the morning shadows in the barn I saw the trainer leading out a small but breathtaking beauty of a horse! He was timid and a bit confused but I walked up to him and petted his neck, I thought I was dreaming! I was told his name was "Caliph Zori" It was a feeling in my heart that I will never forget! He was loaded in the trailer and off we went to try to get home before dark. I had to wait until he was 3 years old to start training him and when he was 3 I pulled him up to the fence with only a halter and lead rope and slid on his back and life would never be the same after that moment. We grew together, trail riding, show jumping, swiming in waterholes everything I could do I did with him, we were never apart for 23 years. I lost him when he was 23 years old and it felt like half of me left with him. He is still my main squeeze and always will be, he wasnt just a horse, he was my son, my best friend.
The rest is history.
God bless you mom and dad for letting me have such a wonderful experience in my life!
I know you are watching. : )
Purebred Egpytian Arabiam mare.
This was our last "Big" show together.
Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
17 secounds, not bad!
Registered Quarter horse.
A big boy! 16.3 hh!
My two other partners are there somewhere!
Registered Quarter horse Paint.
He has sure grown!
This is one of my best friends horses. He is a registered Foxtrotter. This is a gaited breed of horse
Like riding on air! I swore I would not show again, but she talked me into it and I'm glad she did! I showed Royal for two show seasons, which are only a few months in the summer. I had to learn to ride a gaited horse properly in a few weeks and in those two short seasons Royal and I took home many ribbons and 3 Reserve Championships! Two in Halter, shown above and one in Performance. It was such a thrill! I cried at the Banquet when they called my name twice the first season!
Thank you my show boy!
He sure helped fill up the other side of my ribbons and awards wall!
"Caliph Zori"
My baby forever
Purebred Spanish and Polish Arabian
