Going to the NW Heritage Spring Show in Monroe, WA, a week ago with my Cousin Dina brought back a lot of memories and feelings that apparently never die—we are still horse crazy!
We felt like kids again oohing and ahhing at which ones we liked best. Dina picked the winner of the first show (8:00 am – yes, we were serious that gray, rainy day). Dina and I have always been a little competitive when it comes to horses. We are 2 ½ years apart in age, with me being the older, wiser one when we were growing up. Or so I thought. We spent time in the summer together and after the first day, the novelty would wear off and we would start acting like sisters.
We still reminisce about the biggest fight we ever had—that lasted 3 years. Something about how a horse sounds when it is trotting . . .
My friend Janice, from high school days, who is not a horse person, joined us for a long overdue visit since she lived nearby. She wanted to see the pretty horses. Her favorite was the “velvet looking” dark grey with the silver mane and tail, the vertical image below. I have to agree that this one had the most unusual, stunning color of all. He looks like a hand-carved carousel horse; mane and tail waving like a flag, neck arched, nostrils flared.
After Dina picked the winner of the first show, I kept my mouth shut. But later in the day, I noticed something very interesting: The horses that I couldn’t keep my camera off of were the ones winning. Even before they entered the ring. The man on the horse at the gate won two blues in his event. The two girls from behind showing their “numbers” each won a blue in their class. My camera knew the winners! After contemplating this I realized the judges were looking for the same thing I was in an image; horse and rider were one, both performing their best with energy, beauty and perfection. They just looked good.
I do admire the Arabian breed, but I truly love all horses, and actually all creatures. My favorite horses real and not real: Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, Flicka, Mr. Ed, Little Black, Sundown, Brilliant Vision, Turbulator, Secretariat, Ruffian, Zenyatta (did I tell you a friend of mine flew to California just to say good bye to Zenyatta?), Budweiser’s draft horses (I love their commercials!). And Blue Hors Matine, a phenomenal performance that tears me up even on the umpteenth time watching it. She was special.
Bling.
