Part Rockette, Zenyatta Steals the Show

Maybe Zenyatta watched Mr. Ed as a foal...could be, stranger things have happened. Instead of talking she kicks butt on the track and then rubs it in after the fact by basking in the afterglow. Maybe she does talk...to her trainer...how else would we know what she is thinking. All kidding aside...horses are magnificent beasts and are wonderful to watch galloping across an emerald green field on a sunny spring Kentucky day. It's a sight I take for granted all too often...

KYCURM:  I love to watch the Horses run ... and that is the reason why the ONLY place I have ever Gambled in my life, is at the Track ....... I have wone a little more than I have ever lost, and I have had one helluva Good Time every time I go ...  A Great way to spend a day, watching the Horses run, enjoying the Food & Drink, and the company of those who know the Beauty of it all ....... "Magnificent" indeed .......
 
I have already started making Juliffs on Saturdays, just to get in practice for Derby Day, right around the corner ... An absolutely inspired occupation ... I grow Fresh Mint in a Window Box, just for the occasion ... The Trick is to be sure there is enough Mint left for Race Day .......

I would love to see the race, but I'm a little worried about the horse's diet. 

C. S. Lewis thought the more animals were treated like humans the more human-like they become. Maybe more so, Imagine a sport's hero with a touch of class and a Babe Ruth appreciation of her fans. What a novel idea. Bless the beasts and the children! Our real teachers! 

 
It was the opinion of my wife's mother that the horses on Mackinac Island were made to work too hard.

They are sturdy, generally well teamed draft horses in twos or fours and work in shifts of six hours with frequent rest breaks at the tops of hills.

Explaining to her that if it were not for the work, they would not be here or anywhere else did not help.

The charming fact that they stand in paddock and pasture on the same side of their workmate was wasted on her as well. She remains uncomfortable about it years later.

The point could be made that all horses are at their most beautiful running free inside or outside of white fences where, without little men, maybe added weights and close competition they are unlikely to break down and need to be destroyed.

Unlike other creatures that are the focus of animal husbandry, they may, if they are lucky, live long, dignified, well cared for lives and upon their deaths, fill a large hole in the earth as opposed to a platter in the middle of a dining table.

We were once held up in traffic after the Keeneland sale as international buyers exited in large limos and other spendy vehicles. I think it is all about money but what isn't?

 

STONEY-- sadly, sometimes it seems as if everything "is all about the money."
 
Across the road from us lives a man who is a "horse whisperer"---- he takes feral &/or abused horses & rehabilitates them. Pretty cool job says I............
 
Another beyond beautiful, blue sky day---- after many of these the soul longs for rain & gray. At least mine does........
 
IVAN---- please make me a virtual mint julep sir. Thank you.......

Thank you for Trigger-ing (hugs to Roy), a Slew of good memories!
My miniature stallion "D" was a show champion. At 25 inches tall, he was one of the smallest stallions ever to reign. The size of D's heart, immeasureable. D retired from his illustrious carreer at 24 and came into my care. His gentle nature, unusual in a stallion, was perfect for animal therapy work. The sight of D arriving at hospitals, nursing homes, autism treatment centers and the like in my mini-van (we're urban, no truck, no trailor), started smiles before he'd even stepped out, eager to meet all present.
Like Zenyatta, he stunned me with his capacity to read people. Even though he would startle at normal things at pasture, D was absolutely still as patients with severe physical and mental impairments shouted or flailed beside him, and when they calmed he would reach up to nuzzle their face or hand. He was unafraid of wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, elevators or any person we ever encountered.
One of his visits left me speechless.
An elderly, catatonic patient who'd not spoken for several years was seated in a chair, chin down, eyes closed. The nurse was doubtful but then sent us into the room. D walked over and leaned against her chair arm. I gently placed her hand onto his mane. I saw her nostrils flare slightly and her hand tightend. I looked up as the nurse ran from the room, returning with the hospital administrator in time to see the patient lift her head, and in a quiet, broken voice, she told of working for Howard Hughes in an aircraft factory. He'd taken a group of employees out to his polo field on a company picnic. Though others had been afraid, she'd tried her hand at the sport and scored a goal. When they returned to work Mr. Hughes had written her name up on the huge production board over the hanger assembly floor. She said it was the proudest moment of her life. She squeezed D's mane several times after she finished speaking and she drifted asleep. There were now several of us in the room, all of us streaming tears and unable to speak. We returned to see her two weeks later to find she'd passed away a few days after our previous visit.
I do believe these creatures around us can sometimes be more than sustenance, laborers, companions and recipients of awe and wonder. They can be conduits of something much larger, just as we can. Grace.

what a wonderful story. Thank you, and welcome,JaxZ

 
JaxZ,

You and your well told experience represent the best of what this village is all about.

Marvelous story and welcome aboard.

Stoney

BEBE:  You are most welcome to join us and enjoy ....... I am making these one Glass at a time, to ensure the correctness of the proportions of Senator Clay's concoction ... the only place we are deviant(thats not really what I meant to say) from Mistuh Henry's Original Recipe, that included a slight ommision from the Original Persian Recipe) is that we muddle the Mint with the Sugar, in the bottom of the glass, before we begin to add the liquids ... (the Persians used crystalized Honey, and muddled Mint and a pinch of Cardamom together, before pouring in the Wine)
 
Come with your Thirst ... One and All ....... 

Everyone has their idea of a noble animal; some like the elephant, some the tiger, the lion...
I can't think of one that surpasses the horse. You can sense something special in a horse even if it's standing still with its head held high, or quietly lunching on grass. There is no prettier sight in the world than one of those well kept horse farms I see while driving through Florida and Georgia on my way to visit my mom. I probably don't see the nicest estates from the Interstate, but those that I do are white-fenced, emerald gems. I hope Zenyatta has a long, healthy and happy life!

Thank you very much for your kind welcome! I've enjoyed your conversations so much from afar and finally could not help pulling up a chair!

JaxZ - Thank you for a lovely story!  Welcome and keep your chair closeby -I am new also.

Excellent jekoko, whatever initiation rites they might have in mind (eyeing the delicious but potent-looking mint juleps) we can commiserate! And thank you, I think perhaps art and stories, don't really exist unless seen and heard by someone.

Tho' few may have ever given it any thought, and to the disappointment of House Pet Lovers everywhere ... The Horse, is the ONLY Animal in Heaven .......

Welcome JaxZ and jekoko...what fun to have new outlooks!  Even without one or many juelps this weekend has come and gone and now preparations for the new week ahead begin.  However...it would be nice if Jalopkin could slip a julep on to the doorstep tomorrow night to help us get over the "Mondays."

Carol -- How far to do you think Jalopkin would be willing to travel with the infamous silver cup?  After a full day of critter-sitting, a julip would be the best of all rewards!

CAROL, JEKOKO:  Y'all have a Fat Guy in a Red Suit who shows up one day a year driving a Sleigh ... Those of us in the Tribe have a very svelte fellow named, Hannah Klaus who shows up eight days a year driving a Black Bentley and wearing a Custom Tailored Suit from Zindler's ....... Since he has got this Delivery thing down purdy well, I'll see if I can inveigle him to make a special run with the Juliffs ... Besides, he is often seen at the Track or at OTB anyway, and is somewhat  of an Aficionado ....... If you see a fellow appear out of nowhere in a Morning Coat, Topper, and Spats ... don't be alarmed ... but keep him away from Thesepia Train, or we'll never get him out of the Club Car .......

Jalopkin--hello and please tell your jolly messenger that the effort would be greatly appreciated! G'Nite all!
 

JEKOKO: And a Warm Hello To You !!!   (I don't wanna say that the guy drinks, but he saw a Billboard once that said, "Drink Canada Dry" and he's been trying to ever since ...)

We can still hope for "Rachel" to show up and race against her.  Wouldn't that be great fopr racing?