Northern Horses from the Past
Some of you may remember a section we used to have called “The Old Ones”. It was dedicated to articles about horses that have passed on but that are still a big part of our memories and often a big part of the genetics of today’s horses. We are working on a section to repost those stories and photos.
*edit January 26th, 2008 - The new section is live, you can view it here
Do you have any horses that you would like to add to this section? We are most interested in stories, photos and information about Canadian horses that have stood out in your life, whether for great performance achievements themselves or by their offspring, or because they brought something to your life that makes them stand out in your memories. Do they have to be registered or famous? No. Do they have to be no longer with us? Yes.
You can forward your stories, photos, whatever information you would like to share to lynn@northernhorse.com. I personally plan to include Fintry Little Tom - our first stallion who will always be in our memories and a pony named Sparky who still brings a tear to my eyes. I wish I could have them both back again.
I look forward to reading about your favorite horses and keeping their memories alive.
January 8th, 2008 Lynn
I have a horse that stands out in my life a huge amount. I bought this gorgeous 16hh apendix QH through a 4h loan. Radar is an amazing athlete that i use for rodeo season. We rope and barrel race and pole bend. Besides rodeo i also use him for cutting, reigning, jumping, dressage, showing and much much more. Radar has changed my life dramatically, more than i ever thought an animal could change someone. I love Radar and he will always be mine and never be forgotten
One of the horses that really stands out in my mind and memory was a shetland pony gelding named Peanut. He actually belonged to my cousins, but they were nice enough to let me ride him whenever the opportunity arose. He was a tough, smart, little bay. I credit him with establishing my courage and determination as a rider. Being such a smart guy, he would try every trick he knew to avoid being ridden. While being saddled he’d actually reach around and pull his saddle blanket off before you could throw the saddle on top of it! I always had to remember to tie him short so he couldn’t reach. Once the saddle was on his back, he’d blow himself up as big as a house to avoid the cinch. I always had to lead him around a lot before I could get the cinch tight enough to mount. His next trick came with bridling, he’d clench his teeth just as I went to put the bit in his mouth. It took some serious cajoling to get him to allow himself to accept the bit. Once mounted he might pretend to lame, try to rub you off on a fence, or under a tree, or even just lay down! Again, it took some assertiveness to get him to cooperate. He was ornery and rough to ride, but get him to a show and he’d just change into Mr. Superhorse. My cousins each won a load of 4H ribbons and trophies on him as his smarts would then be used for good instead of equine evil!
I thank you Peanut, for making me a better horseperson and teaching me to think around horses.
PlayGirl (girl for short) was my best freinds Quarter horse when I was growing up, she will always stand out in my memories. She was so patient with us riding her as kids, she never, ever bucked, spooked, tried to rub us off or anything nasty like that. She patiently tolerated green riders and forgave us for our mistakes as we were learning to ride. She was always soft and sweet.
Now that I’m Grown I’ve started my own little “farm” and I’m looking for another “Girl”, but I know there isn’t a horse out there that can live up to how I saw her as a little girl
i have 2 horses that have stood out in my life.
Trigger was an arabian gelding we bred and raised. i never seen a horse with such beauty and brains. it didnt matter where you went, you got commpliments on him. he was the gentlest horse you could ever meet. as a kid i would ride him in from the pasture with nothing but my hands and feet to guide him. he taught many a person to ride. at 24 yrs old he could have passed for 12.sadly, the horse that had never had the equivilant of a scratch his whole life, died of a ruptured intestine at 24yrs old. i have never seen my grandpa cry over an animal,but i will tell you his eyes were full of tears that day.
the other horse is my arabian cross gelding, Rocket. i picked him out as a newborn, when i was only 2yrs old. i told everyone about my “bwack and white named Wocket”. my grandpa told me that i would never be able to handle him, he was too ‘hot’ for me to ever ride. well let me tell you that over the last 10 years me and Rocket have won 4 buckles, breast collars, blankets as wells as numerous dollars in Barrel Racing. he has been scoffed at many times by people who dont know him and think he is too small(he is 14.2hh with shoes on) or unsuitable for what he does, but around our area he is known as the ‘Pocket Rocket’ or ‘The little Grey’. everybody has something that sends them dreaming, soaring to their own Utopia. Rocket is my Wings,he is everything i am not, when i am on his back nothing can touch me, that is where i am happiest.
I am part of a horse rescue in Hastings, Nebraska. We rescued a pony that I had named Edgar Allen Poe-ny. (clever huh?) he was at our barn for a week when there was an accident… I went out when my step-dad to feed and I was carrying the flakes to his stall. It looked like snow but it was hair. I opened the stall and he had gotten his hoof stuck in the stall and broke his neck… I was so mortified… I still miss him to this day… The way he nickered when i came into the barn is still in my memories…
In April we had to put my husband’s horse Banjo down. I will always remember Banjo. Even though he was small in stature (14.2) he was big in heart. We had Banjo for 10 years. He was the best mountain horse going. If there was any doubt about the trail we were on Banjo took the lead. He was fearless. Banjo was a cadillac ride. At home he was also a little ham. One day when he was out in the yard with me he went into our quonset and took his saddle blanket out from under his saddle. threw it on the floor and then laid down and had a long sleep. I taught Banjo when he was young to play peek-a-boo. It was his favorite game. He would run to a tree and wait for me. When I got close he would hide his head behind the tree and wait for me to say peek-a-boo.
He would then peer out from behind the tree and give a little nicker. This would go on for hours. I miss our little red dun and will forever have fond memories.
Shannon
The one horse that stands out in my memory…I luckly still have. Gypsy is a big Clydesdale, quarter horse cross. I haven’t even had her a year! She’s 28 - 30 years old but were not sure. I’ve been riding since I can remeber, But when I was 11 my confidence seriously decreased when I came of my new horse Buddy. Despite being a fairly green rider I had gotten this little 3 year old horse. After that it was really hard for me to feel comfortable on a horse and trust them even though I love Buddy. But once I started my riding lessons on Gypsy in march I was confident I coudn’t wait to saddle up. Then i came off her not just a little fall but major at least to me! THen i lost my confidence but Gypsy hasn’t given up on me yet! Even though my confidence was on rocks i attended my first horse show and we place really well.
I may not have Gypsy as long as I’d like to, but the time I spend with her just helps me and her get closer.
All my life I had wanted a horse of my very own, I had sent a wish up to god every night hoping one day that perfect horse would be waiting for me. One winter morning I went out to the farm where I leased a horse and to my supprise there was the most beautiful Arabian gelding I had ever laid my eyes on and he was mine. Mouj and I had many disagreements but our great times geratly out weighed them, he tought me so much in the 15 years he was my loyal best friend, he taught me much patience and how to be strong al;so he taught me how to stand up for myself. Mouj was the only one in my life that I ever trusted, and probably the only one I ever will trust. On October 1st 2007 Mouj was taken from me by God and I am still morning him, he was my bestfriend, companion, teacher, bodyguard, and a shoulder for me to cry on. Moukij will be greatly missed but forever remembered!! I love you Mouj.XOXOXOXOXO
I used to lease a horse named Baby (Mist Magic was her show name) when I was a kid in Maple Ridge. She was a bright chestnut Anglo-Arab with four white socks and a large blaze that split above her nose in a perfect circle. I loved her to death. When I was about 12, her owner died and left her to his daughter, and I didn’t see her much after that.
I’ve been looking for her for years to make sure she has a good retirement home, but I can’t find her. She would probably be around 6 to 20 now, I can’t remember when she was born. She was just great, though, and I hope she has a good home with a little girl to love her like I did.
Haha - 16 to 20, not 6 to 20.