My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Lord of the Rings fans will know immediately that the Inn of the Prancing Pony is an inn in Bree where Frodo Baggins, Sam, Pippin, and Merry first met Strider. This sign isn’t from that Inn, but it’s the first thing I think of whenever I walk past it. This sign graces the front of […]
Read More
When Laura Hill and her husband started a landscaping project, they didn’t think much of the skeleton that was uncovered. Initially, they assumed it was a cow. It was about the size of a Shetland pony and it was missing its head. Luckily, before it was destroyed, she asked a neighbor about it, who happened […]
Read More
Along with other Derby lore, such as the benefits of different post positions, is the Curse of Apollo. Although it sounds rather deadly, it refers to the fact that Apollo, who won the 1882 Kentucky Derby, is the only horse to have won the Derby without racing as a 2 year old. The Derby has […]
Read More
Here in New England we’ve been battered by three severe storms in two weeks. The result has been lots of damage, but also something quite magical. At low tide at Nauset beach, the storm exposed a Peat bed, previously covered by sand deposits, and revealed horse and carriage tracks from the late 1800s or early […]
Read MoreThe Uffington White Horse is the oldest of the English hill figures. For more than 3,000 years, it has run across the flank of a hill — a enormous pictogram the size of a football field and visible from 20 miles away. Of course, when this primitive drawing was first cut into the hill, the […]
Read MoreThe tradition of shrimp fishing dates back to the 13th century, but it is an art that almost died out. Not long ago, only three mounted shrimp fisherman remained. That number has grown to 19 as people in the Belgian village of Oostduinkerke work to sustain their cultural heritage. “The strong Brabant horses walk breast-deep […]
Read MoreOn Veteran’s Day it was nice to see some celebration of our non-human veterans, who fought beside our family and friends. Perhaps best known is Staff Sergeant Reckless (c. 1948 – May 13, 1968), a decorated war horse who held official rank in the United States military was a Mongolian-bred mare who was purchased in […]
Read MoreUPDATE: On February 14th the owners of the Steel Pier announced they had scrapped their plans to bring back the diving horses. One of the main attractions of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier was the diving horses. From the 1920s until the 1978 (yes, 50+ years!) horses ridden by women in swim suits dove from a […]
Read More