My Little Pony

Here is a great shot of Holland, our new Shackleford, with Anne who adopted and raised him to be the great horse that he is today. In looking at this picture I was struck by the fact that most of the hard work of preserving and protecting wild horses has been done by women. Of course, it is hard to imagine that any wild mustangs would roam the west today were it not for "Mustang Annie." The preservation efforts at Corolla and Shackleford have been lead by women. Today at Corolla the exective director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund is Karen McCalpin, who is the most effective and hard working director of a non profit organization that I have ever encountered. The ladies who protect the Shacklefords took on the federal bureaucrats and won.
At Wild Horse Days in Corolla on July 8 we will be bringing down a range of different formerly wild horses including a filly from the first herd that Mustang Annie sought to protect, a Chincoteague, a Shackleford, and of course several Corollas.
It is a wonderful thing when a women fulfills her childhood dream of having her own little pony. It is even better when she does so by saving entire herds from extinction. It is best of all when the two come together at the same time.
Keep that in mind as you look over this picture of Anne and her little pony.

Holland

These pictures were taken just a few minutes ago. He is the tallest and heaviest Shackleford that I have encountered. I mounted up last Thursday and on Friday Lydia loped him around beautifully. He seems to prefer a rope halter to a bit and I certainly do not mind that.

He is a gelding. I hope to use him to demonstrate the endurance, athleticism and comfort of the Banker Horses. I am considering various ways to make a big splash with him after we have him fully conditioned for heavy mileage.

I am considering riding the length of the Outer Banks with him wearing only a Speedo bathing suit. Of course, it may be difficult to find a Speedo that will fit him. If we are unable to do so, he will simply wear cut off jeans.

Art that is Wild and Free

Our riding,training,historical, cultural educational,and mustang preservation program has many facets. The Corolla preservation art program is one of the most important. The picture above is of Kay Kerr, a dedicated art instructor, and a group of talented young riders making a presentation to Karen McCalpin, Executive Director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

There will be much more about the program in coming posts. In the mean time, ponder the significance of this point. How did man first capture wild horses? Look at the cave paintings of Europe. Prehistoric man first captured the spirit of wild horses in his paintings. Art was the first lasso. It was the first bridle. It was the first saddle. And my little riders are using art to help save the first horses of America.

The program is entirely the result of Kay's hard work and dedication. I really cannot claim any credit for it, but I can still be very proud of it.

Transitions

On Monday I will begin to prosecute in my hometown instead of the next county over. For the past week I have been working very hard on various upgrades to our program like planting, fencing, and painting. In short I have been away from the computer more than normal. Life will fall back into order soon and we will have several new E interviews to post, a lot of pictures of the yearlings and the one foal of 2009, some writing and poetry from my riders, news about a summer full of special programs and events, a series on colt starting, and more Corolla horse history.
I have also began writing another book, portions of which are likely to show up on this blog.
The picture above is of Dionysus, a wild stallion of Shackleford. Last Monday I went deep into Carolina to pick up his grandson, Holland who is the newest addition to our Banker herd.

Seeing the World Through Lido's Eyes

Today has been drab, dark, and overcast with misty rain. The ground is pure muck. I cannot find the beauty in it.
For two people some where out there this has been a beautiful day. Minutes ago Daddy told me that the eye bank contacted him to let him know that there were two recipients of Lido's eye's. Each was blind before the transplant but now each can see.
Have you filled out your organ donor card? As I once saw written on a beautiful plaque on a bridge, "If I [Lido] can do it then why can't you?"