Happy Labor Day Sydney! So your challenge was rather difficult for me. As I look back over the years I have been so blessed to have so many great horses and ponies in my life. I think the ones earlier in my career stand out the most for they laid the foundation for my belief system. L to R: Good Time Charlie - a TB that stood 15.2+. He taught me about conformation and how important proper muscling was to support the bone structure. He was very scopey and had a little of a long back , a beautiful swan neck,bow legged behind and toed out up front. He was Reserve Champion nationally with Gene Delaney whom we purchased him through. Such A Star - another TB, she stood 16.1.+. I learned the importance of consistency from her and not to be deceived by looks; she was beautiful to watch perform.She also taught me to ride the horse you have. She always rode up the first line soft as silk and then got big and would come into the bridle.It wasnt until I crossed Bernie Traurigs path that I learned to really ride her.The photo was taken in 1975 @ the Upperville Horse Show doing the Regular Working Hunter, I still remember thinking that they were really big jumps.Chief ( Ennis) Jenkins,Rodneys father, told me to go in and have fun! This mare was reserve champion at both Washington Intern. and Madison Square Garden in the large Junior Hunter in 1976, the year I turned professional. Polaris Cookie - a truly great pony. Every child that showed her was a champion. She was beautiful in all regards. She was a medium pony for her first 3 years of showing and grew late so we quit showing her and she became a teacher. She was a state champion and national award winner. Farnley Colorado- small welsh pony who won everywhere in the country. Both of Anne Cheatham s daughters learned to ride on him. He was a great teacher and more character than any animal I have ever owned.He thought he was at least 17 hands and if you didnt give him the ride he liked you knew he was that big; he knew how to intimidate a person. Balladier- an appendix TB- who had a great mind but was not muscled proper when purchased and showed as an equitation horse. Everything that we learned through the years was applied to him after he was kicked and broke his shoulder. After surgery,rehabilitation, and starting over from scratch this horse had a new body to match his mind. In 6 months time his entire muscle structure was changed as was his way of going. The first time he walked back into the show ring he was a champion Junior Hunter.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 23:21:28 +0000
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