A horse-crazy girl's Christmas wish come true: Sweet Surprize
Ranked #5,126 in Animals, #117,751 overall
This is a tribute to my first horse -- one of those types that comes along once in a lifetime, and that's if you're lucky.
Along with memories, I hope to share a little bit of helpful advice as well.
Best. Christmas. Ever!
Little girls' dream come true.
My first horse was a Christmas gift in 1982.All I was told of her past was that she was called "Shannon", she was 8 or 9 years old, Tennessee Walking Horse and Quarter Horse, and that she was due to foal in June or July.
Her past didn't matter at the time, although I wish now that I could find out where she came from, who sired her foal, etc. But I was just 11 years old then, and had been a horse lover FOREVER.
I was ecstatic!!
On June 3, 1983, she had a big sorrel colt with a star like hers, except with two swirls in it. You'll find the story of "Fiery Spirit" linked below.
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the gift that kept on giving
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What is a TWH?
Sugar was gaited (some breeds of horses perform a gliding 4-beat lateral gait as opposed to the diagonal 2-beat trot), and the smoothest ride you can imagine. She was 15 hands high, coal black with a star and snip (white spots on the forehead and on the nose), and no other white.She had the gaits and elegance (and, um, that *trademark* head) of the TWH -- although Walker people would probably call her 'pacey' -- coupled with the athletic ability of the QH.
So what she was a grade (unregistered) horse! She was the best!!
senior portrait shoot
Competing
I joined a local 4-H club in 1987, only to be very disappointed. Gaited horses were virtually unknown in my area, and the judges favored swishy Arabians or toe-dragging Quarter Horses.I was consistently marked down because she was gaited, and was naturally twice as fast as those shuffling horses with their heads so low. Sugar always held her head high and proud.
Nevertheless, I improved the aspects that I could change (my own riding, primarily) and did better in 1988, winning a few ribbons in local open competitions.
high school equestrian meet
Finding a hidden passion.
In 1988, I joined my high school's Equestrian Team, and learned to enjoy showing more than I ever had before, even trying gymkhana (speed events such as barrel racing)! I didn't have the fastest rides, but I had the smoothest!But I had another difficult 4-H year. I had improved my riding skills dramatically, but still faced a lot of discrimination in the show ring. Not only was she gaited, but she was a 'mutt' as well! How dare I show against their expensive, pedigreed purebreds! I guess I would just have to show better!
TWH Calendar
Tennessee Walking Horses 2008 Square Wall Calendar (German, French, Spanish and English Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
There is plenty left of 2008 ... celebrate each month with a beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse!
Proving ourselves.
And finally in 1989, I did.That "old backyard horse" cleaned up pretty well, and placed in all classes at County Fair, taking us to the State 4-H Finals that year! At States, she took two fourths (Hunt Seat, Western) and a third place bronze medal (Bareback).
Not bad considering just two years prior when asking for a canter in my first Western Pleasure class, she refused to do anything but her running-walk gait!
In a misguided attempt to create my own Walkaloosa, I bred Sugar to a leopard Appaloosa stallion. It was a cross that if the Fugly Horse of the Day blog would have been around then, I'd have been made a feature.
Rambunctious was foaled on March 27, 1990. Neither gaited nor spotted, she was a sorry excuse for a Walkaloosa, but a very sweet and friendly filly nonetheless. I had her for many years before I was forced out of horses for a while due to finances.
Last I heard, she was doing well, and had a nice home in a community about 40 miles from home.
bronze medalist, State 4-H Show in 1989
Just paper.
Just for kicks, on April 29, 1993, at the age of 19, Sweet Surprize became a registered Racking Horse. But don't worry, she didn't get a big head over it. (She was born with that!)Amazing how a piece of paper turns an animal into an acceptable, worthwhile horse of high regard in some people's eyes.
Gaited horses had somehow become quite popular almost overnight (after I quit showing, of course). "Breed People" accepted her now, and spoke of the merit of my horse and her breed, whereas before I got little more than a snort and *ahem*.
It disturbs me how horses are little more than fads and fashion statements to some people. Sugar was still Sugar. She wasn't any different.
Sugar in 1993
Parting views.
In 1995, my son was born. Soon he was riding securely in his Snuggli carrier as we glided along on his very first horsey ride, without a hint of a bounce. We had many wonderful rides that first year. As he got older, long before he could talk, you could see the excitement in his eyes when I got out the Snuggli carrier. One of his first words was 'Sugar'.And she loved him too. I'll never forget when he was about a year old, him plopping down in the grass right in front of Sugar (slid right down the front of her legs and sat on her front hooves to be precise), and the way she lowered her head and sniffed him gently, and stood statue-still over him until the 'ants in his pants' distracted him and he jumped up and took off after some dandelion fuzz. Only then did she twitch a muscle, and relax.
The last time he rode her was in late summer of 1996. At the experienced age of 18 months, he was 'riding' by himself (sitting by himself in the saddle while Mommy led)! Sugar passed away December 2, 1996. Sadly my son was too young then to even remember those rides now. I always will.
What is the hardest to cope with is knowing I will never have another horse I will be able to trust so implicitly again. There are 'gentle' horses, and there are 'well-broke' horses, even horses sometimes called 'bombproof' or 'kidproof', but there will never be another Sugar.
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Friendly advice.
I hope you enjoyed this trip through memory lane with me. If you have any questions about Tennessee Walking Horses as pleasure riding and trail horses, feel free to contact me! I highly recommend the breed, but it is more important to carefully select an individual of ANY breed that has the attitude and abilities you need! Always have a vet examine any horse or pony before you buy, and try to talk to previous owners, if any.The 'Plantation Walker' as the breed is also known, comes in a variety of solid and spotted (pinto) colors, and averages 15-2 hands high. (A hand is four inches, and they are measured at the withers, the 'bump' where the mane ends and the back begins.)
It gained popularity in the days when people relied on horses for transportation, and those who spent many hours in the saddle, like plantation owners, country doctors and traveling preachers, appreciated the smooth ground covering gait.
TWH Pros: Wonderful smooth gait, good temperament, fun to ride!
TWH Cons: Individuals within a breed can be very different, be careful choosing!
The Bottom Line: Horseback riding can be one of the most enjoyable hobbies, but do your homework! Make sure you buy a horse that suits you and your ability.
TWH Gaiting
Any comments?
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- Vacation-In-My-Head Vacation-In-My-Head Feb 8, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
- Although I do not ride, I totally respect horses. This was a very beautiful story and pictures, thank you so much for sharing. 5*'s
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- HorseLover4Life HorseLover4Life Nov 4, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
- Great Lens! Love the pics! What great memories to have. You were very lucky to have had such a great companion.
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- AllHorses AllHorses Jul 14, 2008 @ 9:37 am
- Since I already outed my irresponsible parenting decisions on the FHOTD blog, I'll go on record here saying it was foolish to let a toddler ride or play so near a horse, even a VERY gentle one, as accidents DO happen! I was fortunate, but many children and adults are injured or even killed by "freak" occurences around horses. Be safe!
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- The_Homeopath The_Homeopath Jul 2, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
- Such a beautiful tribute to a beautiful horse. I'm all teary now.
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- ArtisticHorse ArtisticHorse Feb 15, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
- I Enjoyed this !!! I love to hear about other peoples horse adventures Thanks
Your first horse.
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In memory of an average horse: Fiery Spirit (1983-1989)
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The story of my second horse, a foal to raise as an inexperienced horse-crazy girl, our close bond, mistakes we made, and a tragic end.
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Racking Horses | Gaited Horse Breeds | All Horses
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Racking Horses are a breed of gaited horse that perform an alternate gait to the trot which is smooth and easy to ride, called a "rack." This gait is a four-beat gait with no bounce, compared to the two-beat trot which has either a small or large am...
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Tennessee Walking Horses | Gaited Horse Breeds | www.AllHorses.us
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A well bred and trained Tennessee Walking Horse does not trot under saddle. Instead, this breed has at least three speeds at which it can "walk" ... a very smooth four-beat gait with no bounce. You'll hear the terms flat walk, dog walk, and running...
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Gaited Horse Breeds
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All horses are "gaited" in the sense that walk, trot and canter are all considered gaits. So, what is a so-called gaited horse, and what makes it different from other horses? Horses that perform a gait separate from the standard three list...
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Easy-Gaited Horses: Gentle, humane methods for training and riding gaited pleasure horses
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/28/2009)
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