It is only right to highlight some of the incredible stories of the Olympics through the years. Well, the stories I find most fascinating: Major General Jack Burton was indeed one of several riders who represented the United States at the first Olympics since Berlin in 1936. He’d served in the Pacific during World War II and trained horses for the army during and after the war years as well. But his story didn’t end there. Or, one of my personal heros: The story of Lis Hartel, a woman who would win championship after championship, ride and place in the Olympics during a male-dominated period, and all without the use...
Guest Discussion: Robin Gainey of Gainey Arabians Part 2
See the first part of our discussion with Robin here – and check out Gainey Arabians for the rich history and beautiful images of their stallions and mares. Q: Were there any horses you were particularly attached to? There were many! Each in their own catagory. First was a Welsh pony I had at my great-grand parents ranch. Stubborn as a mule but taught me MUCH about horses and their care. RDM Electra, a SX Challenger colt that was the winningest 2-year old halter horse in the Northwest back in the mid-seventies. After I married, I used to ride Gai Parada, who had been National Champion Stallion in Canada and the US...
Guest Discussion – Robin Gainey on Gainey Arabians
I’m honored to have Robin Gainey on my blog today – she comes from a line of Arabian enthusiasts and distinguished breeders that have influenced bloodlines across the world. Check back on Monday for more! – Nicole Q: How did your family get into Arabian breeding? Gainey Arabians began in 1939 when Daniel C. Gainey, the president of Josten’s, was given the gift of a yearling Arabian colt from his sales group at the company’s annual meeting. It began a lifelong love of the Arabian horse and, because Daniel C. was a committed perfectionist, a wish to create his own “type” of Arabian horse, following the criteria of the Bedouins...
Novel Research A.D.D.
I’m sure one day this will be an official diagnosis. Though I doubt there will be a true cure for this ailment. I do know that I’m severely afflicted with this now. I’m a history addict and horse nut, so researching horses and history is a daily venture. I routinely google certain horse breeds + “history” and love what I find. (If you want to follow my Pinterest account, you’ll see images from my searches.) But lately, I haven’t had the mental capacity (or discipline) to stick with one topic, one time period, or even one breed. Polish Arabian history is the focus of my latest full manuscript. And what...
The delightful surprises of research and Ebay discoveries
Isn’t it amazing the rabbit trails you follow online? One click leads to something useful (or useless) and then something else catches your eye…And then you find certain things you can’t live without (or is that just me?) I discovered this documentary (that began as a Kickstarter project) about the history of Polish Arabians… Sorting through old issues of Arabian Horse World led me to learn about the issue dedicated to Polish Arabian history, which I immediately had to track down. This particular issue was only available on Ebay through one seller – and did I jump on it! May 1976, here I come: In scanning this beauty (more of...