Not literally. But for my latest manuscript, I’ve spent hours pouring over every picture and bit of information I can find about Janow Podlaski Stud in eastern Poland. Isn’t it beautiful? I’m pretty sure I’ve dreamed about it every night for a month. In 1817, Tsar Alexander commissioned Janow Stud to supply the cavalry and stock for the nation. Years later, it would become the most famous producer of purebred Arabian and half-Arabians in the country. But the history of Janow is full of turmoil and invasion. In World War I, the horses were evacuated to Russia and never seen again. In 1939, the invading Russians took with them some of...
Family resemblance – of the equine sort
Originally posted 10/13/11. In researching the history of Polish Arabians for my current manuscript, I dug into the lineage of my own baby. See what I found! (and realize there’s a difference between my photography and the professional shots…) Do you see the family resemblance? Here is my Grunnion, again: His grandsire, Gdansk: Now, the head shots: And Gdansk: All Gdansk images from http://www.gilbriar.com/gdansk.htm.
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Recycling Week – My favorite horse, the model
Last August I helped out a friend of mine who wanted to do a fashion photo shoot with a horse. Mine is certainly not the most photogenic, but it was a blast! Click here for all the highlights!
Recycling Week – My favorite WWII interview and story
Originally posted: March 18, 2011 ________________________ From Battlefields to Olympic heights I stumbled upon this story through a simple email to the United States Equestrian Foundation for some background about horse jumping in the 1940s. One woman mentioned they had a member from the last Army team who competed in the 1948 Olympics who might be willing to share some of his experiences. How could I turn down that opportunity? What I found was more than I’d ever imagined. 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...
Recycling Week – My favorite horse story (ever)
Originally posted Aug. 20, 2009 ______________________ The Arabian stallion legend: Witez II If I could credit a single book for my current work-in-progress, the Dreams of Yesterday series, it would be the Western Horseman Book called “Arabian Legends.” Published in 1999, the paperback book features 24 of the most successful and legendary Arabian mares and stallions. I have worn down my copy to the bare threads of the binding. I have spent hours pouring over this book and the photos of horses from in the 30s to the 90s. There are pen marks, pencil marks, highlighter marks, bent pages, sticky notes and everything in between. A hybrid of my two...