VN :>     And while we are at it, would anyone else be
VN :>interested in relating stories about why they ended up with
VN :>the horses that they own, or why you love the breeds that
VN :>you love?  I know that probably at one time or another you
Let's see...I've always had a "thing" for Arabs.  Never even saw one in the 
flesh until I was in my late 20's.  I think my love for them came from the 
first glimpse I had of Marguerite Henry's "Album of Horses" and that gorgeous 
gray Arab with all the tassles!  I remember as a kid, I did a painting of it 
even...no Rembrandt, me!
My horses have always seemed to just happen.  My first horse, when I was 9 or 
10, was a 26 yo retired TB hunter.  His name was Sonny, and he could barely 
move!  But we walked and did a little trotting around the farm...I remember 
one day he actually cantered!  I was thrilled.  However, he got down to roll 
one morning, and just couldn't get himself back up.  First horse I ever had, 
and first horse I ever had to have put down.  Horrible!!
Second was Blackie (or Chub as I renamed him).  He was a TWH/QH cross. Black 
and ugly as sin!  Hugh Roman nose, and a tude a mile wide!  He'd been a lead 
horse at a racetrack, and simply couldn't bear to have a horse in front of 
him.  He ran away with me regularly when I first got him, but after a bout 
with a bramble stick and my hot temper, he never did that again with me.  He 
did, however, run away with anyone else who rode him!  He was a great tail 
horse, with gaits like water.  I showed him to reserve champ in Western eq. 
in the NJ state 4-H show one year.  Guess you couldn't hate a horse too much 
who took you that far!   Sold him at auction when I discovered that boys were 
more interesting than horses (g)....took quite a few years to find out I was 
wrong.....!!!!!!
Then there was that long, dry spell of college, marriage and kids....Then, 
Thistle!  She was the first of the Arab breeds I've ever ridden.  And so 
gorgeous she'd about make you cry to look at her!  She too was just by 
accident, really.  Richard bought her as my surprise 40th birthday present.
From her we got to Fiddle (same breed, of course!).  And Shiloh came as the 
horse for the riding kids.  So, given my druthers, I'd stick to the Arab 
breeds, and specifically Anglos.  I love their personalities most of all. And 
having something spectacular to look at don't hurt either!  Silly reasons 
really, when you consider horses are for riding!  Don't tell anyone, but I 
think I'd get a QH if I were to have a good all 'round horse (g). Maybe a TB 
if I were to do hunters or something like that.  Appys?  Well, don't think 
I'd go looking for another specifically...but the find we've had with Shiloh 
worked out OK.  And of course, if I had to have a horse for kids (and didn't 
have to fit the horse to Richard -VBG-), I'd first consider a Fjord!  As for 
warmbloods, I've never had any real contact with them, so will reserve 
judgement.
Meg's horse life in a nutshell!
Meg  
 
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