NWR: Equestrians of WW

One more one more!

I didn't actually share any of my details. ... sorry- I type to much- as usual.

so this is Ivanhoe- he's a Davenport Arab- very small blood line with a particularly interesting story. They are... "asil" - pure.

He comes from the 28 mares and stallions imported by Homer Davenport in the 1920's. This was the first time the Arab was imported DIRECTLY from the desert to the States. Previously- all Arabs had come through Europe- typically Polish or Russians. (frequently crossed with TB's)

Davenport made a huge social mistake by going to the Bedouin tribe liaison in the City of Aleppo before he went to the head of Aleppo- the Bedouins were so honored he came to them first- they gifted him the war mare Wadduah.

The mare was so famous the Europeans had all tried to purchase the mare for thousands and thousands of dollars and were rejected.

When he went to Aleppo- the officials were then forced to give a gift of equal or greater value.

Halib- the pride of the desert.

After the city- Davenport traveled with a guide to the tribes in the desert to purchase the best of the desert had to offer.

He returned to the states with 28 mares and stallions.

This horse is a horse from the desert- if you went to the 1900's and went to see the horses that lived in the tents with the tribes- this is what they look like.

THIS. is an Arab.

He's also a stallion- and funny- the vet actually leaned over to check him because he didnt' believe me considering how calm he was.

Anyway- this horse has done everything- dressage- jumping- long distance horse racing- packing- cowboy mounted shooting- and herding cows. He's a fucking trooper.

I grew up doing endurance racing- but I switched to a more dressage oriented discipline when we moved to NJ- long distance horse racing in NJ is a joke.

I grew up with horses all thru high school until we moved out of the county, when my horse died. I've never got another one, but I always did western pleasure. I'm wanting to get back into it. FH has never rode but I want him too lol.

@Jo - what a handsome man! He looks so flashy with that huge trot!

I managed to get FH to take a few lessons when I first got JJ (pictures below). He was pretty good at it! He did some posting trot and some ground poles. We're hoping to get a horse property some day and he wants his own horse - a huge, honking 18hh+ Irish Sporthorse, to be specific. He likes to day dream

Bownetogther- ha- good luck financing that- them bishes are 'spensive.

TheD- I wish I could get hubs into it- but I mean- we have motorcycles- so- that's never going to happen.

I need to go see my boy- I only go visit now a days- I don't really ride. I fail as rider.

@Jo that is an awesome story! lovely boy you've got there!

We're currently leasing out Lady. My friend got sent out of town for work so we lease her and look after her while she's gone. I ride her mostly but MaKyla loves to be walked around on her, pick her feet and brush her down. We're hoping that when we're ready to buy a house we can buy just outside of town with enough room for a few horses. I'd love to have my own horse again and to find something a bit more size appropriate for MaKyla. Jason is pretty uncomfortable on a horse and it really shows. I used to barrel race when I was younger. Now we trail ride and just ride for pleasure.

@Jo - yup, I don't think we're ever going to have enough $$ to import one of them. He'll just have to keep dreaming! And I love all the backstory on your guy's breeding. Being at an Arabian breeding barn now, I have a whole new appreciation for just how different certain lines can be! Your horse is so much more handsome than the halter-types!

Great thread and sharing it with my daughter. She rides and I used to.

I LOVE the sound of a galloping horse.

I don't ride but my mother and daughter both do. My mom does hunter/jumpers and my daughter does dressage. We have 4 beautiful horses but currently only ride one. 3 are quarter horses and the one they ride is a quarter/thoroughbred mix. Here's a pic of my daughter after her dressage show in the spring

TheD- thanks- I like to call him handsome specifically because he's a stallion LOL- call me old fashioned.

They do grey out- they look so wise- and then I get sad because they are grey and old. and I think about not having him and my heart breaks.

I love his little star!!! bay's are so damn pretty.

And another one when we got our thoroughbred mix (my mom and my daughter). It's kind of funny seeing this post. My daughter's trainer just called to see if we were coming today

I grew up in a barn. I was in the driving side of things. I did coaching up in the Northeast and then turned to Combined Driving towards the end of my 25-30 years of being a pro groom/barn manager.

I spend many, many summers and shows at the Dixon Oval at Devon.

I have taken horses to 2 World Championship, pairs and hour in hand, as well as toured around england with a pair.

on top of being in the driving world, I have experience with live and AI breeding and foaling. I managed 40 Andulusian breeding farm in NoVa as well as a Standardbred breeding farm in Pa.

I have been there, done that, got the bruises to prove it! LOL

My spoiled rotten QH gelding is 15. We use to barrel race but joint issues on his part and a torn acl on mine forced us into a more leasurely pace. Now we mostly trail ride.

@OG Jaci - If you can manage to get some of her horses tail hair (about a pencil width amount- but you probably need her help and definitely permission before cutting her horses tail!) , you can have it sent off to be made into a custom braided bracelet for her - or make it yourself if you'e crafty

ETA - I'm also a fan of the "name plate" leather bracelets with horses names on them

Jaci- my barn owner found someone who makes cute barn wreaths with the horses names on them.

Name necklaces with her horse,

horse shoe jewelry (though- I rode since I was a baby- never wore stuff like that)

Riding socks would be good if she rides english.

My rescue horse Cash and I at my "bridle bridal" shoot. I got him from the kill pen in January of this year. I also have a 26 year old mare that I have had since I was in middle school.

Omg I love this thread. My little child is a 13 year old Arabian gelding. I've had him since he was an unbroken 4 year old and we've shared so many adventures together. I have a 19 year old QH who was my first horse at home still but he doesn't humor my fantasies as much as the younger one because quite frankly he thinks he's too old for my sh*t nowadays lol. Pictured below is the Arab and I in a western dressage clinic we went to in October. He looks so elegant and graceful but I assure you he spooks at every squirrel and falling leaf within a ten foot radius.

I don't have a photo of him on my phone, but I used to own a Palomino Quarter Horse named Nugget. He is 30 years old now, same age as me. I learned riding on English, but switched to western when I got him. I don't have him anymore because I can't afford it and I kinda lost interest in riding, but he is still in the family since my second cousin has him now. ETA: I lost interest because I don't live near a rural area, not because I don't like horses anymore.

@OG Jaci - in case you check back... if she likes wine, you can get her a hoof pick with a wine bottle opener attached. It's a hit with most of my friends.

Amazon has it and so does RidingWarehouse.com - just search "Noble Outfitters Wine Down Hoof Pick." It'll run you between $15-$19 depending where you order it.

I wish I had a different picture on my phone! This is me and my dad on my old horse, Nancy. Dad got her when I was a baby and then when I was old enough to ride alone she became my horse. She passed away last year