Barn Love

I've been in love with old barns as long as I can remember.  Not sure why.  Perhaps it's because I grew up in an old house in a old neighbor, rode shaggy ponies out of a run-down farm when I was eight.  Now it doesn't really matter.  Is it a coincidence that I now live in a 19th century farmhouse with a hundred-year-old barn?  Probably not.

There is something nostalgic about old wood, creaking beams, cold coming through the corners in winter.  

Unlike a falling down house, doesn't this barn look great?

What is more spectacular though is taking the time, money and energy to save an old barn.  You can't build one of these today!

What a lovely site for the holidays!

And there are newer barns made to look old. Not the same in my book.  But I do like it!

And then there are the OLD barns in the old country.  We can't compete with the 16th and 17th century ones across the pond.

If you are fortunate enough to own any barn, savor it, love it, take care of it.  Preserve it for another generation of horses, barn cats, swallows and little girls with pigtails on ponies!  Have a wonderful weekend!  See you next week!
(all photos are from the Horse Country Chic Pin Interest page)

Be Thankful

Long day in the city today.  Fun, educational, insightful.  But came home to news of a very dear friend now gone - Louie (not dear Truman).  Makes me thankful for the things in life that we sometimes take for granted.

Enjoy your time here!  Life is too short.  Hug, kiss, be grateful!

Affirmed

Affirmed was the last horse to win the Triple Crown, way back in 1978. He was a dashing chestnut colt, one of the best of all time according to many race watchers.

He was famous as well for the rivalry with Alydar.  Affirmed was the great-great-grandson of the famous War Admiral (who also won the Triple Crown), making him also the great-great-great-grandson of Man o' War.

As a two-year old, Affirmed was starting to show his greatness, winning seven of his nine races in 1977.  Six of his starts were against Alydar.  He was named American Champion Two-Year-Old with Alydar nipping at his heels.

Surprisingly, Alydar was the favorite to win the 1978 Derby has he put in spectacular performances in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland and the Florida Derby.  We all know by now that being the favorite for the Derby rarely bodes well for the favorite.  Affirmed was the second choice to win at 9-2.  Affirmed won the Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Alydar.  In the Preakness it was again a 1-2 for Affirmed and Alydar with Affirmed winning the race by a neck.

Many people thought that the longer Belmont Stakes would be better suited for Alydar.  In the race, Affirmed set a very slow pace, allowing Alydar's jockey to place him alongside the strapping chestnut colt with more than seven furlongs to go.  For more than six furlongs the two colts battled it out.  It looked like Alydar might edge out for the win when jockey Steve Cauthen (then just a teenager) went to a left-handed whip, which  he had never done before in his eight rides on Affirmed, which allowed Affirmed to just edge Alydar, winning by a nose.  They raced the fastest mile in Belmont history after starting out with the third slowest start in the race.  At the time the final time of 2:26 4/5 was the third fastest Belmont behind Secretariat and Gallant Man.

Alydar and Affirmed met once again in the Travers at Saratoga.  Affirmed was ridden by Laffit Pincay as Steve Cauthen was injured.  During the race, Affirmed cut off Alydar, entering the far turn which caused Alydar to check suddenly.  Affirmed won the race but was later disqualified and placed second.

As a three-year-old, Affirmed won 8 of 11 races earning $900,000.  He was Horse of the Year and American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.

He was again named Horse of the Year as a Four-Year Old winning 7 of 9 starts.  In his career he won a record $2,393,000 with 22 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third in 29 starts.  He was a natural speed horse who won most of his races on or near the lead.  When challenged in the stretch he would not let other horses pass him.  

Affirmed was syndicated for 14.4 million dollars and sired over 80 stakes winners with earnings in excess of $44 million (through 2004).  In 2001 he was put down after falling ill with laminitis, the same disease that took Secretariat and Barbero.  He was buried whole - the ultimate honor for a race horse - at Jonabell Farm wearing the flamingo pink colors of his original owners, Harbor View Farm.

Blood Horse magazine ranks Affirmed #12 in the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th century.  He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.  

Belmont Blues

It's been a while since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978.  There have been an astounding 30 horses who showed up in New York at Belmont trying to take the elusive title of Triple Crown Winner.  19 came up short.  We are hoping that I'll Take Another will surprise us all and join the exclusive club.

(Horse Channel.com photo of Affirmed)

We all remember Smarty Jones in 2004, don't we?  He was cute, charismatic and was owned by a group just regular guys wanting to be in horse racing. He had a shot.  He was in a fast race and they ganged up on him right from the start, making him tire easily in the long stretch to home.  He was beat by 36-1 Birdstone.

 (Smarty Jones)

You may not remember War Emblem in 2002.  Bob Baffert''s colt started out badly in the Belmont, stumbling and finishing in eighth place.

(Photo of War Emblem, Sports Illustrated for NY Times)

Many thought Charismatic would win.  In 1999 D. Wayne Lucas' colt fractured two bones in his left front leg but amazingly finished the race in third behind Lemon Drop Kid.

(Sporthorse-data.com photo of Charismatic)

In 1998 Real Quiet did not win either.  Bob Baffert's colt lost this race in a photo finish to Victory Gallop who had finished second in the Derby and Preakness.  This one was a real nail biter, but not to be. Real Quiet died in 2010 at age 15 in an accident in his paddock near Harrisburg, PA.

 (Tumblr photo of Real Quiet)

Silver Charm almost made it in 1997.  It looked like he was going to win but wit 75 yards to the finish Gary Stevens, Silver Charm's jockey, saw another horse out of the corner of his eye.  Unfortunately, Silver Charm did not see Touch Gold until it was too late.

 (horseracing.about.com photo of Silver Charm)

Another round of bad luck kept Spectacular Bid from winning the Belmont in 1979.  On the morning of the race he stepped on a safety pin in his stall and he finished third behind Coastal.

Let's go way back to 1969 and look at Majestic Prince.  His jockey, the famous Bill Hartack, was criticized for moving too late in the stretch and he lost to Arts and Letters.  This was Majestic Prince's first loss in 10 starts.

 (Majestic Prince wins the Derby)

In 1958 Tim Tam finished second to Cavan after running the final quater-mile with a broken bone in his right front ankle.

 (photo of Tim Tam, Community.tvg.com)

I'm hoping that the little chestnut colt with the young jockey will make history and defy the odds on Saturday.  Sometimes things happen when you least expect it!

Insatiable Ikat

Ikat has been around a while now, but I am still not tired of it.  At some point it will become "trendy" and "worn" but it has a ways to go to get to there in my book. (Photos are from Pin Interest).

This one of my favorites, From Elle Decor, Steven Gambrell.  Love it!

This pillow will liven up a dull room:

I like Ikat clothes too!

Isn't this a fabulous setting for a party?  Love the turquoise glasses!

This iPhone cover could replace my current Lilly Pulitzer one!

Love this wallpaper too!

This will enliven anyone's living room:

lkat for the office?

Another great looking room. 

Even plates!

Hit the Road Clyde

We ran into the Budweiser Clydesdale on Sunday while having breakfast at a local hangout in Virginia. The team that ships one of three groups was in having their toast.  The horses and the rigs were on the large trucks outside.  Did you know that these 2000 pound animals are on the road 320 days a year?  They clearly don't get home much.  Home for the group we met is New Hampshire.  They are trained there too. There are eight horses on each team.  Transportation for each hitch requires three 50-foot semis.  Two carry the horses, the third carries the beer wagon and the rest of the equipment.   

They are raised on a farm near St. Louis which houses about 35 mares, stallions and foals.    There are about 15 new foals every year. (photo below is by Paul Keleher).

One of these massive animals eats 50 pounds of hay daily, 10-15 pounds of grain.

These wonderful animals were introduced to the public in 1933 by August A. Busch, Jr. when he presented a hitch to his father August Anheuser Busch, Sr.   The hitch then carried the case of post-Prohibition beer from the St. Louis brewery.

But it takes a lot to become a Budweiser Clydesdale.  Only geldings get to do it.  The horses must be at least four, stand at least 18 hands and have a good even temperament.  In addition, each horse must be bay, have four white stocking feet, and a white blaze.

Below is a photo of the Budweiser holiday hitch.  

Aren't they beautiful animals?  

Bittersweet Evening for McLain Ward

It was a bittersweet night for McLain Ward yesterday at Devon.  Winning the $100K Grand Prix of Devon on Antares F and retiring the beloved mare Sapphire, his mount for his greatest wins to date.

His victory last night makes him a much more surer bet to make the Olympic team without Sapphire.  But how hard must it have been to retire such a great one.  

McLain is truly a class act, one that will continue to win and represent the U.S. for many years to come.  And not to mention that he shattered his kneecap earlier this year.  He is truly one of the best the US has produced.