I Want a New Horse Syndrome

I’m going through an ‘I need a new animal’ phase. You know how some people feel the need to buy a new car every few years...or even move into a new house? I’m that way with animals…every few years, I just need one. I haven’t added to my four-legged furry collection since July 13, 2008, the day I brought Misty home. That’s been almost 3 years.

THREE YEARS!!

Do you know how long that is in ‘Laurie needs a new animal’ years? At least 15.

This little filly will lighten up and grey out...omg I MUST have her!

What I’d really prefer is another horse. But as Misty can cost more than my mortgage some months (not joking), I’ll take a dog or a cat. But there is one large, red-headed obstacle between me and new animal bliss…James.

I'm dying just looking at this picture - there is nothing cuter than a long-legged foal!

James has recently started this ridiculously terrible and horrific thing called, “the budget.” And while I admire “the budget’s” ability to let us know if we’re on track with our savings goals, I also despise him for being a complete and total snake. He rats me out to James every month by delivering cold hard numbers showing EXACTLY how much I spent on the animals. It’s hard to make a good case for wanting – no – NEEDING another animal when “the budget’s” statistics get thrown back in my face.

Kittens!  Inspired by...Kittens!!  I sincerely hope he wreaked havoc with these brushes - LOVE bad cats!

And at the end of the day, despite my excuses and skepticism, “the budget” just does not lie. I hate him and his incredible accuracy.

My go-to line: “but if we’re not having kids, we can TOTALLY afford another horse!” James: “regardless of kids, when the “Animals” category is a very close second to the “Mortgage” category, that’s a problem!”

We obviously have two very different definitions of the word ‘problem.’

Yes...I WILL sneak a well-dressed duck into the house one day.

But no worries – I will wear both James AND “the budget” down. And as they say, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission! ;)

And in case you're wondering - no - I don't want one of these!!  Haha!!

A View from the Outside

Though James and I had a fairly jam-packed trip to Lexington with touring farms and consuming bourbon, we also took time to just drive around the area and take in some of the magnificent sights.  After you've driven along Van Meter Road and down Frankfort Pike, you’ll understand why Dreamer writer/director John Gatkins told columnist Rich Copely that Lexington offered “an embarrassment of riches” when it came to shooting locations.

Below are some pictures of the entrances to several farms…can you imagine living here and calling this place ‘home’?!?  I begged James more than once to stop the car so I could hop the gates for a better look…but the need to ‘be reasonable’ and the fear of ‘getting arrested’ prevented him from doing that.

Darley Stud - this is where Bernardini stands.  He's Zenyatta's baby daddy.

Another entrance at Darley.

Not sure of the name of this farm - but these gates were featured in the movie Dreamer.  Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning entered through these gates on their way to meet a potential stud for their horse...but the farm they used for this scene was actually Ashford Stud (see pictures of Ashford here).

More Preakness Pictures

As I mentioned in a previous blog, James was covering Preakness and the days leading up to it for his agency, Zuma Press.  Below are some of my favorite pictures.  Enjoy!

This is probably one of my all-time favorite pictures - period.  I love the sky...the subject (naturally) and the simplicity of the horse and rider out for an early morning workout.

I think this picture was taken on Black Eyed Susan Day.  Todd Pletcher, trainer of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver, takes a stroll past the starting gate.

Mucho Macho Man ponders the meaning of life.

Here is Shackleford, the eventual winner, working out the day before the Preakness.

Look at this guy go!!

And I saved the most interesting picture for last!  The horse on the right is Misty's "brother"...kind of.  This horse's grandsire was Misty's sire.  Money For Love put up a tremendous fight, but he came in second by a nose.

Happy Memorial Day!

A huge thanks to all the men and women who have served and are serving for our country.  God Bless America!

My Preakness

For as long as I could remember, I wanted to attend the Preakness Stakes. As a little girl, I would get so excited just knowing that the Preakness was held in Baltimore – finally, my city could claim something great – something big! On the morning of the race, I would go outside and pick handfuls of buttercups, tie them together into a miniature garland necklace, and drape them around my pony’s neck. Being the patient soul that she still is, Takoma Star (Komie), would stand there sweetly while I fawned all over her.

 In 2006, my dream came true – I was off to the races! Thanks to Mary’s media passes, we toured all over the grandstand, the infield, and then finally made our way along the rail at the Turfside Terrace where we watched most of the races. Later on we ventured into the corporate tent area and met Cal Ripken. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Baltimore and I was at the Preakness!

I love my media pass - thanks MK!

Me in the Winner's Circle...probably not supposed to be there!

Me, Mary and Cal. Not sure why - but I could really go for a glass of milk right now...

 
Then Barbaro broke through the starting gate too early…bursting through the doors before they even opened. Moments later, he broke down right in front of my eyes. I was devastated. I followed his heartbreaking story until he was put down almost nine months later.

My next Preakness experience, however, was just as happy as my first one was sad. In 2009, I returned to watch super filly, Rachel Alexandra, hold off Mine That Bird’s final stretch run. As much as I wanted to see him win and be a contender for the Triple Crown, I wanted to see the little girl beat the pants off the boys – and she did!

After a little stalking, I got to meet Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist - Michael Matz.  Most recently, he was Barbaro's trainer.

 Rachel Alexandra says - stick it boys!

The garland of Black Eyed Susans...but not really.  Black Eyed Susans don't bloom until mid-summer...this is really a garland of yellow painted daisies.

Me at the Stakes Barn...again...some place I'm not supposed to be.  Fancy horses can make me break all kinds of rules.

I watched Lookin At Lucky win in 2010 – and watched as Animal Kingdom came in just behind Shackleford this year. With all its grandeur and excitement, my addiction has grown and I’m determined to attend Preakness every year from here on out.

Shackleford stayin' clean and kickin' butt...

Most of you know that these Triple Crown races are steeped in tradition…but most don’t know some of the specifics that make our race unique. Below are a few interesting facts about Pimlico Racetrack and the Preakness Stakes.

- Pimlico is America’s second oldest racetrack; Saratoga is the oldest.

- While visiting friends in New York in 1868, Maryland Governor, Oden Bowie, vowed to his friends to hold a horse race in his home state in two years time. His friends from New York would venture down to Baltimore; the losers of the race would have to buy dinner for the winners. Realizing that a horse race could not be run without a track, Bowie commissioned for one to be built.

- The Maryland Jockey Club purchased the land for $23,500 and the racetrack was built for $25,000. The track was named Pimlico after the surrounding area that was first christened “Pemblicoe” by English settlers in 1669.

- The first race held at Pimlico, “The Dinner Stakes,” was won by a colt named Preakness, thus inspiring the name for the second jewel of the Triple Crown!

No zooming here...I was this close to the turf races in 2006!

A Preakness Picture

I will have a few more Preakness-y posts to follow…but couldn’t resist sharing this one picture.  My husband and I both attended Preakness this year – I as a spectator at The Top of the Stretch and James shot the event for his agency, Zuma Press. 

Below is one of my favorite pictures of the winner, Shackleford, about to cross the wire.

Note to self – if you want to stay clean, be a frontrunner and hold onto the lead!  

Misty v. The Mystique

Like most women (sorry girls – we know it’s true), my mare, Misty Mystique, has two distinct personalities. Sometimes she loves me and is super affectionate and all-around cute. Other times, she hates me with a passion. And unfortunately, this love/hate relationship carries over into our ride time.

'Misty,' my well-behaved/usually sleepy horse

When Misty is being her normal self, she is ‘Misty.’ She listens, tries to please me, and is just your average good horse. She has never been one to really enjoy going out, training hard, and being ridden, but she seems content enough to do what I ask of her. On the rare occasion that she’s “just not feeling it,” as my sister would say, we refer to her as, ‘The Mystique.’

After a ride my friend Kelsey will send me a text asking, “Who did you have today? Misty or The Mystique?”

Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to start out a ride with Misty…but will get a glimpse of The Mystique as I progress. Case in point: last week Misty and I were in our ring doing lots of trot work. As I mentioned in a previous post, Misty was fairly out of shape, so we’re doing lots of trotting to build her muscles back. I was one circle away from being finished when The Mystique came out and decided that, no, we were actually done now. She didn’t want to continue trotting and kept trying to twist her head, drag my left rein out of my hand, and dart into the center of the ring.

'The Mystique' would like to see my head on a silver platter...or any platter, for that matter.

At this time, my mom, produced ‘Mr. Crop,’ who was able to persuade Misty to shed her Mystique-ness and finish the ride quietly. Oh the Mystique.

My BFF / The Mystique's enemy, Mr. Crop

Now that Misty is getting fit again, I’ve added cantering back into our lessons. For those of you who don’t know, the canter is another gait, faster than the trot, just slower than a gallop. It’s my favorite gait as it has a rocking horse motion to it, but since it requires Misty to go faster, thus putting forth more effort, she hates it. Therefore, cantering can be a little scary!

Last week, I asked Misty for the canter and she willing obliged (shocking!)…but as she slowed around a corner and I urged her forward with my legs, The Mystique reared her ugly head and delivered a good-sized buck. Apparently, she felt I was out of line asking her to keep up the pace. Luckily, I have good balance, so I stayed in the saddle.

In addition to being well-balanced, I am also quite stupid because I asked her to continue cantering even after she had made it very clear that she was over this part of the lesson. Thankfully, Mr. Crop again persuaded ‘Misty’ to return and canter a few more smooth circles.

I have to say – though Misty can be a challenge, I love mares…they’re so much fun!