Meeeeerrrrrrryyyyyy Christmas!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but if this was MY Christmas present, I'd be pretty darn happy:

No, he's not a grey TB, but that's okay. It's the thought that counts, after all. ;-) Here's a link to the story behind this photo, if you are interested (although, call me confused - that horse sure doesn't look black to me...and I can't quite see his naughty bits to tell if he really is a stallion, or some journalist got carried away with images from Walter Farley).

Of course, I would like my other present to be an extremely large check designated solely for his upkeep for the next 10 or 20 years. As we know all too well, "It ain't the buying, it's the keeping!" Unless you are purchasing an equine who costs at least in the upper five figures, that is definitely the most expensive part of horse ownership. Heck, my darling doggie initially cost the best $700 I have ever spent, but I shudder to think of the thousands upon thousands we have poured into her since (besides food, treats, toys and grooming equipment, since I do it myself, there has been knee surgery, teeth cleanings, mass removals - all benign, thank goodness, a back injury, etc.). Absolutely worth every single penny but I'm glad I just have the one!

I will take this opportunity to say I truly appreciate all of you who have read this blog, commented, listed it as a Favorite, linked to a post, or added it to your Reading List/sidebar. It's different than all the other "horsey" blogs I read in that I don't actually own a horse, and you haven't even heard about the riding I do get to do. I may go all to pieces and take some lessons in the New Year - if that happens, I promise I'll write about it. I haven't found a blog of an adult re-rider who is simply a lesson student, either, so I will continue with my "uniqueness" if I do!

I started this blog as a way to record some of my favorite equine-related memories and exercise my need for creative writing. If I have amused, entertained or informed anyone along the way, I am indeed glad. It has been my pleasure and I look forward to continuing on. I think it is appropriate to end this year with my 50th post, too! (I know I'll be way too busy next week to post)

I truly wish all of you a most wonderful and blessed Christmas or Chanukah, with lots of horsey gifts, and the very happiest of New Years!

I told you I had Secretariat everywhere... including on the Christmas tree! If you look at the bottom you can just see a brass ornament with a horse head. That is a prize possession; it's a limited-edition portrait of Big Red and it looks JUST like him. I bought it from eBay about 10 years ago to benefit a horse charity in VA, I believe. As far as I'm concerned it's GOLD-plated!

Another horsey ornament of which I'm very fond. It's made of china and extremely delicate - the rider's head has had to be reattached a couple times.

Ho-ho-ho, Santa hunting on horseback! If you pull the string below the horse's legs move. It's great. :-)