Ok, Dog's Done...Will a Pony Be Next?

by Fran Jurga | Updated 13 April 2009 | The Jurga Report

President Obama introduces his daughter to the family's new puppy, Bo. Or could it possibly have been the other way around? The First Daughters have a soft spot for ponies, too; their aunt made sure a copy of Molly the Pony's book about the rescued amputee Katrina survivor went to the White House with Malia and Sasha. Someone should tell them that Caroline Kennedy kept a pony named Macaroni on the White House lawn! By the way, Bo, a six-month old Portuguese water dog, is a gift from Senator and Mrs. Edward Kennedy to Sasha and Malia. (Pete Souza photo courtesy of Whitehouse.gov blog)

President Obama got off pretty easily; surely Senator Kennedy remembers Macaroni the Pony's time at the White House. That's Caroline Kennedy asking her dad to hold the reins for a minute. (White House Historical Society photo)

My computer was smoking when I turned it on this morning. Humane organizations are disappointed, to say the least, in the Obama family's acceptance of the Kennedy gift puppy, which is a purebred dog from a breeder who has bred some of the Kennedys' own dogs.

I am sure the puppy mills around the country have been preparing for this moment, when the tousled-top rasta Bo would be unveiled. Portuguese water spaniels are popular around here, and I know quite a few. They're great dogs, especially if you have a boat or live near the beach. I guess the Obamas are coming here this summer for a vacation on Martha's Vineyard, so Bo might get to see some water then.

In the meantime, if the White House gardens have a water garden, this pup will be in it, you can bet on that. One of Senator Kennedy's dogs is named "Splash" for a reason!

Because of the allergy problem, there was no easy answer for the Obamas, and I think they should be let off the hook this time. I don't think that a cash donation to a Washington shelter will do much good. Their clout as new dog owners, asking people to look for their next dogs at shelters and rescue organizations, might be more helpful.

I just hope Bo is neutered! Bob Barker would probably march on the White House if he's not. Publicly announcing that Bo has been neutered might also help raise a lot of awareness and spur more people to action.

Jackie Kennedy (Onassis) rode in Middleburg during her years at the White House. Let's hope the Obamas find their way to that horsey edge of Washington's world. We'll greet them with open arms, and a leg up.

"A lot of shelter dogs are mutts--like me," President Obama said when he announced that the family would be getting a dog and that he preferred a shelter dog, but had concerns about his daughter's allergies. This pro-adoption poster was designed after Obama's "Hope" campaign poster.

Congratulations to Horse Groups Riding in the Obama Inaugural Parade

by Fran Jurga | 12 January 2009 | The Jurga Report at equisearch.com


Colorado's Freedom Riders are saddling up for the trip to Washington DC next week.

Lots of horse groups are checking in and announcing that they have been invited to be part of the Obama inaugural parade in Washington DC next week. This is very exciting and here's a list of some of the horses you'll be able to see:

• Four Lipizzan horses from Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, Illinois;
• Southern Ohio Ladies Aside, a women's sidesaddle riding club, will be turned out in capes, caps and skirts modeled after what a Civil War era officer's wife might have worn. At least one will be sidesaddle on Bud the Clydesdale!
• Colorado's Freedom Riders is a group of women who formed a color guard to honor US servicemen and -women.
• Governor Barry Schweitzer of Montana will ride in the parade, as will the entire congressional delegation from Montana (I want to see this!) and 20 Crow mounted horsemen.
• Fourteen troopers from the Mounted Color Guard from Fort Riley in Kansas, dressed in Civil War military clothes, will be riding horses on the parade route.
• Culver Academies in Indiana is sending 100 student riders and their horses.
• Ten Border Patrol agents from Washington State will ride their American Mustangs, obtained from BLM stock.

Let me know if I have left out a group so I can add them and their link to the list!

You can keep up with details on the parade and the inauguration ceremony at the official web site, which features a great blog.

And, PS: don't even think about trying to go to the parade. It's sold out!

Don't Tell the Obama Children, But the Kennedy Kids Kept Ponies at the White House!

You can almost hear Caroline Kennedy saying, "Daddy, just hold Macaroni for a minute! And don't let John-John touch him!"

Barack Obama should be relieved that all his daughters want for a pet at the White House is a dog.

John F. Kennedy's children kept ponies there, even though the White House stables had been demolished back in 1911.

"Macaroni" and "Tex" were gifts from Vice President Lyndon Johnson to the Kennedy children. They lived in temporary stalls right on the grounds.

Today is the 45th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination. This photo was kindly loaned by the White House and can be seen in the "White House Horses" exhibit now touring the country.