Happy Birthday to All the Horses
Just came back in from my annual New Year's Day ritual of marking all the horses' January 1 "official birthday" with a head to toe grooming and clipping. They're all rugged up in turnout blankets (this is Tank, now 30 years old, modeling his this morning), so a good roll and a rub felt good to them, I'm sure.
The roll call:
Tank: 30
Corky: 29
Miss Rose: unknown--so I've decided she's now 21 (a girl's allowed to lie about her age)
L.B.: 18
Riley: 6
Tiffany: 2
Happy Birthday to your horses, too!
posted by Juli Thorson @ 4:10 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
I have three mares one is 13, 6,4 and one gelding that is 3. Of course the mares admit to nothing over 2!
My bff & I disagree over this all the time. She insists that the "birthday" rule is ONLY for thoroughbreds.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of other breeds follow it as well.
oh man..... that means my girls are now 24, 20, and 9, where does time go, we have had them most of thier lives. 20yrs, 18yrs, and 7 yrs. WOW.
I always thought that the Jan 1 rule applied only to racing Thoroughbreds. I celebrated my ex-racer's 30th birthday yesterday with a gentle trail ride around the farm :)
Beautiful photos, Juli.
For almost every equine competition, associations in North America recognize Jan 1 as the date the horse AND RIDER advances in age (though riders are a tad different), regardless of chronological birthday. A few performance horses jumped from Juniors to Seniors, and younger halter horses now show one class later than they did last year. Jan 1 now means I can now show in ApHC non-pro 35 and over classes. I bet there's a slew of new Masters/Select riders out there as of yesterday, too!
I have no idea what dog associations do, so my hubby and I chose to adopt the same Jan 1 thing for our two rescued huskies. They spent their 6 and 9 year old birthdays romping around Chatfield State Park in Littleton, CO. Later, I took my now 8 year old gelding, Beau, for a trail ride with my boarding barn owner in Parker. Beau got a clip and rub, too, and I pulled a fresh new blanket out of the storage bag. Pink, of course! LOL!
Aren't you sweet! Tank is 30- it's so hard to believe! YOu've been writing about him for years, I feel like he's one of my own!
Ya know I just tack the year on to my age JAN 1st too! weird huh?
Juli, Is Tank your show horse that you sold a saddle to buy back. I read your column for years. I think I faxed you messages then. I told you I started back into horses at 50 and was showing. I was successful and now at 70 I am still riding though not showing, just trails and loving our horses. I found your blog not long ago. Better than the faxes huh.
Good news and yet irritating somewhat.
So I now have a 5 year-old and a 4 year-old.
Hmmmm....maybe this year I can get my now 4 Year-Old into the show ring...
Awww but what's the rush, right? Maybe we'll wait just one more year so that he won't eligible for any futurities. [head hits desk - head hits desk]
I have a 30 year old AQHA that is enjoying her golden years. I've had her since she was 4. She does not know so far how old she is. I'm glad I'm not the only one with an oldie but goodie.
Dear Juli:
Dakota Miss Jabber Irene will be 27 June 13th. Not bad for a mare who had a successful colic surgery 6 months ago today. Then came down with EPM. She is doing fine!
Cordovan will be 26 on July 4th and is a dream under saddle. He gave me a nice buck yesterdat as I poured his hot water into the trough.
Princess Miss MoMar will be 15 in April.
Jane&Jabber
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