Love Song

I was alone in the barn.  Or so I thought.  It was late at night; the other boarders had long since left and the staff had fed hours ago. I had had a beautiful ride on the Rombout Hunt trails with Tucker, my stunning former racehorse.  The sun had been setting as we returned home, […]

Not Something You See Everyday By Robert Goodman

Purim is the Jewish holiday described in the biblical Book of Esther. The story celebrates the Jewish victory over their Babylonian enemies, especially the death of the wicked Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, through the miraculous efforts of Queen Esther, her older cousin Mordechai who raised her, and the “hidden face of God.” Each […]

Perfect

When judges look at a horse and rider, one of the things they consider is “suitability.”  Coney and Sharon were not in any way suited to one another.  One look at Sharon said athlete.  One look at Coney said Klutz. He was only seven, a Quarter Horse mix with a heart of gold.  His barn […]

Choosing Vintage: The Value of Older Horses

We see it happen so often at the bigger shows. Some fantastic athlete (a four-legged one) is retired at the ripe old age of 15. Or maybe 17. The horse is brought into the middle of the ring and stands as it is honored for its achievements. Which is all well and good, but…retirement? In […]

Mucho

Originally intended as a polo pony, Macho Magic grew too big…and was too slow. Paul Kuhn, the manager of Kirby Hill Farm, suggested that one of the trainers located at the farm, Melissa Hogan, start working with him. Melissa soon had a student in mind for the seven-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding, a student who had […]

The Purple Heart

In the United States, 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Army Sergeant Arturo de la Garza nearly became another statistic. Then he met a horse. Three deployments in Iraq had left Army Sergeant Arturo de la Garza angry, depressed, and subject to sudden outbursts. Thoughts of suicide constantly occupied his mind. He never discussed his […]

Police Horse

He was a comedian, always looking for a laugh.  He patrolled a busy, bustling intersection: Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, New York.   Buses, cars, and trains, all traversed it.  The imposing bay horse and his fellow policeman were always there, always keeping an eye on what was happening. […]

Born to Ride

One of Tina Konyot’s colleagues says “She rides beyond competition, with an excitement that emanates from her and broadcasts to those watching that something brilliant and extraordinary is taking place.” It’s hardly a surprise. Tina Konyot has horses—and performing—in her bloodlines. Dating back five generations her family has trained horses, danced in ballets and performed […]