A mother’s day

photography by Dave Russell (http://daverussellphotography.com/)

My mom is the reason my horse dreams come true. She was there to remind me breathing is a really good thing to do when show jumping at my first show ever, and she was there, in the pouring rain, to cheer me on in the first event I ever won with Noah. She was there when I fell in love with that chestnut trouble maker, and she was there to hug me while I cried in sheer frustration after the worst clinic with him in the history of riding. I don’t know how my mom did it, but I sure hope I can figure it out. She was the reason that I can look back with a grin on that summer bike ride so many years ago, when I fed a horse along the trail a carrot and told her some day I’d have a horse of my own. She made that day dream a reality.

In honor of mother’s day, here are some ideas of fun mother-daughter horsey activities. I’ve included some every-day ones, as well as some great places to visit around the US, just in case you’re traveling and need a quick horse fix. This list is just a few I thought up–please feel free to add to it!!

1. Read “Black Beauty” together. Some of my fondest memories of childhood are the stories my mom would read to me, our cat curled up on her lap as she painted pictures with words. “Black Beauty” is one of the classic horse stories, up there with “My Friend Flicka,” and far easier to read. There is a picture-book version and the full chapter book. Don’t forget a few tissues for poor Ginger’s chapter…

2. See the “Secretariat” movie. In the wake of the success of “Seabiscuit,” (which you should also read AND see!), Disney is planning to release this fall a dramatization of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. One of the best-loved racehorses of all time, Secretariat’s story is worth learning–even just to marvel at his 31-length win in the Belmont! If you really get into it, you can go visit Secretariat’s memorial in Kentucky.

3. Hobby horse around. I always had little stick ponies before I had my real one, and loved “winning” shows with them! My mom would set up a jumping course in the back yard using little soccer cones and yardsticks, or anything else we had lying around, and my best friend and I would gallop around to thunderous applause. Anyone young at heart can enjoy making their own stick ponies out of brown paper paper, crumpled-up newspaper, yarn and a wrapping paper tube! (Check out the resource section for more complete instructions)

4. Play horse jeopardy. Set up your own equine game show! Quiz your daughter–and yourself!–on horse body parts, tack names, sports terms, or whatever else you want to know. You can use my video quiz for horse parts, or use your own pictures or flashcards. See who can score the most points! I’ll get some other quizes posted soon, so check back in and see what else in the resources section.

5. Visit the wild horses. Descendants of the Spanish conquistadors’ faithful mounts, the American mustang has become a symbol of our country. Herds of these feral horses still roam free in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and other plains states. The horse-star of “Hidalgo,” a fabulous based-on-a-true story about just what horse and rider can accomplish, was rumored to run with the Gilbert Jones herd in Oklahoma.

6. Watch your favorite horse sport. Whether you’re a cowgirl family or dressage riders, there are incredible horse competitions happening all around the world all year long. Find your favorite one online, on video, or even in person and enjoy! Be your own commentators and try to pick out the best teams. You’d be amazed, not just at how fun this can be, but also at how much you can learn. A few suggestions of my favorite events include the Rolex three-day event in Kentucky, the Horse Olympics (held all around the world), and any free-style dressage show.