Not quite so cold today so I did my usual five mile walk. Nice to see a friend, she was walking in the opposite direction with her dog. We stood chatting, and another friend turned up in her car to see to her horses.
Talking of horses, here is a video from yesterday at Newark. Please excuse the wobbly bit in the middle, I was trying to walk around some spectators and not catch them on the video.
The way they dress the horses up is lovely. It must take ages of preparation to get them up to show standard. I was speaking to a stall holder who sells the special soap needed to wash the horses. I imagine that hours of grooming with the right products is imperative to make sure that they have the best chance of winning a rosette. I love the white boots.
Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona
I love these pics Ilona, you are so right, so much work and effort goes into these horses, it’s a joy to see. If you are going to keep horseying around, you’ll need to keep on top of the lingo - socks not boots 😉😂😂. X
ReplyDeleteMy language is embedded in my head. I make up my own version.
DeleteMy Dad loved those horses. Always said it brought him back to his childhood when they were still working and he'd see them on the streets.
ReplyDeleteYou should look on Youtube for the Budweiser Brewery Clydesdales. Some wonderful commercials. The one made just after 911 is poignant.
I should?
DeleteIt was a suggestion, but interpret however you choose. There are some beautiful horses in those ads. Their beer is nothing to brag about
DeleteIf it was a suggestion, why didn't you say I might like to look. I don't like people telling me what I should do.
DeleteI just love those big horses!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are fabulous.
DeleteThese large horses have a special place in my heart.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are lovely to see. I wouldn't want to pay for one though. Thank goodness there are some people working hard to keep old British traditions alive.
DeleteOne of the breed standards of the Shire are the "feathers" at the bottom of their legs. With the white colouring, up to the knee is called "stockings" and lower amounts are "socks". You're right, a lot of hard work gone into their turnout. Chalk blocks are used on the white socks and stockings and powdered through the feathers, Showsheen detangler for manes and tails, and the plaiting is a work of art. I used to help a friend show her horses (part bred Arabs) and back in the day it was egg white brushed through the manes to keep them neat when plaited and then they were sewn in (taken out on return home). Ditto the tops of the tails. On a grey, we used Reckitts Blue to make the white of her tail really clean.
ReplyDeleteThe show harness with all the brasses takes a lot of polishing too. Don't they look splendid though? One big family - everyone will know each other and really look forward to their days out and catching up on the horsey gossip.