This Blog is dedicated to the Noble and Great horses in our lives and throughout history. Visit the land of the unicorns in Behind The Mist, the horse lover's fantasy for pre-teens to adults.


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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

KRIPTON SENI II - Andalusian unicorn




Another new breyer horse is Kripton Seni II. This mighty Andelusian stallion was the United States Equestrian Federation horse of Honor in 2009 which means he was one of the five finalists for Horse of the Year. He was the winner of 12 national championships!




This magnificent stallion is now standing at stud at the Amandalusian farm in California.

I wanted to write about the Andelusian breed today.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andalusian horse
Distinguishing features Strongly built, compact, elegant, thick mane and tail
Alternative names Spanish Horse, Pura Raza Española
Country of origin Spain, Iberian Peninsula
Common nicknames Horse of Kings

The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española), is a horse breed developed in the Iberian Peninsula. Its ancestors have been present on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years. The Andalusian has been recognized as an individual breed since the 15th century, and its conformation has changed very little over the centuries. Throughout its history, it has been known for its prowess as a war horse, and was prized by the nobility. The breed was used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government, and kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses. During the 19th century, warfare, disease and crossbreeding reduced herd numbers dramatically, and despite some recovery in the late 19th century, the trend continued into the early 20th century. Exports of Andalusians were restricted until the 1960s, but the breed has since spread throughout the world, despite still-low population numbers. As of 2003[update], there were over 75,000 registered living Andalusians worldwide.

Strongly built, and compact yet elegant, Andalusians have long, thick manes and tails. Their most common coat color is gray, although they can be found in many other colors. They are known for their intelligence, sensitivity and docility. A sub-strain within the breed known as the Carthusian, is considered by breeders to be the purest strain of Andalusian, though there is no genetic evidence for this claim. The strain is still considered separate from the main breed however, and is preferred by breeders because buyers pay more for horses of Carthusian bloodlines. There are several competing registries keeping records of horses designated as Andalusian or PRE, but they differ on their definition of the Andalusian and PRE, the purity of various strains of the breed, and the legalities of stud book ownership. At least one lawsuit is in progress as of 2010 to determine the ownership of the Spanish PRE stud book.

The Andalusian is closely related to the Lusitano of Portugal, and has been used to develop many other breeds, especially in Europe and the Americas. Breeds with Andalusian ancestry include many of the warmbloods in Europe as well as western hemisphere breeds such as the Azteca. Over its centuries of development, the Andalusian breed has been selected for athleticism and stamina. The horses were originally used for classical dressage, driving, bullfighting, and as stock horses. Modern Andalusians are used for many equestrian activities, including dressage, show jumping and driving. The breed is also used extensively in movies, especially historical pictures and fantasy epics.

As the article above states, this breed is used a lot in movies...especially fantasy movies. So, when Behind The Mist becomes a movie, I think we should use a white andalusian stallion for Urijah, the Lord of Celestia. I can just see this sparkling unicorn with his long, thick, flowing mane and tail and golden horn. It would be fabulous!

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the new Breyer statue of Zanyetta. However, I think the new Breyer statue of Kripton Sni II is the most beautiful I have ever seen! Don't you agree?





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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

STORM AND HIS UNICORN RIDER BEKA

You must watch this video from You Tube of Beka and her horse Storm. Storm is completely blind as a result of an illness in 2005. She refused to follow the veterinarian's recommendation to put him down. Instead she built a trust so complete it can only be rivaled by Nick and Jazz in Behind The Mist.

If this video doesn't bring tears to your eyes then I don't know what will!



I, hereby nominate Storm to the Legion of the Unicorn and nominate Beka as a Unicorn Rider. Someday you will ride together across the flower-filled fields of Celestia! You are a credit to horsemanship, Beka!

Send me the story of your Noble and Great horse!

email it to:
http://mjevansbtm@gmail.com

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

ZENYATTA - "Hard to beat, and harder to ignore!"




There is a new Breyer horse statue...The strikingly beautiful filly, Zenyetta. This thoroughbred mare has been immortalized by the Breyer company. When I was a little girl, I would save up my money, nickles and dimes at a time. When I had 75 cents I would walk down to the toy store in Lake Oswego, Oregon and buy the foal in the latest Breyer family. Then I would save and save until I had the enormous amount required to by the mare...$2.50. The stallion was usually about the same, maybe a little more. Now you have to fork over $39.99 in the Back in the Saddle catalogue to buy Zenyetta...and that is a special price!



Meet the real Zenatta

Honours
Zenyatta Stakes
(2010)
NTRA "Moment of the Year"
(2008, 2009)


SI – Top 10 Female Race Horses of All Time
(2010)


Zenyatta (foaled April 1, 2004 in Kentucky) is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of 19 consecutive races in a 20-race career and American record-holder for consecutive victories without defeat in unrestricted races.

Owned by Jerry Moss and his wife Ann and trained by John Shirreffs, Zenyatta was ridden by American Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith for 17 of 20 starts. Jockey David Flores rode Zenyatta in her first three starts. She stood taller than most of her opponents (male or female) at 17.2 hands tall(70 inches, or 5 feet 9.5 inches) at the shoulder, and carried 1,200 pounds on her frame while racing.






According to a 2010 60 Minutes report, Zenyatta was purchased as a yearling at the comparitively low price of $60,000 because she suffered from a form of ringworm. Ringworm is a fungus on the skin that humans and animals can get. It isn't really a worm.






During her career she won purses totaling over $7 million making her the all-time North American female money-earner. She has been featured in W magazine, and the New York Times called her "hard to beat, and harder to ignore" in the 2010 racing season. Among her many honors, Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.

It was interesting to learn that Zenyatta was named after the album Zenyattà Mondatta, by The Police, who were signed to A&M Records by her owner, Jerry Moss. I must admit, however, that I don't even know who The Police are!






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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

MY FRIEND FLICKA


This beautiful Sorrel Arabian mare named Wahana starred as Flicka in the T.V. series,
My Friend Flicka



The McLaughlin Family: Ken, Flicka Mother Nell and Father Rob


Ken on his best friend Flicka



I was born loving horses just like many of you. I drove may parents nuts, I am sure. Obviously my favorite T.V. show, once we got a T.V. that is, was "My Friend Flicka." The show was aired from 1955 to 1958. It was beat out by Rin-Tin-Tin. Yes, I love dogs, but horses are the best. So, after 1958, I had to settle for reruns.



The show was about the adventures and misadventures of the McLaughlin family, ranchers in southern Wyoming in the early 1900's. Father Rob allowed son Ken to pick a horse from the herd of wild mustangs. Ken picked a beautiful sorrel (the color of a shiny copper penny,) with white markings on her face. He patiently trained her and she become fiercely devoted to him, saving him on many occasions. No one else could ride her of course. Ken named her "Flicka" which means "Little Girl" in Swedish.


The star of the show was Flicka. She was a 900 pound pure blood Arabian. I was happy to learn that Ken, played by the boy Johnny Washbrook really did love her. She was owned by a livestock supplier and trainer, Ralph McCutcheon and trained by Les Hilton. She was born on June 13, 1950 at Newhall, California. She was later purchased by Patricia Ann Eaves of Santa Fe, New Mexico and registered with the Arabian Horse Association. She was given # AHR 6513. She was not only beautiful, she was gentle and intelligent. At the time she was a T.V. Star, she stood at 15 hands high. (A hand is four inches.) She lived at the Clarence "Fat" Jones movie horse stables on Sherman Way in North Hollywood. She was brought by horse trailer to the 20th Century-Fox studios in Hollywood or to the Fox Movie Ranch in Malibu Canyon for filming of the 39 episodes.


In the 1960's she became a mother. She gave birth to a stallion named Hanabee who became a great sire and his descendants live today. She also foaled a filly named Ross Flicka. She was never officially declared dead but is most likely buried on the Saueressig Ranch in New Mexico.


The best information I found about Flicka and the T.V. show is on the link below:


www.myfriendflicka.com


"My Friend Flicka" was based upon the novel written in 1941 by Mary O'Hara. It was made into a movie first in 1943. A new movie with a female protagonist named "Katy" McLaughlin with parents by the same name, came out in 2006. Sadly, two horses died during the filming of this movie...supposedly "Accidents." Whatever...In any case, the words "No animals were harmed in the making of this film" can't be in the credits of that movie. The movie did well at the box office and was a big DVD hit. In 2010 "Flicka 2" was released on DVD.


The bond between Ken and Flicka is much like the bond between Nick and Jazz that you will read about in Behind The Mist. Order your very own copy of Behind The Mist on


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or wherever fine books are sold...amazon, barnes and noble, borders, powells, deseret book, etc, etc.