Animal Passion

11/08/2025

A photo for the ages! 😍 - John Whitaker & The Great Milton 🙂

11/07/2025

Only an equestrian will understand 🙂

10/04/2025

Before John Henry left for the Kentucky Horse Park, where he would spend the rest of his life, he shared a quiet, emotional moment with his longtime caretaker, Jose Mercado, on the plane. Jose gently stroked his face, whispering to him as if saying goodbye to an old friend. It was clear their bond went far beyond racing, a friendship built on years of care, trust, and love.

10/04/2025

Doc Bar, a 1956 chestnut stallion, changed the cutting horse world forever. Born on a ranch in Arizona and bred to race, he earned only $95 before proving that his true talent lay elsewhere. Small and different from other show horses of his time, Doc Bar’s unique look and calm nature caught attention in the halter ring, where he quickly began winning top titles and reshaping the idea of what a champion could be.

He was later bought by Dr. and Mrs. Jensen of Double J Ranch in California, who used him to breed mares with strong bloodlines. The result was a new generation of horses known for their intelligence, agility, and “cow sense.”

His offspring, including famous names like Doc O’Lena and Dry Doc, dominated competitions and changed the sport. By the time of his death in 1992, Doc Bar had become a legend whose bloodline defined modern cutting horses. He was honored in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame the following year.

09/15/2025

70-year-old grandma performing dressage on her 30-year-old horse. Together, they make 100 years of strength. Now, that's inspiring! ❤️

09/14/2025

Johnny King got a wild surprise at Laytown Racecourse when his horse Arbritrageur jumped straight into the air before the race. Both horse and rider somehow landed on their feet. King climbed right back on because that is what real jockeys do. They ended up finishing in the middle of the pack, but the real show happened before the race even started.

08/28/2025

This is Moose... A majestic black Percheron stallion standing a towering 19 hands high. With his powerful build and gentle eyes, he’s the kind of horse you never forget. They call him Moose not just for his size, but for his steady heart and calm presence. ❤️

08/27/2025

This is Ruby, the last horse to leave the coal mines, stepping into the daylight on December 3, 1972, with flowers around her neck and music playing to honor her quiet courage. Like so many before her, Ruby spent her life in darkness, pulling heavy coal wagons underground, never feeling the sun or fresh air. Yet these horses carried on with quiet strength, knowing when their day should end and refusing to move if the burden was too much.

They worked side by side with their human partners, sharing the weight and silence of a world beneath the earth. Today, we take the time to honor Ruby and all the brave horses who lived and worked in the shadows, reminding us of their dignity and sacrifice. They will always be the ghosts of the coal mines.

08/15/2025

08/04/2025

The Man from Snowy River! ❤

"The Man from Snowy River" is a classic Australian poem written by Banjo Paterson, first published in 1890. It tells the tale of a young and courageous horseman from the Snowy Mountains who proves his mettle in a dramatic and treacherous chase. The story begins when a valuable c**t escapes and joins a mob of wild brumbies. The best horsemen in the region gather to recapture the c**t, but the rugged terrain of the Snowy Mountains presents a formidable challenge. Among them is the young hero, who is often underestimated due to his youth and the modesty of his mount. However, as the chase progresses, it is this young man who shows unparalleled skill and bravery, riding down the steep and dangerous slopes that deter the other, more experienced riders.

The poem captures the essence of the Australian bush and the spirit of its people, celebrating the themes of courage, determination, and the bond between man and horse. The young man's daring ride down the mountain and his ultimate success in recapturing the c**t not only earns him the respect of the other riders but also cements his place in the annals of Australian folklore. "The Man from Snowy River" has since become an iconic piece of literature in Australia, symbolizing the rugged individualism and indomitable spirit that characterize the Australian outback. The poem's vivid imagery and compelling narrative continue to resonate, inspiring adaptations in film, television, and stage productions, further embedding its legacy in Australian culture.

08/04/2025

Every morning at dawn, at his “home” racetrack of Belmont in New York City, or at whatever track he happened to be, the Thoroughbred racehorse named Secretariat would stick his head out the stall and wait for his pal. The stall had a strong door, of course, but the usual way of keeping horses in their stalls is to slide the door back into its slot and attach strong, foot-high webbing into bolts on either side of the door set at the horse’s chest height. This allows a curious horse to stick his head out, look down the hallways and watch everything. If a horse hears human footsteps or the clip-clop of another horse, he can check it out. Maybe say hello. Racehorses spend most of their time in stalls, and an open door helps relieve boredom. Early every morning, with sunrise still hours away, groom Edward “Shorty” Sweat would walk down that long hallway to begin his day’s work, and every morning he saw the same thing. Secretary with his head out, watching for, waiting for, his best friend.
Secretariat was a kind horse, and playful. Eddie would toss the horse’s halter into the corner of the stall. Secretariat would pick up the halter with his teeth and drop it at Eddie’s feet; it was a game they played. Secretariat would try to steal the brush from Eddie’s hand, and he would pull on Eddie’s shirt like a pup playing tug-of-war.
Eddie was Secretariats groom, the man who cleaned his stall, gave him his food and water, put on his bridle and saddle, picked the dirt and stones from his hooves, put on his blanket, loaded him in the van and drove him to the next track and the one after that. This was Eddie’s job, and he did it better than anyone, according to many people long familiar with horses and grooms and racetracks. But looking after Secretariat was more than a job for Shorty Sweat. For him, that horse was like a son, brother and best friend all rolled into one.
Eddie knew, for example, that Big Red – as many now called him – hated to have his ears touched. He knew that the horse slept standing, facing a corner. At night, when the barn was quiet, the horse would lie down, but not on his side. He would fold his front legs beneath him and listen for strange sounds. When he heard one, he would quickly stand up. ready to run if called upon.
When Eddie would arrive before dawn, Secretariat always stuck out his tongue. Eddie would grab it playfully and shake it as if he were shaking another man’s hand. Ron Turcotte, the horse’s jockey, or rider, started this by one day reaching into Secretariat‘s mouth and grabbing his tongue as a greeting. The horse must’ve thought this was another good game, because every morning after that, Big Red would stick out that big pink tongue of his, and Eddie would shake it.
“Hey, Eddie,” Secretariat was saying.
Hey, Red,” his groom would reply.
This was their routine morning greeting through late 1972 and into 1973, when Secretariat was The Reigning King of Racehorses.
~By Lawrence Scanlan
THE HORSE GOD BUILT