![masterremedy_gregward[1]](http://www.readjamesonparker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/masterremedy_gregward12.jpg)
Rosie’s grandfather died two weeks ago. Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, Rosie is Darleen’s little red mare, and her grandfather was the legendary, the incomparable Master Remedy, shown here with Greg Ward. He was thirty-three years old.
For those of you who are not immersed in the Quarter horse world, Master Remedy was one of the all-time great cutting horses (bred by the late Greg Ward), and more importantly, he was a sire of some of the greatest National Reined Cow Horse Association champions, one of only four stallions ever to sire three Snaffle Bit Futurity Open champions. Master Remedy’s own pedigree was of a kind to make the house of Windsor look parvenu. His dam was Wininic, by Sugar Vandy out of Fillinic, and his sire was Docs Remedy, a son of Doc Bar. If my blood were that blue, I would be far too grand to speak to anyone.
But accomplishments and blue blood aside, Master Remedy had two other qualities that made him outstanding. The first, according to John Ward, was his extraordinary athletic ability. “To lope him around, it felt like you were loping on a cloud.” This attribute he unfortunately did not pass on to his granddaughter. Rosie is undoubtedly athletic, but loping her around feels like trying to ride a cross between a cement mixer and a pogo stick, and sitting the trot will send you to the dentist to get your fillings replaced. In fact, Darleen finally threw in the towel and bought a saddle with a padded seat, and it’s not as if she doesn’t know how to ride a horse properly.
Master Remedy’s other notable attribute was, according to John Ward, a gracious and gentle heart, the kind of horse that is a pleasure to be around. Cowboys and professional horsemen are not sentimental about horses (as the late trainer Roger Ott once pointed out, he was in the business of making money, and he could no more afford to be sentimental about horses than a farmer could be sentimental about a bale of cotton), but Master Remedy had something special enough to make John Ward wax anthropomorphic: “This might sound like a dumb, backyard story, but there are chickens on the ranch. One time, a hen with chicks went into his stall, and I saw him nose those chicks out of his stall. I saw it happen, and the kids working for me saw it happen. He was just a really kind horse.”
And that quality he did pass on to his granddaughter. For all her reactive, performance horse nature, Rosie is basically a big, soft-hearted schmoo. She follows us around the pastures like a dog; she tolerates our real dogs, including our bouncy and irrepressible Boxer who, like all intelligent canines, will lie practically underneath her or Snoopy on hot days to get out of the sun; and she actively enjoys Darleen’s cooing and fussing and loving on her, even when she knows it means going for a ride. She may not have her grandfather’s smooth gait, but she inherited his kind heart, and that’s worth more than coronets.
JP and Darlene I’m sorry for your loss! I could not imagine when the time comes for our cat to pass away. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to you both.
Tena French Halifax, NS Canada
This is a cute story,but since my mom died cause of a horse riding accident( she was only 43 at the time of the accident) I don’t really care for horses that much anymore……no matter how gentle they might be……. I know,I know,ist wasn’t really the horses fault,that my mom died,but still……..
Andrea
Les animaux sont comme les êtres humains. Certains naissent fiers, trop fiers, ce qui les rend souvent détestables. D’autres naissent dans une famille où on leur apprend le respect d’autrui. Ces personnes ont souvent un grand et bon cœur et je crois que vous et Darleen en faites partie ; c’est pour cette raison que Rosie se trouve bien chez vous.
Je ne vous connais pas mais à travers votre blog je devine en vous des gens simples et avec beaucoup d’humanité alors que vous avez une instruction inouïe…..
Anita
You wrote:”She may not have her grandfather’s smooth gait, but she inherited his kind heart, and that’s worth more than coronets.”
I agree with you.But the genes are also only as good as the owners use them.Rosie and Snoopy and your other animals are family members.You care lovingly for them,you have never done anything bad to them.Therefore, the animals give you their trust.Without trust, you don’t can ride a horse.Hm … okay some good ambitious riders riding without trust.But is this a life for these horses?In the breeding of horses good character traits are hardly important.Important in breeding only the gaits and the exterieur,less the interior.Overbred horses bring the desired performance…………but they often have not a long life.These horses will be not thirty-three years old, like the grandfather of Rosie or our old mare Skiona.I’ve ridden a few years Iceland horse tournaments.I would never do it again.The horses have to run as if they had a ewe neck.But sorry, I did not want to move too far away from the topic.
I’m sorry that Master Remedy died.But he had a long and good life.Nice that he had such a good character,and has this inherited to his descendants.
“Rosie is undoubtedly athletic, but loping her around feels like trying to ride a cross between a cement mixer and a pogo stick, and sitting the trot will send you to the dentist to get your fillings replaced. In fact, Darleen finally threw in the towel and bought a saddle with a padded seat, and it’s not as if she doesn’t know how to ride a horse properly.”
If you ever come to Germany, visit me.Nothing is worse than to ride Friesian horse
a padded saddle does not help here.I once thought okay maybe it is better without a saddle?Oh no! The result was I was lying face down in the sand.If a doctor you would x-ray after a ride with the Friesian horse….he would your bones elsewhere find where they should be.Then you can ride an Iceland horse.These are not horses that are sofas with legs.In the gaits tölt and flying- pace you can hold a full glass of water in your hand,you would not lose a drop.In the coming days, our Iceland Foal comes to the world,the date is March 23,three weeks earlier or later is OK.Although I try to stay calm, I’m very excited.
Here is a picture of the mother and father of the foal.The mother is the brown http://file1.npage.de/001965/41/bilder/orcaheimdalurcollage.jpg
Manuela
I can see how that can happen after all a horse is a living animal and a bale of cotton isn’t. I often wondered if a horse is intelligent for a farm animal or if they are not.
To be honest the first thing that came to mind was the theme song to Mr. Ed. That was a TV show about a talking horse (I am not kidding).
“Hello, I am Mister Ed. A horse is a horse of course, and no one can talk to a horse of course, that is off course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed.” There are more words to this too.
) Irish Racing Story
Racing is a national pastime, I soon got accustomed to the Reverend fathers, rushing past me to get a bet on at the race track. My mate Trev spotted one Reverend father making a big fuss of a horse in the parade ring. Amazingly the horse went on to win the next race easily.
We took great interest when we saw the same Reverend father bless another horse in the next race, blow me, this horse won too. Well we were hot on the Reverend father’s coat tails for the third race and as soon as he patted a horse called Foxy Loxy, we raced off to get the best odds we could with the bookies.
Foxy Loxy was well up with the pace on the first circuit, but down the back straight for the second time, Foxy Loxy dropped to the rear. Then to our chagrin it dropped dead by the water jump.
When we went back to the bar we fell into conversation with a local, and told him the tale of the Reverend father. ‘Be gora’ he said, ‘you have to learn the difference between when Reverend Murphy is blessing a horse and when he is giving it the last rites’ .
♣
JP,
The birth of a foal is for me the most beautiful gift which God has given me.
Last night was our foal born.It is a beautiful mare.Mom Orca and her foal are doing well.My feelings during birth can not be described.Fear, joy and love.5 weeks, it was over the due date.I am so happy and grateful now that the foal is healthy at the world.
It is tradition to give Iceland horses an Icelandic name with meaning.Our foal is now called “Skilja”.Skilja means understanding.
Here are photos of Skilja, shortly after birth and from day today.Look if you like.
http://happy-hufies.npage.de/skilja-neu.html
Manuela ( tired but very happy)