F is for . . . Foal . . . and First Ride!

Posted for a variety of prompts:

ABC Wednesday (“’F’ is for . . .”)
Camera Critters (photo/s)
Hump Day Humor (“cowboys”)
Meme Express (“Confucius Says”)
One Single Impression (#27 – “resolved”)
Read-Write-Poem (“catch some words”)
Simply Snickers (“waiting,” “why,” “worry” and “write”)
Three Word Wednesday (“desperate,” “lapse” and “traveled”)
Totally Optional Prompts (“one way”)
Word-Filled Wednesday (“Bible verse/s”)
Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)

‘F’ is for . . . Foal . . . and First Ride!

Yes! My little half-Arabian sporthorse (our first foal) and I have just enjoyed our first ride together. Although it was a fairly short trip, it was successful. Tomorrow we will try it again!

"Life is really simple,
but we insist on making it complicated."
Confucius
Ancient Chinese Philosopher
(551 BC – 479 BC)

"Do you give the horse his strength
or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?"
(Job 39:19, NIV)

First Flight

Three years ago, he hit the ground.
I marveled at the wonder found.
This boy bewitched me from the start,
One shake of mane: he held my heart.

Resolved to ride, I watched him grow,
While waiting, cherishing his glow.
I’d write of riding him one day,
And worry free, we’d run away.

Thus, desperate for a saddled trip,
I cultivated horsemanship.
A three-year lapse dragged slowly by
Until the day when we would fly.

At last, I climbed upon his back
And cued him softly on the track.
We jogged one way, then back again,
A traveled pair at last. Amen!

Related Items of Interest:
Foaling in the Field; A Natural Nativity
Foaling in Love
First Foal
Haltering Without a Hitch
Just Arrived
Mystified
Private Moments; A Poetic Recalling of the Birth of a Foal
A Soft Place to Land: Preparing for the Foal
Unbroken: Rhyming Courses on Wild Young Horses

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

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Sight-Mare

Posted for a variety of prompts:
Camera Critters (photo/s)
Meme Express (“apologies”)
Monday Mural (artwork – see below)
Odd Shots Monday (photo/s – “out of proportion”)
One Single Impression (#27 – “resolve”)
Scenic Sunday (photo/s)
Seek the Lord Sunday (favorite Psalms)
Simply Snickers (“waiting,” “why,” “worry” and “writing”)
Slice of Life Sunday (“first kiss,” “a knot of hate” or “writer’s choice”)
Sunday Scribblings (“How I Met My . . . “)
Weekend Snapshot (photo/s)
Word Beads (“cried,” “destine,” “energize,” “rheumatic” and “sclerotic”)
Wordless Wednesday - Monday Edition (photo/s)

Photo c2008 by Nickers and Ink

Sight-Mare -
A Tribute Penned for a Special Friend

“The Lord gives sight to the blind;
the Lord lifts up
those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.”
(Psalm 146:8, NIV)

I’m sure I have been here before,
Though I perceive it not.
Equine apologies and more
May not obscure the spot.

While waiting for a pathway stroll,
The world one day grew dark.
Now worry crowds my searching soul,
E’er seeking hopeful spark.

To question why my sight has fled
Won’t hasten my parole.
Instead, I listen well while led,
And wait for healthy foal.

With rock-resolve, I make my way,
Accompanied in trust.
My dear companion leads each day;
To follow her, I must.

I carry forth no knot of hate,
Though this become my lot.
Although rheumatic, more of late,
I find a grassy spot.

Sclerotic scarring dims my view;
For this, I’ve often cried.
My owners forgo rendezvous,
For they no longer ride.

So this is how I met my match,
The finest friend of all.
For when they open pasture latch,
I listen for her call.

My pasture pal is destined here;
Without her, I’d be lost.
Her presence energizes dear,
Though she knows not the cost.

Note: These lines were penned in tribute to a special mare, who patiently cares daily for an older, blind horse in the pasture. The blind mare (chestnut) and her seeing-eye friend (white) are pictured above in their private outdoor haven. Sometimes . . . a trusted friend can be even more valuable than a fairy godmother (at right).

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts!

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

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Ready to Go

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)
Friday 5 (“essential” “sour,” “absent,” “disagreeable” and “catnap”)
Inspire Me Thursday (“opposites”)
Matinee Muse (“spirit of the underdog”)
Meme Express (“just smile”)
Rocking Chair Writers (“Tell us what’s really on your mind)
Simply Snickers (“play,” “plunge” and “pretend”)
Wordless Wednesday – Friday Edition (photo/s)

Photo c2008 by Nickers and Ink

Ready to Go –
A Filly’s Rhyme for the Big Time

You want to know what’s on my mind?
The show-truck left. I’m left behind.
I’m disagreeable and sour,
And growing more so, by the hour.

I find it difficult to smile.
My pals grow absent by the mile.
A catnap may be what I need,
Perhaps a handful of sweet feed.

I’d like to take the plunge and show,
To demonstrate the skills I know.
An underdog? No way! Not me!
I’ll pirouette to liberty.

In fact, the opposite is true.
I’ll surely take the ribbon blue.
Please let me play. I’ll do my best
To stun the judges in my test.

Don’t make me stay here and pretend –
Essential training, flex and bend.
I’ll canter, change leads and halt square,
If you will only take me there.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

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Congratulations USA Riders – Team Gold!

American equestrians are jumping for joy, after the USA riders claimed their third Team Jumping Gold Olympic Medal today at Sha Tin Stadium in Hong Kong.

In a 45-second third-round Olympic jump-off, the Americans out-jumped the Canadians for first place. Norway earned the bronze medal.

McLain Ward (of Mt. Brewster, NY) and Sapphire (a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare), Laura Kraut (of Camden, SC, and Wellington, FL) and Cedric (a 10-year-old KWPN gelding) and Will Simpson (of Peoria, IL, and Thousand Oaks, CA) and Carlsson com Dach (a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding) all completed clear rounds to cinch the Gold Medal win. Because of their three no-fault rounds, Beezie Madden (of Mequon, WI, and Cazennovia, NY) and Authentic (a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding) were not required to participate in the jump-off.

Team Canada did lose one Olympic equestrian competitor today, as Mac Cone’s mount Ole was sidelined for lameness from a mishap during Sunday’s team jumping round.

Photo (c) Kit Houghton

Here are the final results (counting faults) for Olympic Team Jumping:

Olympic Show Jumping Team Results

United States - 20 (Jump-off – 0)
Canada - 20 – (Jump-off – 4)
Norway - 27
Switzerland - 30
Germany - 34
Netherlands - 34
Great Britain - 37
Sweden - 38
Australia - 41

Individual show jumping will be completed on Thursday, August 21^st, as will dressage.

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Click for Creatures

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)
Friday Flash-55 (55 words)
Photo Hunt 2008 (photo/s: “colorful”)
Simply Snickers (“play,” “plunge” and “pretend”)
Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)

Although this post is not exclusively horse-related, it merits inclusion here. Animals lovers, take note. Here's a way to help rescued cats, dogs, horses and other animals - at no cost to yourself!

(Our own rescued kitty)

Click for Creatures

Plunge in with a click,
C’mon! Hurry! Quick!
Pretend it’s a video game.

Your mouse helps you play;
Click every day,
And animals, food they will claim.

The kittens will purr,
As puppies concur.
Adoptions will render them tame.

The funds fill their dish,
Survival, their wish -
And you will be happy you came!

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Reminder: All items on THE MANE POINT
are copyrighted by Linda Ann Nickerson,
unless otherwise indicated.,
and may not be reprinted without permission.
Thank you for respecting the copyright.

-------

Please CTRL-click this graphic to open the link in a new window, and feed rescued animals for FREE. (Save the link, or return here for it. You can click once per day!)

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

Olympic Dreams

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Heads or Tails (“supply”)
Hump Day Humor (“blond”)
Meme Express (“Olympics”)
Simply Snickers (“play,” “plunge” and “pretend”)

Olympic Dreams
(A Limericked Lament for a Western Event)

If I could just play in the great global game,
The famous Olympics would ne’er be the same.
I’d rope and I’d ride,
Race barrels beside,
And go for the gold without tremors or shame.

But this is a plunge that I simply can’t take;
No rodeos offered, for dear pity’s sake.
It’s still a mirage,
Just jumps and dressage,
But true down-home cowgirls do not belly-ache.

And yet, in the finest of dreams, I’ll pretend
A medal supply from my neck will suspend,
My colt, maned in blond
Of whom I’m most fond,
Will carry me past our wits’ end.

"C" Is for "Cute Colt"

As posted for ABC Wednesday:

Cute Colt

A tiny horse, just one week old,
He ventures out, so brave and bold.
With mom nearby, he's surely strong,
For she will call him back 'ere long.

This little bay is a National Showhorse colt (half Arabian and half Saddlebred). Isn't he precious?


Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

Rusted, Not Busted

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Camera Critters (photo)
Monday Mural (Black-Eyed Susan photo”)
One Single Impression (“folly”)
Simply Snickers (“total,” “tradition” and ”triumph”)
Slice of Life Sunday (“My Earliest Childhood Memory,” “I Thought I Was Invincible” or “Writer’s Choice”)
Sunday Scribblings (“Do I have to?”)
Totally Optional Prompts (“lost stuff”)
Word Beads (“mop,” “prism,” “rehearse,” “temporary” and “versa”)
Wordless Wednesday’s Sunday edition

Rusted, Not Busted
(A Tractor's Folly)

A vintage tractor, long past prime,
I moved some mountains in my time.
Yet newer models have replaced
My usefulness, so I’ve been aced.

My stuff is lost; I cannot roar.
My turbo traction is no more.
They parked me here beside a weed,
Assuming I will go to seed.

But do I have to? Will I stall?
Need I a total overhaul?
Just mop the grime and grease away.
‘Tis folly, but I want to play.

My total triumph would be toil,
Digging through the deepest soil.
Invincible, I claimed to be.
Why have they tossed away my key?

My temporary work rehearsed,
I stand beside the field, accursed.
My lamps reflect the sun, as prisms,
Seeking use, not skepticisms.

Tradition, timed, vice versa, calls
Although my engine stops and stalls.
I want to work. I simply must.
‘Tis better to burn out than rust.¹

¹ “It's better to burn out than it is to rust.”
Quotation from Neil Young’s 1979 song, “My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of the Blue),”
from the Rust Never Sleeps album.

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Try your hand with weekly prompts! Or, look into The Meme Express for daily blogging prompts.

Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!