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Saturday

Milli Vanilli Had Nothin' on Shag-Ra

Milli Vanilli Had Nothin' on Shag-Ra

Maybe you've seen this. If you haven't, it's worth a watch.


Phyllis Olson's Arabian Shag-Ra (the "artist" formerly known as Charlie Brown), who actually spends plenty of time inside Phyllis' British Columbia home, can do plenty of pet tricks. His more famous achievement, however, is lip-synching.

Shag-Ra and Miss Phyllis have appeared on several television programs, including America's Funniest Home Videos, Animal Miracles, The Late Show with David Letterman and To Tell the Truth.

Take a look at Miss Phyllis and Shag-Ra, the lip-synching horse:

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Here's Shag-Ra, presenting "Happy Birthday, Canada":

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Friday

Glancing at Prancing

Glancing at Prancing


All summer long, the streets of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, sported a rather unique herd of horses. Painted by local and regional artists, the Prancing Carousels adorned sidewalks, shop porches and store windows. At the end of the summer, the carousel horses were auctioned to benefit an area therapeutic riding center.


(CTRL-click here to read more about the Prancing Carousels and the S.M.I.L.E.S. Therapeutic Riding Center.)

Here’s my slideshow, filled with photographs I took of the 2009 Prancing Carousels of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, this summer:

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One of my personal favorites, of all the Prancing Carousels of 2009, was Paisley Pete, by Sybil Brauneis Klug.


Paisley Pete

Photo copyrighted by Nickers and Ink


Bally-hue


With psychedelic patterned coat,

With tail a-flip and mane afloat –

A living statuary proud,

He gallops motionless ‘mid crowd.


Elusive though his spirit be,

No shame may fade his gaiety.

Restarting rainbow’s wondrous glow,

He prances proudly, off to show.


Aye, could it be he knows the cause

For which he prances without pause?

As now this technicolor steed

Displays his daunt for others’ need.


So riderless, yet on the edge,

Imagination pays its pledge.

One day, he’ll grace another home,

This happy horse with colored chrome.


c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson


Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“living statuary”)

Heads or Tails (“edge”)

Meme Express (Friday Freedom)

Monday Poetry Train (poem/s)

One Single Impression (“elusive”)

Simply Snickers (“know,” “need” and “now”)

Sunday Scribblings (“shame”)

Totally Optional Prompts (“restart”)


Photo prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Sunday Stills (photo/s)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s)

Wordless Wednesday (photo/s)


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! Do you love horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.


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Goody Two-Shoes


Goody Two-Shoes


(The origins of this story are unknown, but it goes something like this.)

Two proud stallions were bickering (rather than nickering) in the show barn.

“I must admit, you are the closest I have ever seen to my own level of excellence,” the first stallion said. “Still, my overall confirmation is much better. My legs are straighter, and that counts for a lot in the show ring.”

The second horse stood up as tall as he could, puffed out his chest and responded. “Maybe your legs are straighter, but mine a naturally strong and straight. Everyone knows you have had thousands of dollars of corrective shoeing. Your foals will inherit the legs you were born with, not your highly skilled farrier.”

The first horse snorted and said, “You’re right. I stand corrected.”




Love poetry? Click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink. Do you adore horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.

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Wednesday

Fabulous Freestyle

Fabulous Freestyle

Do you believe in dressage?

No matter what equestrian discipline you prefer, you may enjoy this fabulous musical freestyle. Man, this mare can dance!

Here's Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matine in the finals at the FEI's 2006 World Equestrian Games.
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Danish dressage rider and Olympic bronze medalist Andreas Helgstrand and his nine-year-old mare Blue Hors Matine earned a silver medal for this performance, followed by German equestrian and Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth and Satchmo (who placed third). The dressage freestyle gold medal was captured by Dutch equestrian and Olympic gold medalist Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero.

The 2006 World Equestrian Games were held in Aachen, Germany. The games included 16 events, representing seven equestrian disciplines: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, reining and vaulting.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, in September 2010. (CTRL-click here for more information on the 2010 World Equestrian Games.)

Monday

Walk a Mile for a Camel?

Walk a Mile for a Camel?

It may be a BUMPY ride,
but this dressage mount's half-passes aren't half bad.

Check out the flying lead changes.

What would the folks at Devon say about this one?

How about the Native Costume classes at seasonal horse shows?
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Maybe the magi of the East were onto something . . .

Sunday

Bright Ideas and Horse Breeds

Bright Ideas and Horse Breeds


I have seen this listing before. In fact, I’ve seen versions of this in many different places, and the list seems to change every time it appears. But, for the life of me, I cannot find the original source.


Here’s hoping this is public domain. It cracks me up, and perhaps you’ll enjoy it too. Maybe you can add a breed or two in a comment.

How many horses does it take to change a light bulb?


Akhal Teke: I will only change it if it's my owner's own light bulb and no one else has ever touched it. You never know where those things have been.

Andalusian: I will delegate the changing of the light bulb to my personal groom after he finishes shampooing my mane and cleaning my saddle, but only on the condition that it is changed for a soft blue or green light bulb, which reflects better off my coat while I exhibit my astonishing gaits.

Appaloosa: Ya'll are a bunch of losers. We don't need to change the light bulb. I ain't scared of the dark. And someone make that darn Morgan stop jumpin’ up and down before I double barrel him.

Arabian: I changed the light bulb an hour ago. C'mon, you guys. Catch up!

Belgian: Put the Shetland Pony on my back; maybe he can reach it then.

Broodmare: (Big squeal.) It’s way too dark in here. How am I supposed to get into the mood without proper lighting?

Cleveland Bay: I'm busy. Make the whipper-in and the hounds do it.

Connemara: We'll just be after havin' a nip of the Bushmill's, we will, and then we'll not be noticin' a wee burned-out light bulb.

Fjord: That thing I ate was a light bulb?

Friesian: I would, but I can't see where I'm going from behind this fabulous forelock.

Grade Horse: Guys? Um, guys? I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and changed the light bulb while you were all arguing.

Hanoverian: Who needs a ladder?

Holsteiner: How DARE that light bulb burn out! How DARE you ask me to change it! The nerve of some people.

Lipizzaner: Hah, amateurs. I will change the light bulb. Not only that, but I will do it while standing on my hind legs and balancing the light bulb on my nose, after which I will perform seven flying lead changes in a row and a capriole. Can you do that? Ya? Ya? Didn't think so.

Miniature: I bet you think I can't do it just ‘cause I'm small. You know what that is? It's sizeism!

Morgan: Me! Me! Me! Please let me! I wanna do it! I'm gonna do it! I know how, really I do! Just watch! I'll rewire the entire barn afterwards, too. Anything else you want me to do, while I’m at it?

Mustang: Light bulb? Let's go on a trail ride instead. And camp out in the open like REAL horses.

National Show Horse: Lights? Lights? Where? Do you want me to pose? This is my good side. No, wait, let me get my mane straight. No, wait, this angle is all wrong. No, wait, maybe this is my good side. Do you want dramatic … or bold … or maybe sensitive?

Paint: Put all the light bulbs in a pen. Tell me which one you want, and my owner will bet you $20 that I can get the right light bulb before the quarter horse.

POA: I'm not changing the light bulb. I'm the one who kicked the old one and broke it in the first place, remember? Now, excuse me, I have a grain room to break into.

Quarter Horse: Put all the light bulbs in a pen, and tell me which one you want. Just ignore the paint behind the curtain. He’s trying to act all colorful and cool.

Saddlebred: My ears are up already. Please, please get the light bulb away from me! I'm ready to show, really. I promise I'll win! Put me in, coach!

Shetland: Give the light bulb to me. I'll kill it, and we won't have to worry about it anymore.

Shire: Who cares about a light bulb?

Standardbred: Oh for Pete's Sake, give me the darn light bulb and let's be done with it.

Thoroughbred: Who ME?? Do WHAT? I'm scared of light bulbs! I'm outta here!

Warmblood: Changing light bulbs is below my pay grade and my dignity. Get the retired racehorse to do it.


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! Do you love horses? Check out the content from the National Equestrian Examiner.


Add to Technorati Favorites

Saturday

Fun Find for Horsey Holiday Shoppers

Fun Find for Horsey Holiday Shoppers


Whoa!
61 days till Christmas . . . and counting?

Here's an intriguing book I just read and reviewed. What a great holiday gift for a horse lover.



Horse Lover's Daily Companion: 365 Days of Inspiration for Living a Joyful Life with Your Horse, by Audrey Pavia, gives daily devotions a new meaning for horse lovers. The 320-page book is a daily delight for equestrians and horse enthusiasts. Horse Lover's Daily Companion is a super gift idea for a horse lover.

Thursday

Halloween Pumpkin Horses?

Halloween Pumpkin Horses?

Calling equine artists and horse-loving crafters!

Have you ever carved a Halloween pumpkin to picture a horse? Did you make an entire horse picture, or just a horse head? Was it a profile of a horse, or did the whole pumpkin become a horse head?

Do you have any wonderful Halloween pumpkin carving tips or templates to share with other horse lovers?


How about photos of your Halloween horse pumpkins?

(Pictured here are a few examples we have found.)

Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your online photo/s and post/s.

Happy Horsey Halloween from The Mane Point.

Happy pumpkin carving!




"Dona Nobis Pacem" 2009

"Dona Nobis Pacem" - 2009 Blog Blast for Peace

The Mane Point is proud to participate in the 2009 Blog Blast for Peace.


"Dona Nobis Pacem"
("Grant Us Peace")


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Wednesday

Axe Your Horse What Scent He's Wearin'

Axe Your Horse What Scent He's Wearin'

Pheromone researchers may be on to something there. Look what happened, when a groom accidentally shared his cologne with one of the studs at the barn:
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A Horse Walks into a Bar . . .

A Horse Walks into a Bar . . .

Horses have been the butt of jokes for ages, especially when it comes to cowboy wannabees in broken-down bars.

OK, so maybe folks are just horsing around, but it may be time for equines to pony up and defend themselves.

What if a horse actually made it past the bouncer at the front door of the local tavern? Perhaps the scene might go something like this:

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