Guinness is a 1991 retired Thoroughbred racehorse, but he’s
anything but idle.
This handsome bay, standing 16 hands high, is the treasured mount of Wisconsin equestrian and animal lover Sarah Ramsak and her whole family.
This handsome bay, standing 16 hands high, is the treasured mount of Wisconsin equestrian and animal lover Sarah Ramsak and her whole family.
This handsome horse comes from prized pedigrees of racing,
tracing back to such famous Thoroughbred sires as Bold Ruler, Native Dancer, War
Admiral and Man of War.
In his youth, Guinness had a very short track career,
starting in just a dozen races and winning close to $1,500. Under his
registered name (Twosie Ensign), he raced at Arlington, Calder, Gulfstream and
other top tracks.
He never placed higher than fourth, even with such skilled jockeys
as Earlie Fires.(Maybe that's why he's still strong and sound and raring to go at the ripe old age of 21.)
He never placed higher than fourth, even with such skilled jockeys
as Earlie Fires.(Maybe that's why he's still strong and sound and raring to go at the ripe old age of 21.)
But Guinness places first in Sarah’s book.
This saintly off-the-track-Thoroughbred (OTTB) peacefully packs
diapered toddlers for pony rides, kindly carries non-horse-savvy boyfriends for lead line strolls, lopes lovely lackadaisical loops for Sarah's sister Rachel and tolerates a bit of dressage for their mom, Lindsey.
He also jumps the moon for Sarah.
He also jumps the moon for Sarah.
In 2011, Guinness put on a show in the Liberty Presentations at the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison.
He also tried his first trail class in the Wind Rider Challenge, performing most respectably and even crossing the horse-eating bridge. Turning on the forehand in a plastic hula hoop was significantly more scary, though.
That fall, Guinness earned his first Western Pleasure
and Speed Class ribbons as well. Who knew an OTTB could compete in barrel racing and plug classes?
Barn hands have fondly tagged Guinness as “El Santo,” and
the Ramsak family has to agree.
Go, Guinness.
Related Items:
- El Santo (The Saint)
- Horse Measurement - How Many Hands is Your Horse?
- Movie Review of Secretariat: The Impossible True Story
- Thoroughly Thoroughbreds - What's the Horse of Your Dreams?
Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also
invited to join this writer's fan
page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian
Examiner and Madison
Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.
Image/s:
Guinness photos provided
by the Ramsak Family
2012 A to Z Blogging
Challenge logo
Fair Use
What a great personality! He seems like a very active member of the family.
ReplyDeleteRed.
You couldn't find a horse named Gertrude, so you had to use old Guinness at the last minute eh? Who would have predicted that?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great life he has had, and enjoys still, being so well loved.