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.

Halloween Horse Costuming

Will you and your horse participate in a Halloween fun show this fall? Need some costuming ideas?

Take a look at these informative online articles for ideas and how-to's for masquerading with your mare, gelding, stallion, filly, or colt.

Halloween and horses: Safety comes first with horse costuming
Many horse lovers enjoy dressing up in Halloween and themed costumes for such happenings, and some even decorate or costuming their horses. The secret is to keep things simple and safe.

7 fun and easy horse and rider costume ideas for Halloween or fun shows 

Creativity runs rampant for costume classes at equestrian fun shows, as well as barn Halloween parties. Frequently, the most memorable get-ups actually pair horse and human in complementary or matching outfits for these autumn holiday events.Ideally, the Halloween...

4 extra-easy ways to costume a horse for Halloween or fun shows
Costume classes are holiday highlights at equestrian fun shows and horse barn Halloween parties, among horse lovers of all ages. Riders or in-hand walkers and their horses may win ribbons or prizes, parading around merrily in their masqueraded splendor.

Horse Costuming for Halloween, Fun Shows and More

What creative costume ideas might equestrians choose for these fall horse-lover events? From simple to ornate, humorous to historical and easy to elegant, horse costumes can be fun to make or purchase.

Horse Halloween costumes for humans
Horse lovers’ calendars may fill up with Halloween horse shows, fun shows, masquerade parties and trick But what if a horse lover wants to dress up as a horse?

Photo c2009 by Nickers and Ink

Costuming with caution: 6 Halloween pet costume safety tips
Pet costumes can be fun and festive, but a few common-sense cautions can help keep both canines and felines safe during the trick or treating and other Halloween festivities. After all, no responsible pet owner wants to see Halloween turn into a genuine nightmare or an emergency veterinary hospital visit.

Here's a fun horse costuming video you might enjoy. 
Just saw this online. Check out the variety of costumes for horse and rider, as well as the assortment of interesting musical selections. Costumes include Native Dress for breed shows, as well as parade, Halloween and fun show options.
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Summer Swim

Summer Swim

Here in the Midwest of the United States, we have had a strange summer so far. Lots of rain and cooler weather have hidden our trails with overgrowth. Still, the horses have been quite comfortable with the milder summer. In addition, the herds around here have gained a few extra watering holes.

And the mud. Oh, the mud!

These two old friends inspired a few lines, as they cooled themselves in a storm-made pond. Because of their puddle plodding, Cloud and Albert have been fondly tagged “The Dirty White Boys.”

Photo c2009 by Nickers and Ink.

All rights reserved.

A Daily Dip

What summer sport may more joy bear

Than puddle plodding, mud to wear?

These four-star friends may munch and muse

And splish and splash and standing snooze.

Their lifelines have been etched in white,

Two decades plus without a fight.

What other pair may boast the same –

No bickering or passing blame?

Though fetlock scratches may appear,

They fret it not, companions dear.

As younger equines run and romp,

They swish their tails and simply stomp.

The virile herd may spook and shy,

But these pale gents don’t bat an eye.

For they have witnessed so much more.

Perhaps they’ve seen it all before.

c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“lifelines)

Heads or Tails (“where” or “wear”)

Meme Express (four star)

Simply Snickers (“munch,” “muse” and “myself”)

Photo prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Odd Shots (photo/s – odd shots)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Sunday Stills (photo/s)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s)

Watery Wednesday (photo/s)

Weekend Snapshot (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.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

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!

Retiring or Inspiring?

Retiring or Inspiring?

(A Look at Life in Greener Pastures)

Photos c2009 by Nickers and Ink

All rights reserved.

Our mare has moved to greener pastures, so to speak. With no fears, she is now asserting herself in about 100 acres of lush spring grasses, sharing her domain with a colorful herd of tame retired and young green horses. Her new posse includes Appaloosas, Arabians, Morgans, Paints, Quarterhorses, Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds and other breeds.

Green is the word, as our big, brave copper beauty explores her new verdant home. The picture is painted spring green, accented by wildflowers in yellow and white.

Judging by these photos I snapped on a dark and blustery spring afternoon, our wonderful warmblood (Westfalen) is making a splendid splash in her new-found surroundings. Standing in this equine world, I simply grabbed my cell phone to record these moments. The photo resolution is less than wonderful, but the scenes were quite lovely.

I’m checking on this special senior horse daily, either riding up the hill on our thoroughbred for an over-the-fence visit or leading her back down to the barn for a ride.

Usually, I'll toss my big Circle Y Western saddle up on this beautiful Westfalen's ba, bridle her up and head for a trail ride with a horse-loving friend or two. Sometimes, I'll tack her up with my trusty Passier Grand Gilbert dressage saddle, if we really mean to work. Occasionally, I'll just spin her on the longe line a bit to see how sound she is on a given day.

Her full dressage bridle, with it's dual reins, is collecting dust. Perhaps one of the sporthorse youngsters will grow into it one day.

This trusty horse has an amazing work ethic. She gives me all she's got every time we work together.

Each afternoon, without fail, my beloved mare perks her ears up at my arrival and comes running to greet me. What a gift is the loyal affection of a first horse.

Old dressage horses never die.

They just write their own letters

With warm whinnies

Upon our hearts.

c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Responding to these prompts:

Easy Street Prompts (“fears,” “mine disaster” and “unconfirmed invisibility”)

Heads or Tails (“brave” – a true personal story)

Meme Express (Pick-a-Prompt)

Monday Poetry Train (poems)

Simply Snickers (“splash” and “splendid”)

Photos posted for these prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Lens Day Challenge (photo/s – “girl”)

Odd Shots (photo/s)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Straight Out of the Camera (photo/s)

Sunday Stills (photo/s – “the color yellow”)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s – “big”)

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.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

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!

My MVP

My MVP

Photo c2009 by Nickers and Ink.

All rights reserved.

A Great Sport –

Poetic Scan from a Loyal Fan

My favorite athlete is tall

But wears no uniform at all.

My childhood dreams appear in him,

A wonder far beyond all whim.

His hair could rival Samson’s mane,

Unscissored, difficult to tame.

He’ll cast a glance to catch my eye,

Confused that others pass him by.

A champion in his own right,

I love to watch this one take flight.

It’s almost scary – watch him race,

Inviting others to give chase.

And what comes after may surprise;

For reasons I cannot surmise,

He’ll stop and stoop for me to climb

For quiet road trip, one more time.

His purpose, though he seem untamed,

A-frolicking so unashamed,

Is found fulfilled between us too,

Not just collecting ribbons blue.

Posted for a variety of prompts:

AC Poetry Challenge (“sports favorites”)

Easy Street Prompts (“what comes after”)

Fun Monday (“childhood dreams”)

Heads or Tails (“reason”)

In Other Words (“His purpose”)

Meme Express (Pick a Prompt)

Poetic Asides (April P.A.D. Challenge: “love poem” or “anti-love poem”)

Read Write Poem (NaPoWriMo – “road trip”)

Simply Snickers (“cast,” “catch” and “confuse”)

Sunday Scribblings (“scary”)

Tuesday Title (“Earth’s Hair”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“scissors”)

Photo/s posted in response to these prompts:

Camera Critters (photo/s)

Lens Day Challenge (“light”)

Odd Shots Monday (photo/s)

Scenic Sunday (photo/s)

Straight Out of the Camera (SOOC Sunday)

Thursday Challenge (photo/s)

Weekend Snapshot (photo/s)

Wordless Wednesday (any day – 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.

Throughout 2009, please join us at The Heart of a Ready Writer, a Bible reading and devotional blog, as we read through the entire Bible in chronological order.

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!