The P.A. and I got into a discussion about the recent Knight Rider Festival 2010.  Yeah, the show that launched a 1000 heartaches over some former soap star turned prime time hunk – mixed with enough geek stuff to get us guys away from the Pong games.  Ooops… showing my age a bit too much.

The event started with a character playing the Lone Ranger riding down the Fremont Street Experience.  He was riding a Palomino horse that wasn’t too cool about media cameras getting into his face.  This Lone Ranger to Michael Knight was a bit of a stretch, but I can understand the symbolism, she could not. That wasn’t the argument.

The argument was on the horse.  For whatever reason, I thought he rode a Palomino.  She said he rode a white horse.  Surprising enough…. The P.A. knew the correct answer to a TV trivia question…  A first I am sure..  The Lone Ranger rode a white horse.  Tonto rode a paint palomino named Scout.

What was interesting was the trip down memory lane in researching the answer.  I never knew how the whole story started and found it a bit interesting.  Including the part about how they financed themselves.  How many shows reveal that little piece of information??

According to Wiki Entertainment:

Though there have been several variations of the Lone Ranger’s origin over the years, the basic story has remained the same.

Six Texas Rangers, including brothers Dan and John Reid, were tracking a gang of desperadoes led by the notorious Butch Cavendish. Led by a tracker named Collins, who was actually a member of the Cavendish gang, the Rangers were lured into a canyon called Bryant’s Gap, and ambushed. Except for young John Reid, they were all slaughtered.

Reid managed to crawl to safety near a water hole where he was later found and nursed back to health by a friendly Indian named Tonto. Tonto remembered Reid, who had once saved Tonto himself. “You Kemosabe,” said Tonto; “it mean ‘trusty scout.’” Tonto now vowed to stay with him as the “lone” Ranger vowed to avenge the deaths of his brother and their comrades.

Six graves were left to hide the fact that one man lived to fight. Realizing that if his identity were known, he would be a marked man, Reid had Tonto make a mask from the vest of his dead bother. The Lone Ranger now needed a mount. Remembering a magnificent wild white stallion he had once seen, the Lone Ranger and Tonto set off for the Valley of Horses. They found the stallion wounded and about to be gored to death by a wild buffalo and the Lone Ranger was forced to kill the buffalo. Tonto and the Lone Ranger nurse the horse back to health. Time goes by and the horse is up and running around. “It’s a magnificent animal,” the Ranger tells Tonto. “It reflects like silver from the sun” Tonto says. “Silver” says the Ranger, “that’s what we’ll call him. Silver. Here Silver, come here big fellow.” The horse starts to run away but there’s something in the Lone Ranger’s voice that draws him back and to the ranger’s side. The Lone Ranger then begins the training process and soon, he’s riding Silver while Tonto rides his horse, Scout.

After this has been accomplished, the Ranger tells Tonto it’s time to see an old friend of his named Jim, a retired Texas Ranger, who knows about a silver mine that the Reid brothers owned and operated. The Lone Ranger, Tonto and Jim ride to the old silver mine. There the Lone Ranger asks Jim to work the mine for him so he and Tonto will have spending money and then asks Jim for something unusual. “Jim, I want you to make for me silver bullets” the Ranger says. “Silver?” Jim asks. “Why in the world would you want silver bullets?” The Ranger explains that the silver bullets will be a symbol of justice. “Say, that’s a great idea” Jim says. “I can make them right here in this mine.”

And for you Hoff Fans,… Here is a picture of the modern day Lone Ranger…

Konstantin and Babe a Vaulting Horse

On February 7, 2010, Talisman Farm and Head Trainer and Instructor Esther Hillner held an Open House to showcase their new location at Twin Palms Stables.

A few excited riders arrived at 9:00 am to learning more about vaulting from Rick and Virginia Hawthorne, teachers at Valley View Vaulters in California.  Rick and Virginia also brought with two International Vaulters from Germany, Konstantin and Susi who provided a Vaulting demonstration in the afternoon.

Rick and Virginia also brought their Vaulting Horse Babe.  Babe is a twenty-four year old Belgian, a draft horse breed from Belgium.  Babe is a very experience Vaulting Horse, and was truly a ‘gentle giant.’

Vaulting is a combination of gymnastics and horseback riding, and it helps to build physical strength, coordination, discipline, self confidence, and it encourages teamwork.

To start the morning off Barrels or ‘Practice Horses,’ were set up in the barn aisle, allowing practice time and a chance to learn about this exciting sport that is a world class event.  Barrels are used for students to learn basic movements, and to practice more advanced movements before working with a Vaulting Horse.

The morning was filled with smiles, and determination as each participant worked on improving their vaulting skills.  Many were amazed at how much fun and how little work was involved… and the fact that their bodies were that flexible.  Rick worked with each participant to ensure they were comfortable with the movements, and encouraged to go just a little bit further.

Esther gave lessons during the morning, and boarders came and worked with their horses.  A very busy morning, despite the overcast skies, everyone was excited for the afternoon activities which included Girl Scouts and members from Horses for Hero’s to work with Babe, the vaulting demonstration, and the unveiling of Talisman Farm’s own horse that would be trained for vaulting Kidd.  Kidd is a twenty year old Quarter Horse gelding, with years of experience outside of the vaulting arena as a rope horse and a cutting horse.  Kidd will be a great addition to Talisman Farm and the education of future riders.

Babe was prepared with vaulting tack and would work off a longe line guided by Virginia.  There was a handler on either side of Babe, to support the vaulter’s if needed, and to provide reassurance.

The smiles and laughter of children filled the afternoon air and a great time was had by all.  As one after the other everybody who practiced that morning, was a Girl Guide, or a member of Horses for Hero’s worked on basic vaulting moves.  Esther even tried vaulting for her first time.  I don’t think I have seen bigger smiles, than the smiles I saw on the faces of the vaulters that afternoon.

Thank you to Esther, Talisman Farm, Rick and Virginia, Konstantin and Susi, the Girl Guides, Horses for Hero’s, Babe, and Kidd.  It was a wonderful event and it was great to see everyone enjoying not only the vaulting, but working with the horses.  I am looking forward to the next event, show, or clinic and capturing your special moments.

Equestrian Moments

Word of Warning: if you ever attend an event that involves bulls and you are standing near Mark (me)….  You have a 99.99999% chance that at least one of the bulls will want to have a piece of me.  Ok? It’s just a fact you get used to and here is one that came pretty close to getting his wish.  Thank God for iron fencing…