Diane and Donald in a Western Pleasure class
April - 1977,
Diane and Don Camillo,
1st Level Test 1 59%,
open rated show
Diane with Donald
Trail Horse Class
turn on the hindquarters around a tractor
tire--
with a sock of tin cans
Diane and Donald
A trail horse class.
Note the sack of tin cans.
Diane and Donald
'ponying' mom Lyon's 1975 yearling grey
filly
Jal Athena (Lysander X Thea Isis)
The Sweatshirt reads: "SLOW MOVING
VIHICLE"
1997:
Giving a physical therapy for a badly managled
foot ride
to mom Lyons
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- on the condition that he be gelded and become a family member.
And so it was.
As in
many families, it turned out that son Jim had little interest in horses,
but 8 year old Diane was enthralled, and soon a real bond developed between
her and the young gelding. At the appropriate age 'Donald' went off for
two months training, after which no one but Diane got to ride him til years
later when she went off to college. (Then her Mom got to ride him!) Together
Diane and Donald showed in 4-H, Open non-pointed, Open Pointed, and All
Arab class A shows in Western Pleasure, Trail Horse, English Pleasure,
Hunter Pleasure, Stock Seat, Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat Equitantion, native
Costume, Training and 1st Level Dressage and they won or placed in all
divisions. Not every time, but often enough to make the showing fun. Ninety-nine
percent of the training was done on the trails. They entered parades and
also won a Competive Trail Ride.
While
Diane was away at college, we has so many offers to buy or lease Donald,
but one does not part with a family member, or entrust their care to another
family. After college, Diane was in the East for ten years, and Donald
was with her. Now she lives in Oregon, and Donald is still with her. Now
in 1997 at the young age of 27, he has a bit of arthritis and a rear tendon
really bothers him sometimes (it was partially severed in a downed fence
several years ago). But every now and again he and Diane go for a ride
around her property. I rode him this past spring on one of my physical
therapy rides. For daily life, he has the company of Jal Athena - whom
he adores, and for two years he baby sat Diane's orphan filly, Hera. Soon
he and Athena will be baby sitting the 1997 foals. If we listen hard, I
suspect Donald could be heard telling the youngsters all about the marvelous
life they will have and the good times coming with their good 2 legged
friends when they are old enough and strong enough to take on the responsibility.
Oh what
a wonderful gift was given way back in 1971! A gift that keeps on giving.
Long may you live Donald, in peace and the security of your family that
loves you."
from a letter from mom Lyons: Boy this real letter
thing is the pits! ... And a bunch of (pics) of Donald. All labeled, but
ad lib. How about this for an addition to Diane's site? I'd like tlo see
something posted while he is still with us. Don't think I could write it
otherwise. This winter will be hard on him.
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