24th Annual HAPPY HORSE DAY!

All photo by Zita Strother.

May 31st brought much happiness to LOS ACRES. As it was also my mother JACKIE POLK's birthday, so we had extra fun on our Day!

The Day began at the flag pole, where our friend Jennifer Smith sang the National Anthem so proudly, then our precious Father Michael Kelly said a prayer for the day and also played a tune on his guitar for Jackie! After introductions, everyone headed out to the Camelot like arena, the St. Paul Memorial Arena. *Joao SerraCoelho put on a Bloodless Bullfighting demonstration on our imported from Spain stallion,*TIBERIO. *TIBERIO worked with our training bull for the crowd, and performed wonderful. As I stood outside the gates of the arena, holding our tall classic THEE JESIDI JAMES, he pranced in place listening to the words from *Joao as he called the bull to charge *TIBERIO. Though our bull is a training bull, he helps *Joao with the horses. *Joao trains the young bullfighting horses high school moves, using the grace and courage the Arabian Horse is known for. "JESI" was so cute. He was trying to be patient - looking so proud with his Arabic halter from Jordan, but could not wait for his turn! As we switched stallions, *Joao said to me "the bull does not want to leave the arena to go home". So we decided JESI will put on his own show with the bull, though it was planned for JESI to be alone turned loose in the arena....Well, JESI put on his own show.....As *Joao brought him in the arena, took off his halter, the crowd just sighed! When JESI was in Portugal, he was once turned loose with the bull and loved every second of playing with him. But now he is in training and ridden bullfighting, so he thought he should perform his moves on his own! First, the bull turned and looked at JESI as if he was going to charge him...then all of a sudden JESI charged, encircled, and chased the bull, next the bull then quickly flew back through the Gladiator gate and into his pen! The crowd roared with excitement! *Joao then caught JESI, took him to the excited crowd, and JESI bowed for them. As if this was all planned......I think JESI had it planned! I will never forget listening to all the loud people, I am sure they were in shock at what they were seeing, I then thought "this sounds like Gladiators are in the arena!" JESI and *Joao came out of the tall 16 foot arched doors together, both smiling and quite proud of themselves.

Next the crowd went to our flag lined outdoor arena, anticipating the Liberty Challenge. Thank goodness we had KASSIDY's love, ZACH, to operate the music this year! Many horses enjoyed the day, being turned loose to run and play for their chosen music. We exhibited many of our *SIDI-BRAHIM bred Arabians and Half Arabian/Half Lusitano's. As the three chosen unexpected judges were scoring the horses and the music, one horse seemed to win them over. The long mane and tail, dapple grey beauty AIRE MAGIC (*Jair Tamaal x Magic of Sid) danced and played to the country song "Live, Laugh, Love". As the music played so happy to the beat of MAGIC's movements, *Joao and I decided we would give Jackie a Birthday treat and dance to the music too! Jackie's cute surprised face was so happy! After the competition, and the judges chose their winner, they said "we did judge the horse, not the dancing"!

While writing this and talking about dancing, remembering the year Patrick Swayze and Lisa came to our Happy Horse Day. What a complete surprise as they happily walked up and said "hello, we made it!" He was a good friend of ours, as he was to so many in the Arabian horse world. A day that all the people here at our Happy Horse Day will never forget.

After the Liberty, everyone walked to the indoor arena area, passing the creek and secret garden that JOANNE (JoJo) works so hard on, admiring all her beautiful flowers. Our wonderful friends Zita and Steven Strother of Imagesbyzita , were everywhere for the day taking photos from all directions! Their website shows many of the horses and activities, so be sure to look. Their website is www.imagesbyzita.com . Next horse was their creation and love, the bay ONCE N ALIFETIME. "ONCER' is a magnificent stallion, who is now owned by *Joao, and trained for Bloodless Bullfighting. On this day, ONCER put on a "wheelbull" demonstration in the indoor arena, with the beautiful Pasa Dobles music playing to their movements. The two of them LOVE putting on a show! *Joao then performed a Portuguese Classical Riding demonstration on the Brazilian imported Lusitano stallion, *PRECIOSO DO TOP, owned by EDUARDO COSTA. I then called in to the arena, three of our wonderful close friends and two are family :), along with their precious horses: KERRY SULLIVAN and her Half Arabian/Half Lustiano black beauty *SIDI-BRAHIM granddaughter, LUSIDTANIA, MARY ANN SIMONEAU and her incredible *SIDI-BRAHIM daughter, SIDI AMOUR, and my sweet JENNA CAMPIGLI and her love, the *SIDI-BRAHIM daughter SPANISH SIDUCTION. We surprised these loyal riders to *Joao, and gave them a gift from Tomar, Portugal, which *Joao's precious parents, ANA and PAULO, brought with them, and a red rose. Learning to ride with *Joao, with their loves is an excitement and a true challenge. Since this riding goes back to the days before Christ, continued through time to the 18th Century when the gifted riding Master Marialva trained horses for the roytalty and the King of Portugal. These riders are in our hearts, and not only learning the correct way to ride a horse, but learning this is important for the health of the horse too.

We then showed other horses, including a black Lusitano mare, ANGIE, with her cremello Lusitano colt EXCALIBUR (I call him "Ghost"), owned by good friends. This baby is a family member of theirs, since the wonderful Portuguese lady, ANA, wife and mother, who created this foal had just passed away from Cancer. KIRK, ALEXIS, and ANTHONY, you are lucky to have such a precious colt!

Near the end of the day, KASSIDY had so much fun tossing LOS ACRES t-shirts to the crowd of children! Many kids waving hands hoping they would be the lucky ones to take home one of the shirts. KASSIDY would throw high into the air one shirt at a time, with giggling happy kids grabbing each one.

We then ended the day with the beautiful QUEEN MAIRIA and her sire, *JAIR TAMAAL, ridden, owned, loved, and cherished by *Joao.
We all did get to sing to Jackie on her special day.....Jackie deserved the happiness of the people who attended our 24th Annual Happy Horse Day. So many hugs to her, happy stories, and smiles. She is an amazing hard working person who has dedicated her life to family, horses and farming. She misses Paul every minute of the day, but knows she wants LOS ACRES to continue on as if he was still here. She says his dreams and hard work must continue, so breeding Arabian horses and farming must go on. We love you Jackie........Terry, *Joao, Joanne and Walt Gyr (and Sandy and Dick too), Kassidy and Zach, Pete, Lisa and Olivia (Cupcake)

**After the long day was over, we all sat down and were exhausted. Now we had to prepare for our First Bloodless Bullfight to be held in our St. Paul Arena....in 6 days!**