Happy Horse Day 2004

By Jackie Tone Polk of Stockton, California

Happiness, laughter, music, horses and fun would best describe our day on May 30th, 2004! Visitors arrived early for the one o'clock start on our farm called Los Acres. They came from Arizona, Washington, Missouri, and both ends of California. The Redwoods up north, and San Diego down south!

I'm always late with the opening ceremonies, but it's such fun seeing old friends and meeting new ones! All of the horse riders, grooms and handlers were family members except one. Our daughter Terry's love, Joao SerraCoelho, a Cavaliero from Portugal, was visiting at just the right time! He is an amazing horseman, and loved by all our family.

We started our "Happy Horse Day" in front of the arena barn, near the flag pole, and *SIDI-BRAHIM's stall and paddock. *SID loves all the excitement, and exciting it is. Suddenly eight riders appeared - all wearing their red shirts honoring *SIDI-BRAHIM's 30th birthday, and all riding his descendants (except for Josef on his pony). English, Western, Hunter-Jumper and Bareback riders! They all stood at attention as the National Anthem was so beautifully sung by our friend, Jennifer Smith.

Much to the delight of all, Terry lead out our silver white *SIDI-BRAHIM, and at age 30 he watched quietly as grownups and children touched his soft coat. Then we all began to sing Happy Birthday, and *SIDI-BRAHIM paraded past the pasture mares, all hanging along the fence with stars in their eyes!

Next, the family members trotted out four beautiful Arabian mares, bay, grey and chestnuts, with their new foals by *DAKAR EL JAMAAL, *SIDI-BRAHIM, SHOWKAYCE, and THEE DESPERADO. What fun those babies had, with the crowd clapping for them! Three yearlings came next, the dark bay Junior Champion EXCELLETTE, by *QR EXCEL, the dark chestnut Nor-Cal Top Five colt THEE SUNDANCE SID, by THEE DESPERADO and the chestnut filly, LAURA BRAHIM, by *SIDI-BRAHIM, looking forward to her first "real" show!

Then came the vaulting! Joao had been working with the young family members, and I was amazed at the progress! Our newest vaulting mare, SPANISH FLARE, by *SIDI-BRAHIM, owned by one of my granddaughters, took to it like a pro. Little Josef was in his glory, as he had invited his much loved teacher, and his entire Kindergarten class to this years Happy Horse Day. Josef's big smile and confidence while vaulting was heartwarming to the crowd. His older cousins out did him with their advanced maneuvers. Joao performed as well, to the lilting Irish music in our indoor arena.

We all moved west, through the arena barn, many stopping by to sample the refreshments. Generous farmer neighbors supplied us with delicious boxes of fresh cherries to compliment our snack tables of goodies and drinks. We then passed by the creek, lined with Valley Oaks, while some lingered near the little waterfall, and enjoyed the peacefulness while talking with new and old friends. As we moved towards Terry's barn and the huge outdoor arena, the sight of the alfalfa fields, pastures with inquisitive mares, and oh, my foreign flags looked beautiful waving in the breeze! Our grandson, John, had set up the tents, music, and arranged all the flags around the arena. This year, we added the flag of Oman, as *SIDI-BRAHIM has a son at the Royal Stables of the Sultanate of Oman.

Three surprised judges were chosen from the crowd to judge our "almost anything goes" or "no rules - just fun" Liberty Challenge! The judges (a man, lady and teenager) are seated under a tent, with score cards, water and jelly beans. The judges are chosen that day from the over 300 people who attended. We try to choose people that are not horse owners, but love horses. The horses are scored 1 to 10, as to which one would you dream to own. The music, chosen by each entrant is scored 1 to 10, as to how it goes with the horse. Each family member is very secretive regarding their music, and each entrant put $20.00 in the pot. Winner takes all! I'm supposed to be the announcer at each year's Happy Horse Day, as I talk the most - but sometimes I can't stop laughing. The horses enjoy it as much as our family and friends.

To keep it more exciting for the entrants, the previous winners are allowed 2 minutes to show off to their music, but are not judged again. Otherwise, we might have family squabbles over who gets JULIO! Our Liberty Challenge is only in it's 5th year, and past winners were: Year 2000, JULIO BRAHIM (*Sidi-Brahim x Fatima Ala Bahr) performing to the music "Get a Hair Cut, and Get A Real Job". Year 2001, JAIR TAMAAL (Tamaal FA x Sidcerely Yours), and his music was "Bad To The Bone", (he is a 2003 export to Portugal, and has now joined Joao SerraCoelho's bullfighting stallion's!) Year 2002, THEE JESIDI JAMES (Thee Desperado x Jfarah Brahim), year 2003, PRESIDENTE POLK (*Sidi-Brahim x Sassazi), and his music was "Hail To The Chief" (accompanied by the President in a Texas flag bedecked car driven by pretend secret service).

I could never judge anything like this. Never, never, never. What a production our family and friends put on! Some let their horse and music do it all (2 minutes each). Others go to grand decorations on themselves and their horses (still 2 minutes each). Others ad props. As we say, almost anything goes! Terry's entrant, a 3 year old Champion, the chestnut firecracker ALIDIA, took her song too seriously. Music: "Red Necked Woman", and stomped a little visiting dog that got too excited, that had entered the arena during ALIDIA's 2 minutes. The little dog survived, but the dog loving judges marked her down ------- One after another the horses, handlers, etc. entered the ring and did their Liberty Challenge. "Most Creative" was a toss-up, but that doesn't count. Grandson, John, chose our 4 year old CALIFORNIO for his entrant, and I should have guessed. He surprised all of us, and dressed as our California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in black leathers, cigar and riding a Harley, while carrying the California flag! (Harley and leathers courtesy of our Farrier, Chris). John circled the outside of the arena, then got off of the Harley, and with the flag and cigar - joined CALIFORNIO, while his music played a tape of Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice doing his early day exercise work out!

Little grandson, Josef, chose the Lord of the Rings theme, and rode his pony holding his bow and arrow while fighting the big black 17'2 hand imported Dutch Warmblood horse, ridden and owned by his black cloaked mother, Dr. Lindi. They both abandoned their mounts, and then drew swords, and fought to the end, as the little spectators cheered him on!

My great grandson, Spencer Ryan, entered his 2 year old Half Arab pinto filly, SPANISH SPIRIT, and authentically dressed as an Indian warrior (hair dyed black), he danced around a pretend camp fire, as the war painted filly circled him in unison to their Indian music. WOW, and no one practiced ahead of time - to keep it a secret!

If there was a "Most Romantic" award, it would have gone to Joao, dressed in his Portuguese bullfighting suit, and keeping in step with ONCE N ALIFETIME (Bravado Bey V x Lenita Brahim) as they danced to beautiful dramatic opera music. Later, when all was over, in rechecking the judges cards, this sentimental duo actually tied for first place, much to the delight of the photographers, Zita and Steven Strother! The other winner of our 2004 Liberty Challenge, was the muscular dark dapple grey 4 year old stallion SAINT SID (*Sidi-Brahim x Sa La-Jura). He was presented by my granddaughter Jackie Lewis, to the sounds of the song "Are You Ready to Rumble". SAINT SID's powerful strides, sliding stops, and grandeur as he looked over the arena and flags, was breathtaking.

During the afternoon, a special exhibition by Joao, was a bullfighting demonstration riding JULIO BRAHIM, as he so beautifully worked all the moves as demanded by the "wheel bull" (helped by Spencer Ryan). Tail held high in the air, JULIO proudly displayed the "look" of an Arab! This incredible duo of Julio and Joao, will never be forgotten......

A special THANKS to my husband, Paul. Our 5 children, all the families, friends and our happy horses, for all their help in making this Memorial Day Sunday so special. Sharing the fun with horse friends, neighbors and drop-ins, made for a truly traditional Happy Horse Day. Plan to come again, on Sunday, May 29th, 2005. WHAT WILL WE THINK OF NEXT?????!!!!!!