My Lovely World 1971 -1991

[Mare-Girl]

JShay mentioned in the My-My thread, that my little pleasure mare from the late 70s and early 80s was still remembered. Which always sort of shocks me. I never knew she had people actually watching her and then remembering her some 30 to 35 years later. I am Very Honored to know that. She was the 2nd of the five I have owned since 1958. Never sold one yet, and keep them with me their entire lives, I guess. Have 2, CHS bred geldings now. One of those now age 26, a Will Shriver son. The other I hope to get to show maybe this year.

I don't know where to put this thread. I'm not a often writer on Trot. So I don't know all the rules. But if anyone would like to know about her, as JShay mentioned I guess I could begin by saying she was giving up/down lessons when I bought her in 1977, and no one, including she or me, knew how well she would ultimately do. With the exception of Indiana State Fair - in 1983, she never dropped a class, including and among, Midwest Charity, Indy 500, St. Louis, and the old National Pleasure Horse Show at Springfield, Ill. That was where she won all 3 classes including the "National Championship" title. I moved her from Illinois to Missouri when my husband's work brought us here. She died in 1991, at the age of 20, about to turn 21 in 2 months. I buried her in the back of the property we owned in 1991. Up high on a cliff overlooking the Missouri River. Facing East towards Illinois and her birth state of Indiana.

Trained her myself as I have all of mine. By the time she and I had it all together it took a durn nice one to beat her, if I do say so myself. She was sired by a stallion originally named Courageous Honey Dew. Re-registered World Premier. And out of a mare by Christiana King. She was nearly 100% Denmark, with 7 crosses to Rex Peavine. If you want really, to know more about her, and my training of her etc. I can continue. Naida

[Summer Skye]

Thank you for sharing. It was/is a lovely story and a job well done. So glad she came into your life. Extraordinary that you trained her yourself. I especially liked that you still have all the horses that have come into your life. I, myself, am a lifer too.

Again, thanks for sharing --- and the background of her pedigree is outstanding.

[luvtoshowcp]

Imho, I would love more of your stories and as a fellow aotr am always interested in someone's training practices, especially if they are as successful as yours! Besides, new info is so sparse on trot now, I really hope you will tell all your stories.

[jshay]

I am enjoying your stories...for some reason, I seem to remember a wonderful long tail on her...is my memory correct? Also, would love to hear how you obtained her, the selection process and just more show stories. I have to believe more than once you entertained purchase inquiries???

[kiminky1]

Funny, jshay, I was just getting ready to post the same. I feel sure that I remember both mare and owner. Was the mare liver chestnut with a huge, long, thick tail ? If so, such a nice team.

[spindletop]

I put on the other thread what I found in 1983 Indy 500 results. Not much help but just verified that 1983 was the year. They only reported the first three places. Found My Lovely World in the reusults.

[kiminky1]

Naida, I think that we were stabled together at the National Pleasure horse show in '83. We had a darling white legged 3 yr. old and seems like I remember talking with you throughout that week.

[Mare-Girl]

OK, I hope you will read and realize I am Not trying to be a braggart. It's way easy to talk about Frank Bradshaw and that mare of his. Speaking in print about my Own mare, that is something else, again. Glad you guys found the '83 results, as I was sure that had to be the show where I met Frank, as outlined under the My-My thread.

My family owns land in NE Indiana. My beloved ASB gelding had died at the age of 28 in April 1977. (I'll skip over the parts where I was trying to decide what breed to replace him with, and just say a visit to Cathy McKinley's convinced me it had to be another ASB. Cause that will make this thread run over into infinity! ) So I went hunting throughout Illinois and while up in NE Indiana made an appointment with the late Al Todd to look at 2 pleasure division horses he had for sale at the old Benny Brook Farms in Columbia City, Indiana. Owned by the Bennett family. Their most well known horse was also by World Premier (Courageous Honey Dew) and was named Palm Springs. Sheryl Bennett showed that mare with great success. Springer and my mare were out of different mares, but by the same stud.

While at Bennett's in Columbia City, I looked at a big stocking legged gelding who reminded me a lot of my just deceased one. He was named "Chevaliers Challenger". And actually attempted to buy him. But his owner decided against that, and so I liked the tiny little "My Lovely World" mare well enough I went to look her again while they had her at the Indiana State Fair in 1977. I decided upon buying her while there, and a couple of days later collected her from the show and took her home to Illinois. We lived straight East of St. Louis right in the center of the state in a little town named Flora. Al Todd had been quite prophetic when he said to me that the mare would win more for me than the gelding. He said, "She comes past and you can't hear her even breathing. She is like a violin among all the brass".

My reason for buying her was that I had never owned my own trailer, and I knew she had been shown, was giving riding lessons, rode in a trailer well - and I figured she could be my practice horse while I learned how to hitch and drive a trailer, get over my Severe show nerves etc. I thought maybe 3 or 4 years and I'd have myself educated and "in hand". She was 14:3 barefoot. Dark chestnut with no white except for a small star. A plain jane for sure, after my liver, much loved, 4 stocking legged, blaze faced, gelding. My plan when I bought her was to show her for maybe 3 or 4 years and then sell her as a brood mare; and get a "good one". Little did I know, as I worked with her, she was going to become that Good One. When I thought of a "good one" I never, ever thought of an undefeated season or a National Title. But she became all that for me and more. I owe her so much I call my farm, "Mare Barn Farm". I never would have gotten my job at 'Saddle and Bridle' without her. I call my name here, Mare-Girl. Even though she was and still is the only mare I have ever owned. To be continued. before you get eye sore

[kiminky1]

Yep, I remember both of you ! Lovely pair !

[Mare-Girl]

I think you're right, kiminky1. Many Many long years ago. Were you also at St. Louis the following weekend? We had to go up against some Chicago horses there who weren't at the old National Pleasure Horse Show. One judge at the Pleasure show, but 3 judge system at St. Louis.