Picture this: Mint Juleps in a barn cocktail party, filled with a mix of American equestrians, KY Horse Council board members, and representatives from a number of breeds.... plus 30 of your best French friends. (What, you don't have any French friends? Visit the Normandy pavilion at WEG to find some, they are waiting there with cheese and wine. And a cooking class which is FREE and you get to eat the results.)
Stalls full of horses of many breeds: Saddlebreds, thoroughbreds, warmbloods, quarter horses, hackney ponies... and in the aisles people drinking cocktails and admiring the diversity of breeds.
A demonstration of a Kentucky native breed, the Rocky Mountain horse. The French mounting the Rocky Mountains in anticipation, to experience its gait and speed. Many photographs taken of expert French riders trying out a gaited horse for the first time.
Then traveling 1/2 mile down a dusty lane to the 1800's house, wine and dinner on the lawn under the stars. Sounds of French and English intermingling. The glow of cigarettes as the night darkens (so many of the French folks smoke... they haven't had the thrill of the Surgeon General's report yet).
Good Kentucky food: Fried chicken, beaten rolls, cheese grits, pork tenderloin, grilled asparagus, bread pudding...(hungry yet?).
A warm and bright house for those who were chilled from the fall air. Small groups in conversations all over the lawn and house.
All at Madelyn and Jamie Millard's farm. She is the president of the KY Horse Council. The farm is 530 acres of pasture and hay fields, barns, indoor and outdoor arenas, and paddocks. It is a true working farm, not the highly manicured thoroughbred farm often depicted in postcards.
Speeches at the end of the evening offering friendship, cooperation and support as Normandy prepares for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Soon Kentucky will wrap up its 2010 WEG, and soon KHC will sign a partnership with Normandy for interchange of information, professionals and trade.
Ah, a night to remember. And a night to find hope in people all over the world; we all want the same thing... good friends, good conversations, a good meal and a good night's sleep. And I've had all of those things tonight except the sleeping part. Good night!
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2 comments:
Thanks, Madelyn and Jamie for a truly memorable evening. We appreciate all you do for the Kentucky Horse Council.
I would love to hear thoughts on riding a gaited horses for the first time, maybe see some pictures?
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