‘Unicorn’ Leads Authorities on Chase in California

Don’t worry, there’s a fairy-tale ending.

Drives on Avenue 12 in Madera Ranchos in California must have thought they were seeing things — or perhaps had been transported into a magic story. 911 calls began coming in that there was a unicorn running loose.

They weren’t entirely incorrect: Juliette the pony, who regularly wears a false unicorn horn to pose for children’s photographs, had escaped from a job and was now running wild through orchards and along the roadway, still garbed with her mystical horn. For her five-year-old owner Tatum Boos, this wasn’t a fairytale but a nightmare: “I was afraid, and we had to catch her in the dark.”

Juliette led the state highway patrol as well as local residents on a merry chase evocative of the unicorns of legend: among the white blooms in an orchard, she essentially vanished as she blended right in with the scenery. Finally, by the light of a California Highway Patrol helicopter, a family friend rode in on her horse to lure Juliette into captivity.

As they say, a unicorn can be tamed by a fair maiden — or, in the words of Tatum, “get a time out because she was being a bad pony.” Sounds about right to us.

And they lived happily ever after, like all good fairy tales.

Go unicorns! Go riding!

[Runaway unicorn captured in California]

California Chrome Wins World Cup Prep

Chromies of the world, rejoice — our boy still has it. Watch the replay of today’s race at Meydan!

After California Chrome blasted through the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January, it was clear to the world that despite a series of setbacks in his four-year-old season, Chrome still had a few moves left in him. Team Chrome shipped off around the world to Dubai, seeking the biggest purse in the Dubai World Cup which had evaded the horse’s grasp in early 2015.

And this time, California Chrome seems to be leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s a bigger, badder version of his former self: while an abscess and bone bruising may have taken him out of contention for big titles in 2015, the big colt has clearly matured in his months of recuperation. He’s all filled-out muscle, and as he strutted around the paddock before the start of today’s Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy Handicap, it was clear that he was the horse to watch. (The race took place at 12:55 Eastern time, 9:55 in the evening in Dubai.)

Beautiful trip: nothing like watching this big chestnut just lope home under a hand ride. I don’t think Victor Espinoza even moved during the entire race, gate to wire!

Now, in the defense of the rest of the field, this wasn’t exactly a race stacked with tough competition — but Team Chrome treated this race as a final big prep, a good place to sharpen him up for the biggest challenge of them all: the Dubai World Cup.

As you might recall, Chrome gave the World Cup his all in early 2015, falling just a little bit short after a trans-Atlantic flight from the other side of the world. But after watching the above race, I have to believe that this time he’s as ready as he’ll ever be, poised to become the richest racehorse in the world.

The 2016 World Cup on March 26 will certainly be a more challenging field: traditionally attracting the world’s best racehorses for an incredible $10 million purse, we already know that 2015’s three-year-old stars Frosted and Keen Ice are planning to run. Both colts have been training at Meydan, with Frosted already winning a Grade II in early February. Trainer Todd Pletcher has also mentioned that Donn Handicap winner Mshawish will be making a bid, and there’s always a strong representation from racing nations all over the world.

We’ll be sure to bring you coverage of the Dubai World Cup as the fateful day draws closer, so keep it locked here on Horse Nation! Go Chrome, and go riding!

Fleeceworks Thursday AM Feed: ‘Dressage Prospect’

What’s the old gag? If it can’t jump, market it as a “dressage prospect?”

Yeah, let’s go with that. Free jumping can be a valuable experience to allow a horse to stretch its own jumping, figure out how to place its feet or to let the owners discover if a horse has real jumping potential. Often, free jumping is a source of beautiful images or videos of horses soaring over massive fences, their bascule picture-perfect, knees square as they take flight.

And sometimes, they prove to be perhaps a bit more of a disappointment: (note — must be logged in to Facebook to view).

Amazing Jumping Horse#WowJumping | PegaseBuzzEt là, tu sens que la saison de concours va pas être facile.

Posted by PegaseBuzz on Friday, February 19, 2016

Oops. As my husband stating while looking over my shoulder, “it’s like when someone goes to dunk a basketball and really, really misses.” (No horses were harmed in the making of this video!)

Go riding!

World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: Skijoring

Warning: Dramamine not included.

Skijoring, or the sport consisting of a skier being towed behind a galloping horse down a path of obstacles, has been increasing in popularity — the extreme sport attracts both snow-loving adventure junkies and horsemen alike. Hold on tight for today’s Helmet Cam, coming to us from Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the shadow of the Tetons: there are thrills and spills aplenty!

Need more skijoring? Check out one of our past features:

Go riding!

Best of Craiglist: Close Enough Edition

The “auto-correct made me do it” excuse might be valid for some of these … but other sellers definitely went with the “eh, close enough” option when it comes to wording, spelling and grammar.

Yeah, yeah, we get it — auto-correct can make you (accidentally) say some very silly things. But some of these ads are unintentionally hilarious due to plain ol’ bad grammar, poor wording and garden-variety typos. Hang on to your hats; it’s time for “Best of Craigslist!”

We’ll kick things off with an ad full of all sorts of creative spelling (and hey, it ain’t this seller’s first rodeo, so no lowball offers please). From Teagan:

Via Craiglist

Screenshot via Craigslist

Have a App/thuribread Gelden for sale. Very Gentle and love Attention. 20 years old bit acts like hes still a baby. 16.5 tall. Good ground n ez to ride. Looking to find someone who has a playmate for him. Loves to go for walks n enjoy the sites..Also was a jumping horse..
Asking $650 . Lookimg for some who has horses or another horse to keep.him company. Need to sell asap..
It ant my first Rodeo so please no lowballers..


 

We’re not sure what’s worse, the grammar in this ad or the photography that makes this look like the highest croup we’ve ever seen. From Tiffani:

Via Facebook

Via Facebook


 

Here’s a pretty classic auto-correct fail that has us giggling, from Julie:

Screenshot via Facebook

Screenshot via Facebook


 

Aw, little blue roan, I feel you — I stand tired all day too. Grownin is hard work. From Jill:

Via Facebook.

Screenshot via Facebook.


 

Not shown in this screenshot: the type of saddle, which is listed as “english bareback.” From Jennifer:

Screenshot via Ebay

Screenshot via Ebay

Little Joes P/Adilly brown leather saddle
Measures 19″ from seat to front
Width span approx 37″
Leather could use some reconditioning
Strrups state rust free
Im out of my realm here any questions please ask Ill try to answer
Buying as shown as you view it as for decoration for use for parts?


 

From Julie: “the ad’s not terrible, but why is the mini posing in front of the pool?” Hey, maybe she likes to take in the sun by the poolside. Or perhaps go for a swim. Who knows.

facebook

Screenshot via Facebook


And we’ll close out this week with this trifecta: bad grammar, bad spelling and overall just a bad, bad ad. From Lorraine: “I love that the meme is ‘here’s to all of us who can’t imagine out life without horses’ and it’s an ad for dumping your horse with a total creeper.”

Screenshot via KSL

Screenshot via KSL

Readers, if you run across an “interesting” ad in your Internet wanderings, send it our way! Email the link to [email protected]. Who knows – maybe you’ll help connect a horse with a safe, loving home. Go Riding.

Tuesday Video: Play Ball!

We can think of few things we enjoy as much as this horse enjoys playing with a ball.

Okay, so Tuesday isn’t the most fun day of the week, usually. But this video might help make it a little more enjoyable: watch this horse just go to town partying in the indoor arena with his ball.

Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view.

Be as passionate about life as this horse is about his ball!

Posted by Dynavyte on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Nothing like a happy horse to get your day started on the right foot.

Go riding!

#horsenation ‘Grams of the Week

Another week of horse life, rounded up in your images!

‘Gram of the Day from @radelmachlier: Henry’s last (cross country) hurrah! #ottb #ridelikeagirl #horsenation A photo posted by Horse Nation (@go_riding) on

‘Gram of the Day from @eileenharkness: Treats!? This horse runs on peppermints #spoiledrotten #ottb #horsenation

A photo posted by Horse Nation (@go_riding) on

‘Gram of the Day from @megemilia: Phantom blaze #ottb #barnlife #horsenation A photo posted by Horse Nation (@go_riding) on

‘Gram of the Day from @dmzrimsek: can’t beat this view #horselife #trailride #horsenation

A photo posted by Horse Nation (@go_riding) on

Join the conversation! Follow us on Instagram at @go_riding and tag your public photos with #horsenation. We’ll share our favorites daily. Go riding!