Horses

Joydale Sparklerslas, affectionately known as “Sparky”, came into my life in January 1993, when I was thirteen years old and she was ten. She is a 1982 Morgan mare, out of Kennebec Spark by Kennebec Chief. Sparky is a bright chestnut with a connected star, stripe, and snip, and she stands at 14.3 hands.

Sparky and I have competed in open shows, dressage, combined eventing, and most recently combined driving. Learn more by clinking on the link at bottom.

Sparky has been the one constant in my life through all life’s changes, from broken teenage friendships, romantic heartbreaks, two college degrees, marriage, and motherhood. She was the one whose red mane I cried into when my parents divorced; she was the one I shared gumdrops with on Saturday night when I felt like the biggest loser in 10^th grade; she was the one who was present when my husband asked me to marry him.

Sparky’s life has been a tumultuous one, as I was her eleventh owner in ten years. While she started life well and was sold as a six month old weanling from the Joydale farm, her life took many turns from there. She ended up at a notorious horse dealer’s barn at least twice that I know of. She was denied food for being sensitive to train, and was subjected to being thrown to the ground with the use of a “running W” device as she allegedly was a “rearer.” She was ridden in harsh bits with heavy hands. She was denied trust from those she should have been able to trust: humans.

Dreamy Starlet was given to me in May 2003. Originally a "companion" horse for Sparky, she has proven she has what is takes to be a riding horse. She is a 1991 Standardbred mare, out of Dreamy Almahurst by On The Road Again. Dreamy is a seal brown with a star, near front pastern, near hind pastern, and off hind pastern, and she stands at 15.1 hands.

Dreamy was foaled at Pine Hollow Breeding Farm in New York. She raced briefly in 1993 and 1994 on the pace. She had eight starts and only two second place finishes. She earned $1029 and her mark was Q 2:05.1 H. She had four registered foals and three made it to the races.