For Love of a Gray Horse: Driving Mister Olaf

Friday, February 27, 2009

Driving Mister Olaf

Yesterday, Chris, Edwin and I took Olaf over to Blue Point Stables so that Brandy McDonnell, the trainer there, could have a look at him and determine his driving skills and abilities. Brandy is a trainer extraordinaire. She not only helped me to overcome the fear of riding that I acquired after a fall but she "cured" Mouse of all of the bad habits that I'd instilled in her through my ignorance as a novice horse owner. And she did all of that with a gentle touch and soft voice or as she always says, assertiveness but not aggressiveness. I've often said that she is a cross between a human psychologist and a horse whisperer. So, I had highly recommended her to Chris, the manager of Ten Oaks Stables, when he told me that he would like to train Olaf to drive.

Vickie Boling, Olaf's owner, has been talking about selling him. There was a prospective buyer but Olaf doesn't like to canter with a rider aboard and unfortunately, he promptly put the buyer off the same way he does anyone who asks him to canter. Brandy says that she can fix the buck as well as teach him to drive. Which Vickie and Chris feel will certainly make him more sellable but I'm hoping that once they start driving him they will decide to keep him because he is definitely one of my favorite equine subjects.

Brandy was very impressed with the boy saying that he is extremely intelligent as well as beautiful and she seems to be very excited about working with him. After first lunging him to get him relaxed and responsive, she put on the driving reins and Olaf stepped out easily. She had to slow him down at first because he wanted to do that big, beautiful round trot that he is famous for...at least amongst the fans of my photos of him, lol. But after that, he responded to her cues very well and acted as if this was all old hat to him. He wasn't so certain about the buggy at first but Brandy allowed him to inspect it and smell of it and then she pulled the buggy behind and beside Olaf as Chris led him forward. Chris is taking him back next Tuesday and Brandy is keeping him for a month so that she can work with him everyday. She says that she should have him attached to a buggy and driving within a week. I can't wait; I think he is going to be spectacular and I will keep you all up dated.

Please note: the photos are in the reverse order of the way they should be so please, "read" them from the bottom up. Thanks:)~Sande

2 comments:

Sande ElkinsFebruary 27, 2009 at 9:52 AM
The photos above are in the reverse order of the way they should be. Please, "read" them from bottom to top.
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Leah HighlandFebruary 27, 2009 at 11:27 AM
What a wonderful story Sande.
I can't wait for the update!
XO-Leah
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About Me & Gray Horse Designs

I've always had artistic leanings. I was drawing stick figures before I could talk. Friends recall that I was constantly drawing or painting as a child. I grew up and I did major in art in college but I never could find direction. I kept switching majors and trying so many different things trying to find the one that fit, the one that fulfilled me. I seemed destined for a while to be a lifetime student. Then one day, I found myself out of work, burned out on school, and very depressed because I'd also just suffered a miscarriage. I was alone at home and totally at loose ends when I picked up a piece of wood and began to see a horse in it. The irony of that will become more evident later in this story but the truth was, that as soon as I touched a knife to that block of wood, it was magic. I felt as if I'd come home. From that one piece of scrap wood and a small cheap craft knife, a business grew and took on a life of its own. I started creating whimsical, wood sculptures and I sold my work all over the world. Then one day, at a crafts exhibition in Chicago, I met the head of Enesco's new gift wares section and my career took off in yet another direction. I designed several very successful lines for them over the next five years but after fifteen years in this business, I started slowing down and losing my enthusiasm. I decided that I'd try another medium but like trying to find my direction in life those many years before, this wasn't an easy task.

I knew that I still wanted to be creative but I didn't know what medium I wanted to try next. So, I tried many but no magic, no flashes of inspiration. Then one day, my husband and I were sitting on a Mexican beach relaxing and enjoying the salty breezes and beautiful views. It was his 50th birthday. He told me how much he was enjoying himself and he asked me what I was going to want for my 50th birthday which would be coming around in two years. I didn't even hesitate before I answered him. "A horse!" I said simply and to the point. I'd wanted a horse for as long as I could remember and I knew that if I didn't get one soon, I'd never get one. So, from the moment we touched down on US soil, I began my quest. There were two things that I didn't realize at the time, that my horse would actually arrive soon after my 49th birthday and that she would totally change my life. Everyone told me that at my "advancing" age, I surely needed a gaited horse because their smooth gait was much easier on aging joints. I began my search knowing nothing about horses or even what I really wanted and certainly nothing about what I needed in a horse.

I was lucky because I met two great horse ladies who pointed me in the right direction. The first told me that the horse I wanted was a Missouri Fox Trotter and the second lady, Fran Forester, offered to help me find the perfect MFT for me. She told me about a man she knew who knew more about horses and specifically more about MFTs than anyone she'd ever met. The only problem was, he very seldom agreed to sell one of his horses. Then one day, she contacts me and she is very excited. The man, Huston Jenkins, was selling some of his horses and one of them was the dapple gray that I'd been dreaming of. I'd told everyone that I wanted a dapple gray horse and when I found her, I would call her Mouse. Huston's niece had promised to take some photos of the gray horse and email them to me. They arrived in the middle of the night but I had been waiting for them. I printed them and thumbtacked them to the bathroom wall beside the mirror so that they'd be the first thing my husband, Steve, saw when he got up the next morning. I wrote across the photos, "This is the ONE!!" I'd decided that as soon as I saw her but I was even more convinced that it was fate when I saw her papered name, Mouse's Funny Face. My fate was sealed.

That was over five years ago and that beautiful, dapple gray mare has since become my muse, my inspiration, my teacher and my life. I started doing equine photography and art because of her. I've met so many wonderful people and horses because of her. My herd has grown from one horse to five now. The latest was a gift from Mouse two years ago, our sweet, lovable and beautiful Danny (Traveler's Sensational Flyby.) I have a blog dedicated to Danny called Fly By Danny Boy that tells his story.

For several years, I tried to start a new business doing strictly equine photography but I soon discovered that this is the wrong economic climate for starting a new business of any type but especially one that's primary product is a luxury. I've been doing art my entire life so I'm not ready to give it up. In fact, my solution is to diversify. I plan on cleaning out my workshop and studio and starting to do wood sculpture again as well as painting and drawing and hopefully handcrafted jewelry. My old enthusiasm and creative drive have returned in force. All of the mediums that I'm delving into will be diverse in subject as well but I'd be willing to bet the farm on the fact that the majority of art work will be equine in theme.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Driving Mister Olaf

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If I Could Fly