Tag: Black Stallion books

WOW – Pharoah donation! Victor Espinoza!!

Seen this?

American Pharoah to victory, then donated winnings to charity

When it comes to horse racing, we tend to remember the names of the horses more than the jockeys, but here’s a jockey you really should know.

On June 6, American Pharoah became the first horse to win racing’s Triple Crown in 37 years.

It’s just the 12th horse in history to win all of the three major racing events in a single year — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

But there’s another part of this story you might not have heard about: the jockey.
American Pharoah’s jockey, Victor Espinoza, donated all his winnings from the Belmont Stakes to charity.

All of it. Reportedly $80,000.

Wow.
The charity is City of Hope, and they fight cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses.In an interview with ABC News, Espinoza casually mentioned his plans for the massive payday.”I won the Triple Crown right now, but I don’t make any money because I’m donating all the money to the City of Hope.”The group confirmed Espinoza’s plans to donate on their website, and included another statement from him:”Good health — that’s what I want for everyone. With good health, people can enjoy life and do those things that make them happy. By working to defeat cancer, City of Hope’s researchers and doctors are bringing a greater chance of health and happiness to people everywhere.”

American Pharoah’s trainer, Bob Baffert, also donated his Belmont winnings, splitting it between three charities.

Bob and Jill Baffert following American Pharoah’s win at the Belmont Stakes.

According to Louisville’s Courier-Journal, Baffert and his wife Jill will donate $50,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, $50,000 to the California Retirement Management Account, and $50,000 to Old Friends Farm.

As the name would suggest, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered severe on-track injuries. The California Retirement Management Account is a fund to care for retired racehorses. Old Friends Farm is a retirement facility for horses located in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Between Baffert and Espinoza, even those of us who aren’t fans of horse racing have quite a bit to cheer for.

Because at the end of the day, American Pharoah goes back to being a horse. A really cool horse and all, but still a horse.

Here’s a prime example of a cool horse.

His jockey and his trainer used their winnings to help save and improve some lives.
Years from now, when you think back on American Pharoah’s historic run, be sure to remember his team, too.

gotta love the ones that give!!!!

www.horstales.org

Racing The Black

… and now the rest of the story!

dad writing

banner_home_anim_580x360_rainbow

b&w Rearing web
Hi!
Thought you might like these questions and answers from some students in the Horse Tales Literacy Program.
www.HorseTales.org
Enjoy your Sunday Ride.
And stop at the Ranch on your way home:-}

Subject: 4th grade questions

Message Body:
Dear Mr. Farley,
My name is Mr. Dan Range and I co- teach 4th grade vocabulary with Mrs. Garcia
in the Gadsden Elementary school district. We are located in San Luis, Arizona.
During our class time for the last month Mrs. Garcia and I have been reading
your fathers book “The Black Stallion” to the students as a read aloud. We just
finished this morning and the students have some questions that they would like
to ask of you in regards to your father’s book.
1. How did your father develop the character of Alec. Was he based on people he
knew in school or was there a particular family member that resembled his
personality.
2. Is the “Black Stallion based on actual events”
3. What made you and you brother decide to continue your father’s legacy in
regards to writing and literacy?
The students enjoyed the story of the Black stallion, so much so that we are
going to show the movie on Friday. Thank you for your commitment to literacy and
for writing and preserving such great American literature. The students look
forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Range and Mrs. Garcia
Arizona Deserts 4th grade class.

Dear Mr. Range, Mrs Garcia and students,
My dad started writing” the Black Stallion” on his parent’s kitchen table when he was only a bit older than your students, sixteen. He had never owned a pony or a horse but had the opportunity to work with his Uncle Bill at a farm in upstate NY. There was plenty of work and many tall tales about horses of all kinds from his uncle. One that was repeated often was about Uncle Bill’s experience in World War 1;
Bill served as a veterinarian in the Army Equestrian Corps, there were many horses used in battles at that time. If you have seen the movie “War Horse” it shows the pain and tragedy of that war, and Uncle Bill’s job was to keep the horses sound and fit.
One evening a cry went up that the base camp was being attacked and Bill jumped out of his tent to see a lone man on a huge black horse charging toward him, bomb in hand!! Bill knew that if the solider managed to throw the bomb many of his friends would die and he had to do something NOW. He raised his pistol and fired without hesitation. The shot killed the rider instantly, before he had a moment to react, and he and his bomb fell to the ground harmlessly. Uncle Bill had saved the camp, his friends and officers, he was a hero!
The Captain of the base was so impressed by Bill’s swift action he asked him what he wanted as a reward. Uncle Bill knew exactly what he wanted – that Huge Black Stallion!
From then on the German horse and Bill were inseparable – traveling all over Europe as war raged and, like Alexander The Great’s horse Bucephalus, he saved Uncle Bill’s life more than once. Finally the war finished and it was time to go home. Like thousands of other soldiers Bill made his way to France where he was to board a ship back to America. When he arrived he soon learned there was no room for his most important possession, his horse. He had to make a painful decision – his family or his stallion.
Bill found a farmer in a nearby town who would take his beautiful black stallion and with tears in his eyes he left Black with the farmer, promising to return soon.
It was years later before Bill could get the money to go back but that big horse was a treasure he wasn’t going to lose! His big stallion became the sire of many fine race horses for Uncle Bill, who treated him with love and care for the rest of his life.
This is the way the story was told to me.

I believe this family tale and Dad’s wish to be an adventurer created Alec Ramsay. Often as my father would run on the beach, he was a track runner in school, and I would wonder who he was – Alec or the Black? He seemed to be both of them at different times but his fascination with horses of all types and that special feeling of connection between human and animal was a constant. Dad didn’t want sad stories about horses, books like “Black Beauty” and later “King of the Wind”, he wanted exciting adventure and wild horses! The Black Stallion gave him the ability to meet people in all walks of life from jockeys and trainers to presidents, kings and movie stars. He was able to ride the Black Stallion around the world doing what he like best – having adventures and writing about horses.
You never know where your dreams might take you!

I grew up with my dad’s closest friend, the Black Stallion, and he was a real part of the family. Dad was able to own a few horses later in life but that special mystery horse was the BIG brother of the family. When I was just out of college I started working on the Black Stallion films as a photographer (attached pix). That was an fantastic adventure that took me from the race tracks of California to the Sahara desert in Africa. I worked with many exciting people and saw magic come to life – like the rainbow scenes at the end of the Black Stallion film.
We started our literacy program with family friend Mark Miller and Al-Marah Arabians. Mark was best friends with my sister Pam and she is the inspiration for the books “Black Stallion and the Girl” and “Black Stallion Legend”.
Mark had a wonderful horse theater, Arabian Nights, in Orlando, Florida and I always hoped we could do something together. Horse Tales started as a small idea that used my dad’s books and his horses to tell a story that made reading fun. It was hard at the beginning but after the first year we knew we couldn’t stop – too many teachers and students enjoyed the program. We’ve now had over a million students participate in ten states and three countries.

You can read more about my dad’s life; https://theblackstallion.com/web/author/
Don’t forget to join the forum – you never know who you might meet there; https://theblackstallion.com/web/mb/
We have contests and discussion about horses, writing, movies … all kinds of topics.
Join us on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/alec.ramsay.96
Check up on the happenings at the Florida farm on FaceBook; https://www.facebook.com/almaraharabianhorses
And in Arizona; http://www.al-marah.com/
Thanks for writing … and reading!
Tim & Pamela Farley
www.theblackstallion.com
www.HorseTales.org

 

Own your own Black Stallion!

Arabian Nights sale today!

Sixteen horses that were regular performers in the now-closed Arabian Nights dinner show will go on sale Saturday.

Arabian Nights closed Dec. 31 after 25 years of operation in Kissimmee. It had 36 horses in its stable at that point.

Al-Marah Arabians, parent company of Arabian Nights, will hold Saturday’s sale on an 80-acre farm in Clermont.  Breeds available include Al-Marah Arabians, Percherons, Appaloosas, Saddlebreds, Belgians, Irish Sport Horses and Quarter Horses. All horses are broke to ride, the company says.

The full list of horses and prices will be available online Saturday morning at al-marah.com. Buyers will be able to see the horses at the farm and discuss them with Al-Marah Arabians staff, including owner Mark Miller and head trainer Kassie Barteau.

Prices will range from $2,500 to $20,000.

Al-Marah Arabians is located at 11105 Autumn Lane, Clermont, and will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

We recommend coming to the farm to see the horses before bringing a trailer, & that all new buyers schedule a vet exam on the horse being purchased before it’s taken to its new home. The farm will be open Saturday March first from 9am-4pm.
Come see our babies!!
Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction – Orlando, Florida
Al-Marah Arabian Horses
Sales List
Arabian Nights Horses
For Sale, Saturday March 1st

Trained Horses

Brooks and Dunn $6,000 each. $10,00 for the pair.
12-year-old Appaloosa geldings.
These are two of the most versatile horses from the Arabian Nights show. They were a square dance pair, did trick riding, roman teams and were chariot horses. They are strong, sensible, durable and fun. Great for someone who wants to do exhibitions. They like each other and we’d love to sell them as a team.

Al-Marah Jagai $7,500
10/2/02 Grey Arabian Gelding
This is a son of AM Ben Dream+ out of the AM Sea Captain++ daughter DWFS Imajica. He is a good athlete and very versatile. His sire was a winner in both Arabian main ring halter and Western Pleasure. He could easily compete successfully in a variety of different events, and Sport Horse Under Saddle or Dressage would be natural directions for him if he were kept in our barn.

Al-Marah Officer $7,500
2/19/05 Grey Arabian Gelding
Al-Marah Officer is by National Champion Al-Marah Power Raid+++/, who is also the sire of Al-Marah Chance Command++++//, the current Arabian National Champion in 2nd Level Dressage and 2014 Scottsdale winner at both 3rd & 4th Level. Officer is a good minded horse who has very good athletic potential and lots and lots of miles under his girth. Appropriate for any level of rider.

AM Handsome NGood $7,500
1/28/02 Bay Arabian Gelding
Big, strong Opollo son with lots of athletic ability. He has national talent. Handsome NGood was originally trained at Arabian Nights but subsequently sold to be an endurance horse because of his great forward energy. His buyer never really got started so he was reacquired by Arabian Nights. He is best for a more experienced rider, but has great potential in many areas, including Dressage and Sport Horse Under Saddle. A good chance to buy a horse with great potential to compete at any level.

Nuncho Primero Whiz (AKA Rocky) $7,500
1/4/04 Palomino Quarter Horse Gelding
Rocky was a mainstay or our Native American Tribute at Arabian Nights, and so has a lot of practice time as a reining horse in very busy conditions. He has performed beautifully in black lights with strobes, smoke and fog. He is solid and in the process of changing from a performing horse to a competition horse. He is also a beautiful golden Palomino.

Al-Marah Amazing Ray $10,000
6/13/2007 Chestnut Arabian Gelding
This is definitely one of the trainers’ and senior riders’ favorites at Arabian Nights. He is very athletic, beautiful and charismatic. He’s also a real “people” horse with lots of personality. He could compete in almost anything from reining to Dressage to Hunters. His primary job at Arabian Nights was as a versatile horse in the larger drills, but he’s young and ready for a new career where I’m confident he will shine.

Dark Storm SA $10,000
4/4/97 Black Arabian Stallion
This is a real opportunity to buy one of the horses that played The Black Stallion at Arabian Nights. He is pretty, charismatic and beautifully trained. He is also 100% sound. We do recommend an experienced horseperson for Storm because of his extensive training. He was ridden thousands of times in the Arabian Nights show, bareback with no bridle at a full gallop by a Princess in satin pants. He could still compete, or would be ready to just have fun at home or in exhibitions.

PL Luckys Queen $15,000
5/7/02 Grey ½ Arabian ½ Irish Draft Mare
Lucky was one of our most versatile horses in the show. She could perform in any drill, and eventually became the horse that played the unicorn when the real unicorn didn’t come in from the enchanted forest behind Arabian Nights for the show.
In addition to being well trained as a drill horse, she performed well in the 8-man dressage drill, can bow, kneel, lie down and can be ridden bareback without reins. Very solid, big mare who would be a great show horse.

AM Mozarts Moon $15,000
7/8/1999 Grey Arabian Gelding
This is a true “Bazy” horse. His sire, Al-Marah Seagfried+// was one of Mother’s favorite horses and certainly one of the two best AM Sea Captain++ sons. AM Seagfried+// is out of AM Money Tree who has Mother’s personal riding horse. AM Mozarts Moon is out of Al-Marah Honeymoon who went into the broodmare band as a three year old. He is very, very reliable and an extremely strong and stout athlete. Ideal for a beginner and would be good in many different disciplines.

Payback Top Brass $15,000
5/5/02 Chestnut Arabian Gelding
This is a SHOW HORSE. He is a beautiful chestnut with four high white socks (actually four high white stockings!) and a beautiful way of going. He is super broke and ready to rock in the show ring. He’s beautiful by himself, but will definitely stand out in any crowd in a crowded show ring. Lots of fun… unlimited potential.

AM Silver DreamLA $20,000
5/25/04 Grey Arabian Gelding
The Crown Jewel of the Arabian Nights horses, this son of SDA Silver Legend (who was exported to Australia after being purchased from Al-Marah) goes back to Al-Marah Iron Lady, one of the Arabian breed’s most important mares. His half brother, Al-Marah Silver Charm, was Top 10 Sport Horse Under Saddle at the 2013 Sport Horse Nationals, and Training Level Sweepstakes Champion and Reserve Champion Sport Horse Under Saddle at Scottsdale in 2014. “LA” was next in line to be a Prince Horse at Arabian Nights and has many “extras” including rear, laydown, bow, march and piaffe. This guy is ready to take someone to the top in the Dressage/Sport Horse Under Saddle division of Arabian Class A showing.

Green Horses

RS Shift Work+ $2,500
2/15/08 Grey Anglo Arabian Gelding (3/4 Arabian)
RS Shift Work+ is a big, green gelding who would be an excellent jumper. Could also be good for Sport Horse or Dressage. Pretty Green and needs an experienced rider.

Sonny $3,000
11-year-old Percheron gelding
Sonny has been in the Circus Bareback act for many years. He is big and has a lot of lift. Good for professional or he would be a great back yard pet.

Regency Royal $3,000
5-year-old Belgian gelding
This is probably the prettiest draft horse I have ever seen. He was started for a Big and Little act, then switched over to training for an acrobatic horse. Young, big & strong with a good mind. He is charismatic and would be a great exhibition show horse.

Arabian Nights closing – end of an era :{

After 25 years and thousands of shows with millions of cheering fans Arabian Nights is closing it’s doors at the end of the year. We all have great memories and it’s a sad day.
A heartbreak for everyone but the times have changed and been tough on so many horses – as you all probably know too well. See the show one last time before it’s too late.
Here’s the news’;

KISSIMMEE, Fla. —Arabian Nights dinner attraction in Kissimmee is closing its doors Jan. 1, owner Mark Miller announced Friday.

After 25 years and more than 10,000 performances for more than 10 million guests, Miller says the local attraction can no longer provide a product cheap enough for consumers.

Despite the closing, Miller says staff will remain dedicated to providing the best show possible for its last scheduled shows.

“Our mission now is to present the best possible product for the rest of the year so that the people who have loved us over the years will be able to come back and experience the magic of our show one last time,” Miller said.  “Then we will be concentrating on how to assist our incredible staff in handling this transition.”

Miller praised his staff, saying, “There is no question that the skill, dedication, work ethic and people skills of our employees have enabled [us] to be the best there is. Anyone looking for an incredible employee after the first of the year should call our human resource department immediately.”

While the staff continues to perform its annual Christmas show, ending Dec. 31, Miller is offering half-price admission to central Florida residents.

http://youtu.be/hGlv7uwweMQ#aid=P9ZzFn3aFWI