They’ve never NOT had technology!
When I started doing my own repro work, ultrasounding, breeding and preg checks; Brian absolutely insisted that I learn to palp pregnancy’s in addition to the ultrasound. It’s such a valuable resource - I’ve palped mares in the field before 
.
The more you know!
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I’ll see your strapped jodhpur boots (mine are black) and raise you. I have a black pair of elastic-sided joddy boots that my mother bought me for my 6th birthday “big enough for you to grow in to”. Many years later (and now many years ago) I took them in to be re-heeled and the Cobbler nearly fell to the floor in worship saying “Original Chelsea Beatles boots!”.
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@Janet - what a fabulous shot! 
That really takes me back in time – I remember those outside courses - and of course all of the “turnout” of the day.
What a lovely horse! Is he a palomino?
I was told that the first two billets were sewn to one piece of canvas and the third to a different one, so the idea was, if you buckled your girth to the first two, and the canvas broke, you’d be SOL.
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And only blues counted for points.
Thank you. ETA that my father was the photographer.
Yes, Rocket (full name Golden Rocket) was a palomino. He was by a buckskin Quarter Horse named “Rebel” out of a chestnut TB named “Sunny” .Those were their barn names. I used to know their registered names as well, but have forgotten them. He was born about 1955, which is why I was aware (as stated in the post above) that the QH registry didn’t “close” until 1962. (So Rebel qualified for registration as a QH based on “conformation and performance”, not just bloodlines.) He was a VERY well trained school horse from Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford NY.
Buying him was the STRANGEST purchase process ever. At the time it seemed a little unconventional, but after many decades riding I have never again seen anything like it.
It is all described in this old (2004) post (it is post number 120 on the thread)
If the link doesn’t work for you, let me know, and I will cut and paste the (rather long) post.
One update- in that post I said that I was told that Mike Page had trained him. He remembered riding him, but didn’t think he had trained him. I have since found out that the primary person to train him was Denis Glaccum - now best known for his connection with the Plantation Fields and Fair Hill HT, but then a member of the US 3-Day-Event team.
ETA, here is a color picture of him
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I was competing at Flora Lea back then. I had ridden hunters up until my early 20s and then discovered eventing. What fun!
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I remember Mike well. He was based at The Hill, back before it was Old Salem (and before it became fancy). Went to several shows at Sunnyfield back in the day.
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I knew it when it was Salem View, before it was The Hill. We had Pony Club lessons there.
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I had jodhpurs boots (purchased from Harry Hall in London, UK) in the 1960s that had stretch patches on the sides. No laces or zipper and no straps.
Sunnyfield was around for a very long time. I almost think I heard it got sold not too long ago, but I won’t swear to it.
Sunnyfield has been around since at least the 1940s.
It was sold in the mid 1970s when Mrs. McIntosh (A&P heiress) died.
According to a Google search, it is on the market again, for $65 million.
I can’t find anything that says it has actually been sold.
I hope whoever buys it keeps it intact.
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Maybe the rumble I heard was about it being listed. I certainly hope it will stay in one piece.
Years ago I stopped in there to see a friend of mine, and our two dogs took off and ended up almost at the house towards the back of the property. Lol.
Yes! I totally miss that!
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I remember poring over Practical Horseman,
I loved George Morris’s column.
I remember when Ariat came out and how I loved their paddock boots.
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@Janet there was a song sung by Hank Snow called The Golden Rocket (1959). Makes me wonder if there was a cultural reference of the time.
@Willesdon there used to be an old Menonite gentleman who did leather repairs in our area. I sent him a pair of (second, third or fourth hand) Dehners and in chatting he was so amazed that “some people will pay $200 or $300 for boots like these!” I didn’t tell him the pair he was holding would be well into the 4 digits new. He’d have never agreed to work on them!
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stubben saddles made with two different colors of leather
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When I was young, Argentine-made tack was seen as inferior to that from England. With low-quality India goods so prominent a supplier now, I’m yearning for good ol’ well-made, well-priced Argentine.
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I’m that old too, those are exactly the jodphur boots I had when I first started riding at age 9 or 10. Paddock boots are different and only seemed to come in adult sizes in those days (1960s) and they laced up, no zippers back then.
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When I was a child in the 1960s I saw a picture in a magazine of Sunnyfield Farm, and about 25 years later on my first visit to Bedford I remember passing the farm and being amazed it still existed. I hope it remains as a horse property but not going to hold my breath, most likely it will end up as more housing. 
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