The Harry de Leyer thread lead me to some YouTube surfing. In the process, I came upon this wonderful video. it’s footage of the 1959 National Horse Show, with George Morris narrating. Some of the really great horses are represented, like Sinjon and Nautical.
Some of the riders weren’t too shabby, either. :lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYfgVBnSzPI
Oh, that’s wonderful!
That was a good video, thanks!
Really interesting. By the way, it was Harry de Leyer who found and developed Sinjon early on. George nonchalantly says Czar d’Esprit could jump 6’7" flatfooted! Someone once told me there was a documentary discussing mules in the backgrounds of Grand Prix jumpers, has anyone else seen this?
[QUOTE=Calamber;7685438]
Someone once told me there was a documentary discussing mules in the backgrounds of Grand Prix jumpers, has anyone else seen this?[/QUOTE]
Unlikely–virtually all mules are infertile.
Awesome footage and George’s commentary made it even better! I’m e-mailing it all over the place, many thanks! 
Mules are infertile but they can JUMP. 
The elegance of the audience. That was High Society. Top hats, jewels furs-WOW
What a stroll down memory lane. Thanks for sharing it here.
I believe it was in the 1950’s that the AHSA officially banned mules from horse show jumping competitions? I’d love it if anyone could confirm that…
[QUOTE=Ponyclubrocks;7686336]
I believe it was in the 1950’s that the AHSA officially banned mules from horse show jumping competitions? I’d love it if anyone could confirm that…[/QUOTE]
Hambone was the one who got mules banned.
Hamilton T. Bone, on the other hand, had already made a name for himself as jumper by besting thoroughbred horses at local, state and national jumping events. He hit the big time in 1949 finally, when a Life magazine article and photo spread about his exploits appeared following his banishment from participating in the Camp Carson Hunt Club jumper classic— after winning the event the previous year.
“Hamilton T. Bone — Hambone for short — had been foaled in May 1932 on a farm in Missouri,” writes Gayle C. Shirley in Four Legged Legends of Colorado. “Like every mule, he had a perfectly respectable mare for a mother. But his father — let’s face it — was a jackass.”
According to Shirley, “An oldtimer was once quoted as saying he remembers the mule ‘driving his handlers nutty.’ He said it ‘took pound of spit and sweat and a ton of cussing to turn him into a first-rate mule.’”
Hambone was known for his silvery white coat and other crowd-pleasing actions during his military career and later in front of audiences at rodeos and equestrian shows.
http://coloradorestlessnative.blogspot.com/2008/08/working-like-army-mule.html
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/449656344018057325/
Hambone
No story of Army mules is complete without a brief note on Hambone. Hamilton T. Bone was the pride of the 4th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack). Year after year, he carried the First Sergeants of the 4th up Ute Pass to Camp Hale or along the foothills of the Rockies to Cheyenne, Wyoming for the Frontier Days Rodeo. His silvery-white coat and entertaining antics as a jumper won him fame in July 1949 when Life Magazine printed a feature story on the four-footed soldier. After serving 13 years at Carson, Hambone was retired involuntarily along with the other mules. He spent his retirement years as a star attraction with the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the Pikes Peak Range Ride. In the summer of 1970 Hambone showed signs of advanced age, and he was returned to Fort Carson for the “last mile” a few months prior to his death on March 29, 1971. Feelings for Hambone ran deep, and his death made newspaper headlines locally. He was buried with appropriate military honors in front of Division Artillery Headquarters. The legendary Hambone is still acknowledged as king of a great era. A memorial, made of stone quarried on the reservation, was erected over his grave. The saga of the Army mule and an Army tradition came to an end at Fort Carson on December 15, 1956, when Battery A of the 4th Field Artillery Battalion (Pack) was re designated, and the 35th Ouartermaster Company (Pack) was inactivated. More than 322 mules marched into retirement to be replaced by helicopters. Until the mule barns were razed in 1970 to make way for a unique central maintenance facility, pack mules returning to the post for ceremonial events would head directly toward the familiar surroundings of their former stalls. http://www.militaryrelocationcoloradosprings.com/milfortchistory.htm
Mrs. Barney in her later years would buy up what we’d now call “rescue” horses, board them at a local Pony Club/Eventing barn, and let the kids get experience re-training them. She who bought and donated, with her husband, so many USET horses etc. over the years told me she enjoyed nothing more than grabbing old QH’s and Apps who were bound down the river and giving them a new lease on life. There were also whispers about her having once been seen in a “black ninja suit.”
A lovely, gracious and FUN lady who is still very sorely missed!
