| Have you ever been to a horse show and
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| | Thoroughbred collect himself and go up
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| seen the sleek, shiny horses of every
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| | and over a four-foot stone wall with the
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| size and color performing at the peak of
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| | ease and grace of a dancer.
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| their splendor? If not, you don't know
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| | Pounding away in the distance will be the
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| what you're missing. Come along now on a
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| | rhythmic beat of the black-smith's
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| trip to the country and the wonderful
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| | hammer, the ringing clang of iron on iron
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| world of the show.
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| | as he shapes a shoe. When the shoe is
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| As soon as you start to bump along the
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| | properly formed, the clanging will stop
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| old dirt road that leads to the show
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| | only to be replaced by the softer thud of
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| grounds, you'll feel excitement in the
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| | a small hammer driving the nails through
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| air. It's a kind of excitement like a
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| | the shoe and into the horse's hoof. But
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| light fever, horse fever. Anyone who
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| | don't worry about the horse being hurt.
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| likes animals loves horses, and almost
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| | His hooves are like your fingernails. No
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| everywhere you look you'll see horses -
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| | pain is felt around the edges where the
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| some being ridden in an easy, relaxed
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| | shoe is tacked on, any more than you feel
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| manner by seasoned professional riders;
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| | pain when your nails are filed. Only if a
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| some being held by proud, smiling
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| | nail is hammered too near the center of
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| grandmothers; some acting frisky in the
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| | the hoof will a horse feel any
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| crisp morning air as soft-voiced grooms
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| | discomfort.
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| do their best to quiet down the snorting
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| | As you keep moving along the dirt road,
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| animals ; some standing peacefully,
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| | you'll see horse vans and trailers, which
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| gently nuzzling their affectionate
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| | transport the animals and equipment to
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| owners.
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| | and from their home stables. In the
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| Young riders will be scurrying in every
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| | background, you'll see the barns where
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| direction, hunting for the proper number
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| | each owner is assigned stalls for his
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| to wear on their backs so the judges can
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| | horses and, if the show is a large one,
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| identify them easily, searching for their
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| | there will even be huge tents put up to
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| hunt caps or derbies before the next
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| | stable the hundreds of horses that will
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| class begins, or maybe just plain trying
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| | be on hand to compete in the sport of
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| to find mother. Other riders may be out
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| | kings.
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| for some early morning practice, putting
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| | But these days is it the sport of kings
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| the high-stepping Saddle Horses through a
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| | only? Not on your life! In fact, if
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| walk, trot, and canter.
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| | you'll buy yourself a program and step
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| Or you may see a well-dressed rider in
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| | right up to the rail of the big riding
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| black boots and canary-yellow riding
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| | ring where the various events (each of
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| breeches taking a big, rangy hunter over
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| | which is called a 'class') take place,
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| the outside hunt course where the jumps
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| | you'll discover for yourself that riding
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| are like the actual jumps a rider would
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| | horses is truly becoming the sport of
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| meet on a real hunt. You'll hold your
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| | kids.
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| breath the first time you see that
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