Introducing... Smudge, our new Connemara Pony

We looked high and low in the state of Virginia and finally found our pony at the top of a mountain!  I can't describe the beauty and had NO time to really photograph what we were driving by as we were on a mission to see a number of horses and ride them in 90+ heat.  It was a lot of driving and tiring, but rewarding in the end.  I will be posting my future horse stuff on my "Just Horses" blog in the future.

I am back in North Carolina and will pick Smudge up the beginning of August.  I have a lot of house work and "chores" to do in the next few days, but hope to be "back in the saddle" in blog land soon.  Hope you are all having a wonderful summer.

So, this is a teaser... come back tomorrow to see the unveiling (here or at my "Just Horses" blog!

The first photo below is for "Perceptive Perspectives" - theme "Your Choice".  This gorgeous stallion below is a Gypsy Vanner (or Gypsy Cob).  I ran into him in the Appalachian Mountains and HAD to photograph this handsome horse.  These grand horses were bred in Romani to pull wagons (vardos).  They are a recently recognized breed.  The first registered horses were imported to North America in 1996.   

Where is Margaret?

I have not been able to keep up with my favorite challenges nor visit my blog friends lately.  I have forced myself away from the keyboard to spend time with the kids.  This summer we have had fun swimming and leasing a pony and a bit of bike riding.   This past week and probably next, I am busy looking at a variety of horses to buy for myself and my daughters. (within 150 mile radius)  As I said, we have leased for a few months and now want to be proud owners of a horse of our own.  I miss my poetry challenges immensely but hope to be back in the swing of things in a week or so.  I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer!  I won't be uploading many photos here, but every once in a while I post a horse photo on my horse blog:  Just Horses