My birthday is 16 February, 1951. I grew up in the greater Los Angeles area until I joined Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (e.g., the U.S. Navy) in 1972 where I invested 9 years of my life. My most recent vocation (which I retired from in February 2006) was as a technical-professional in the nuclear industry. I have two sons ages 23 and 25. My wife and I have been separated now for about ten years. We're still good friends we just don't do well living together.
I've loved horses for as long as I can remember. I was married on horseback! In the 50's my favorite activity was to watch as many shows that had horses in them as I could. I remember My Friend Flicka (my favorite as it was about a boy and his mare), Fury (another story about a boy and his horse), The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers to name but a few. When growing up in Los Angeles about the only opportunity I had to interact with horses were the pony rides at the local amusement parks. I would absolutely wail when I had to get off!
I remember playing under my bed covers at night pretending I was a horse. An interesting thing I recall during those games was that I could vividly 'feel' the pain and terror of horse slaughter. Interesting how children often 'feel' such things. My mother took me to see Walt Disney's Bambi when I was only a few years old. I recall how the scene when (a) hunter(s) killed Bambi's mother affected me emotionally.
I'm certain that these two events, along with wondering if it 'hurt when they killed the cow', are part of the reasons for my decision to become a vegetarian. I'm grateful for this in that on one occasion when I was called to speak out against horse slaughter at a horse council meeting in the latter seventies I was asked by a member of the audience if I ate meat. I was able to look them in the eye and say no. That was the end of the attempt to debunk me as a hypocrite. *smile* Spiritually speaking, IMO commercial slaughterhouses are akin to the Nazi extermination camps. They are horrible, HORRIBLE places!
Spirit has graced me with stewardship of the following treasures. I am most humbled and pleased that three of my beloveds have achieved some level of notoriety on-line. Pictures of my beloveds can be viewed at the indicated links.
Christy, 11.0 hh, Bay (w chrome) Shetland-type Pony mare, foaled in 1992:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Christy/Elnoras Gin Fizz, 14.1 hh, Bay w Chrome Morgan mare, foaled September 20, 2004 (Tanq's foal):
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Fizzy%20-%20Elnoras%20Gin%20Fizz/LSR Tanqueray Sterling (Tanq) 16.0 hh Chestnut/Flaxen Morgan mare foaled February 21, 1992:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Tanq%20-%20LSR%20Tanqueray%20Sterling/Tanq is a lovely mare that actually looks more sporthorse than Morgan IMO. She is my 'super model' mare and the 'loner' of my herd. When she moves she glides over the ground. Tanq is featured on the following web pages:
colormorgans.tripod.com/othercolors.htmwww.rainbowmorganhorseassoc.com/index/flaxen.html Metigoshe Marquessa (Kessa) 15.1 hh, Chestnut Morgan mare foaled April 27, 1999:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Kessa%20-%20Metigoshe%20Marquessa/Metigoshe Mariah (Mariah), 15.1 hh, (VERY sooty) DNA verified Palomino Morgan mare foaled June 19, 2003 (Kessa's foal):
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Mariah%20-%20Metigoshe%20Mariah/Mariah has been featured in the Spring 2004 edition of the Rainbow Morgan Horse Association newsletter as well the April 2006 edition of The Morgan Horse article on Look Alike Colors. Mariah is featured on following web pages:
colormorgans.tripod.com/palomino.htmwww.mindspring.com/~morgans/notsilver.htmMy Miss Gidget (Misty), 9.2 hh, Silver Dappled Dun Class B Miniature mare foaled July 1, 1990:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Misty%20-%20My%20Miss%20Gidget/Misty being such an unusual color has drawn some attention other than just my own. During a web search I discovered that she is featured on the following web page:
duncentralstation.com/DunOtherDilute.htmlNarnia Farms Black Satin Knight (Knight), 8.0 hh, Black, Class A, vasectomized Miniature stallion foaled May 1, 1992:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Knight%20-%20Narna%20Farms%20Black%20Satin%20Knight/Questor Mystique (Mystique), 14.1 hh, Chestnut/Flaxen Morgan mare foaled May 23rd 1993:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Mystique%20-%20Questor%20Mystique/Sable Wild Fantazee (Tazee) 14.1 hh, Seal Brown Morgan mare foaled September 13, 2003:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Tazee%20-%20Sable%20Wild%20Fantazee/Shes a Scootin Bond (Scooter), 15.2 hh, Bay Appaloosa mare foaled February 28, 1998:
s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd77/DRCharltonJr/Scooter%20-%20Shes%20A%20Scootin%20Bond/Non-equine companions:
Kelly, a 7 year old uncropped, spayed Great Dane bitch
Tinker, a 2 year old spayed, declawed, grey tabby cat.
Charlie, a several year old neutered, declawed, orange tabby cat which I 'inherited' following my late mother's death.
I became steward to my first horse in 1974. That's when a stunning chestnut/flaxen Morgan filly, Gays Candle Light (Candle), captured my eye and my heart. I was graced to be her steward for nearly 18 years until her death in 1992 from the after-effects of a terrible colic.
I managed about three months without a horse around before I starting 'climbing the walls'. Then in the fall of 1992 two miniature horses Jewel and Knight came into my 'keeping'. Even with the Minis though the hole left by Candle in my soul persisted.
Sadly my beloved Jewel was euthanized in February 2008 due to a neurological issue that had developed as the result of a conformational defect. She was 3 months shy of turning 26.
The summer of 1995, I happened across an Internet ad for Mystique, as a two-year-old filly. I contacted Mystique's breeder requesting pictures and a video. I had one look at the video and fell immediately 'in love' with her.
In 1998 a co-worker where I worked told me that her brother had a Class B miniature mare that he needed to sell due to a divorce and financial issues. Misty (and Jewel) suffered from past abuse, it is pleasing to be in the position to provide her with loving sanctuary.
In 2001, Scooter came into my 'keeping'. Scooter was originally purchased by a Morgan breeder that I know to be an embryo recipient mare. It turned out her reproductive 'system' was 'immature' and she would not be able to support a pregnancy without a LOT of management. She was traded to me in exchange for money owed.
Kessa and Mariah arrived in mid 2003 as a pair when Mariah was only 6-weeks-oldl. I belonged to a Yahoo Morgan Pictures group for several years and followed Kessa's birth and growth along with Kessa's breeder. I didn't even know Kessa was for sale when she was sold. Through convoluted circumstances Kessa was bred as an early three year old and put up for sale due to her 'owner's' financial hardships. Kessa's breeder went to great lengths to help me become her steward and we have become close friends.
In 2003 Tazee also entered my 'circle' although there was a detour first. A friend who had met Mystique 'fell' hard for her *smile* I wanted to try and find a Morgan like my Mystique for him. I fronted the money to purchase Tazee with the 'condition' that she stay with me temporarily so I could meet and interact with her. Sadly, a 'connection with Tazee didn't manifest for my friend which is just how things happen sometimes. In 2005 it was mutually decided that Tazee should be returned to my stewardship. I was SO pleased when she arrived back 'home'!
In 2006 Tanqueray and Fizzy came into my 'keeping'. I had been a fan of Tanq's since I first saw her pictures on the same Yahoo Morgan Pictures group where I first noticed Kessa. I considered myself her biggest fan (next to her then 'owner'). Long story short, I was promised first offer on Tanq if her 'owner' ever sold her. That promise was not honored and she was sold to another person who promptly bred her. Alas, I considered Tanq forever lost to me but Spirit saw fit to allow events to manifest otherwise. Apparently I needed Fizzy too, eh? Let me tell you Fizzy is a firecracker too!
I have no interest in breeding since I realize that there are MANY more horses than there are genuinely loving forever homes for them all. Why risk one of my beloveds's on a maybe thing when there are SO many horses that need a good home? I have my life full trying to be more appreciative of the blessings that I already have.
I feel graced to 'see' animals my spiritual equals, yet different. I have learned much about unconditional, spiritual love from animals. I 'talk' to the animal companions that grace my life. I confess that I have 'issues' with clear hearing however. I have attended basic and intermediate courses in interspecies telepathic communication facilitated by Penelope Smith. Penelope's web site is at:
www.animaltalk.netMy desire in life is to live by a single standard of unconditional love (e.g., agape) and to do as little harm and cause as little suffering in this world as my abundant ignorance permits. I would compare my ignorance to a mountain and my knowledge and understanding to a thimbleful of sand. Each day when I'm graced to look at the person in the mirror my hope is to be able to move one grain of sand from the mountain to my small thimbleful of unconditional love and understanding.
My dream is to someday facilitate a spiritually focused animal rescue and sanctuary. Perhaps then I might be able to give back some tiny portion of what animals have given me...
DISCLAIMER (or the 'Fine Print'): *VBG*
I am a VERY opinionated person. Gee, I'm sure nobody reading this introduction knows anyone else that is this way! As a result of my opinionated nature I may come across as judgmental and/or chauvinistic. PLEASE take this into consideration when communicating with me. My opinions are just that opinions. I am keenly aware that my ignorance far surpasses my understanding. I try not to be so bold as to say that my opinions and positions are 'right' for anyone other than myself. However exploitative, self-indulgent behavior is unloving and I will so state. One of my favorite caveats is 'it depends' on the 'intent' behind an action as well as the situation that a behavior is manifest in. I try NOT to draw conclusions from incomplete information. Time bears witness to the intent behind all things. If I ask with intent and am patient in waiting for the answer I will be granted understanding most often. When dialoging with me if there is a misunderstanding, please ask rather than assume. After all the spelling of assume is ass-u-me!
Namaste'!
Darrell