"A Gift Horse"
by Carol Lyons
Way back in 1971 Charles Craver
gave a yearling colt (Don Camillo {Monsoon X Tara})to
our son and daughter, Jim and Diane
Diane and Donald in a Western
Pleasure class
April - 1977, Diane and Don Camillo,
1st Level Test 1 59%, open rated show
Diane with Donald
Trail Horse Class turn on the hindquarters around a
tractor tire--with a sock of tin cans
Diane and Donald A
trail horse class. Note the sack of tin cans.
Diane and Donald
'ponying' mom Lyon's 1975 yearling grey filly Jal Athena
(Lysander X Thea Isis)
The Sweatshirt reads: "SLOW MOVING
VEHICLE" 1997: Giving a physical therapy
for a badly mangled foot ride to mom Lyons
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- on the condition that he be gelded
and become a family member. And so it was.
As in many families, it turned out that son Jim had
little interest in horses, but 8 year old Diane was
enthralled, and soon a real bond developed between her
and the young gelding. At the appropriate age 'Donald'
went off for two months training, after which no one
but Diane got to ride him till years later when she
went off to college. (Then her Mom got to ride him!)
Together Diane and Donald showed in 4-H, Open non-pointed,
Open Pointed, and All Arab class A shows in Western
Pleasure, Trail Horse, English Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure,
Stock Seat, Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat Equitation, native
Costume, Training and 1st Level Dressage and they won
or placed in all divisions. Not every time, but often
enough to make the showing fun. Ninety-nine percent
of the training was done on the trails. They entered
parades and also won a Completive Trail Ride.
While Diane was away at college, we has so many offers
to buy or lease Donald, but one does not part with a
family member, or entrust their care to another family.
After college, Diane was in the East for ten years,
and Donald was with her. Now she lives in Oregon, and
Donald is still with her. Now in 1997 at the young age
of 27, he has a bit of arthritis and a rear tendon really
bothers him sometimes (it was partially severed in a
downed fence several years ago). But every now and again
he and Diane go for a ride around her property. I rode
him this past spring on one of my physical therapy rides.
For daily life, he has the company of Jal Athena - whom
he adores, and for two years he baby sat Diane's orphan
filly, Hera. Soon he and Athena will be baby sitting
the 1997 foals. If we listen hard, I suspect Donald
could be heard telling the youngsters all about the
marvelous life they will have and the good times coming
with their good 2 legged friends when they are old enough
and strong enough to take on the responsibility.
Oh what a wonderful gift was given way back in 1971!
A gift that keeps on giving. Long may you live Donald,
in peace and the security of your family that loves
you."
from a letter from mom Lyons: Boy
this real letter thing is the pits! ... And a bunch
of (pics) of Donald. All labeled, but ad lib. How about
this for an addition to Diane's site? I'd like to see
something posted while he is still with us. Don't think
I could write it otherwise. This winter will be hard
on him.
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