Mandolin Rain
"Ally" is another in my now seemingly long list of Thoroughbreds. She is a niece of "Shadow of a Doubt" and a Half Sister of "Diamond in the Rough" and "Details". I obtained "Ally" in the summer of 1996 along with her half sister "Details". She was a Prima Donna from day one. The stereotypical Thoroughbred that seemed so elegant and delicate. She was only two at the time and was all leg. She hated the rain and the mud. She had to be fed first and turned out first. She got annoyed if anyone else was ever in her stall. And most of all she wanted all the attention!
But I soon learned that "Ally was more than her looks and an attitude. She had grace, personality and talent. She was a solid competetor from day one. But what made "Ally" really click was finding the right rider. I've heard it said that people look like their dogs, but this was a definite case of a horse and rider really relating to each other. Not that I would ever say that Joanna is a Prima Donna, but she certainly likes things done to her standards. And nobody will argue that she's all Leg!!! But needless to say, Jo and "Ally" made a great pair. I learned a lot from watching them together. And they certainly accomplished alot.
"Ally" has now been sold to a woman in Rochester NY who rides for Lehman
Farms. I wish them all the luck and hope that "Ally" can be half the
friend to Claudia that she's been for Jo. She's the best trained horse I've ever
owned and I'm proud to be able to share her. "Ally's" got a big heart and
I only hope that Claudia can buy enough peppermints to keep her happy!