BTW that fancy horse that the Romneys have in the Olympics - wasn't even an American horse

[LynneSin]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/ann-romney-rafalca_n_1732429.html?utm_hp_ref=2012-summer-olympics

LONDON — Ann Romney said Thursday her horse Rafalca "thrilled me to death" with a solid performance at the Olympics, where the U.S. presidential campaign crossed paths with the equestrian sport of dressage at Greenwich Park.

The 15-year-old, German-bred mare has been the source of political jokes and Democratic ads questioning how U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney can presume to know the problems of ordinary Americans when he inhabits the rarefied world of dressage.

[larkrake]

1. none of the horses are. Most are German or Dutch in the games

[justabob]

2. so what?

The breeds that we fancy here aren't right build for the events in the Olympics.

I hate the Romneys as much as anyone.... this obsession with the horse is nuts.

[Bucky]

3. There are perfectly good dressage horses bred in Alabama

Anyway, this OP smacks of immigrant bashing. I'm reporting Lynne to the mods.

[justabob]

4. the gene pool for warm bloods is still deeper in Europe

Some are bred here, but more are bred there. It just doesn't matter where the animals come from.

[msongs]

5. it matters if your political campaign is based on America first and best, foreign = bad nt

[justabob]

6. fair enough

but there is still so much other, better stuff to attack them for.

[SoCalDem]

10. There are "cold-bloods" ? Somehow that kind might suit the Romneys better

[justabob]

13. indeed, but if you are interested:

cold bloods are the big strong guys.... clydesdales, percherons and the other draught horses
hot bloods are the light, fast ones.... arabians, thoroughbreds and others
warm bloods came from a mix of the first two... oldenburgs, selle francais, hanoverians, trakehners, and others

[SoCalDem]

14. My friend breeds Arabians..

ALL horses are beautiful..

[justabob]

15. it's true

I wish I still had one. I rode growing up and through my teens.... quarter horse. He was the BEST.

[SoCalDem]

16. I rode beach ponies as a kid

They were ornery as hell..no saddles..only a rope halter.. what a wild ride...sometimes they would decide to cool off & head into the ocean..

[justabob]

18. ponies are something else

They are like terriers in the dog world. Lots of attitude and mischievousness, but great fun.

[SoCalDem]

19. until they buck you off (in a sandy swimsuit) and then they run off into the jungle

we spent many hours chasing them down..

[justabob]

20. haha yeah, I bet

When I first started riding. I was on a pony and we were out in the field waiting for our turn at whatever we were doing. I was sitting all straight with tight reins etc and Prince, the pony, decided he'd like a nip of grass. He jerked his head down for a bite and flung me right over his head onto the ground, and hightailed it back to the barn. Not my proudest moment riding... or falling off. hahaha

[antigone382]

17. Aww, but cold bloods are gentle giants!

When I was growing up we had a pair of black Percherons--both were trained for pulling wagons, and one was trained for riding. They were beautiful, noble, intelligent, and often very funny animals.

[Bake]

8. Better watch out, Bucky!

LynneSin is NOT to be messed with!





Bake

[Historic NY]

7. Sheesh...first it was his gardners & now the horse.

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. I must admit, though, I'd never seen a horse do an Arabesque,

immediately followed by a pirouette, a triple moo-cow, and a spinning headstand going into a double-axel. It's a shame the rider and two of the judges got trampled in the process (they're all okay), but it was one hell of a routine.

[SoCalDem]

11. I'm waiting for the equine balance beam.. what time is that one on?

[HopeHoops]

12. Nah, a US horse would be just "too American" for rMoney.