Meet the horse behind the gorgeous Parade Horse Photo: Nick! Currently hauling little kids around….

I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS!

On the 4th of July, I posted a blog about parade saddles. You can read it here.

The first photo I featured (and the photo that was uploaded to FaceBook for that day ) was the one posted below.

Many, many readers wrote in, commented on or replied to FB, speaking about this beautiful image.

Well… one of the people who wrote was the horse’s actual owner!!

I love this kind of connection that happens via the power of the Internet… I was thrilled to hear from her.

She kindly said a few words about Nick. I’ve posted them below.

Clearly, he is loved and appreciated.

And, for me, putting a story and a personality onto the image, just adds to the beauty.

This photo of Nick was very, very popular when I ran it for the story on Parade Saddles.

THE NOTE FROM NICK’S OWNER

The horse that you have pictured at the very top of your blog post is mine. And, I’m riding him. He is a rescue horse. He has been written up in multiple magazines, and has presented the flag throughout the country. At 20, he just wore the silver at a show for the last time … will probably do some more street parades.

He is my parade “trainer” horse – when I have a new rider, they go on Nick to learn the ins and outs of riding in a parade. And yes, it takes tons of work to get a parade horse ready!

To add, he is an AMERICAN SADDLEBRED. His registered name is I’m W.O. Bentley. His barn name is “Nick” which stands for “In the Nick of Time” as we rescued him 3 days from being shipped to slaughter.
His sire is Talent Town and his dam is Sultan’s Lou Lou. He was bred by Ruxer Farms of Indiana. He has presented the flag across the U.S. and has marched in parades under silver tack and side saddle up and down the West Coast. His current job is as our barn ambassador, carrying small children on their first rides. He is the epitome of everything wonderful about the American Saddlebred breed and more. Adore this horse!

This is Nick in his retirement, toting a kid around in style!

HE WAS HONORED!

Nick’s owner also sent a link of photographs from a special ceremony honoring his 12 years as a flag horse for Charity Fair at Del Mar.

To view the photos of the event, click this link. The photographer was Rick Osteen. If you like these pics, you can view his site here (no affiliation). You might know Rick as he shoots many of the Morgan, Saddlebred, Fresian, Arab… shows.

Click to go to Rick’s site. He also makes ranch visits.

I’ve pasted a few shots here…

Photos from the celebration honoring Nick’s 20 years as a flag carrier for the Charity Fair.

MY FAVORITE PHOTO

There were several very beautiful shots of Nick from the contact sheet shown above.

But, my fav was this one… to me, he is showing his generous and calm personality as his is given – yet again – another wreath to wear.

I love that Nick is the only one looking at the camera. I love his tongue hanging out.

Could you imagine your horse wearing that incredibly beautiful and HEAVY saddle, plus the ribbons, plus the beaded headpiece plus the wreaths… Ha! My horses would have headed for the hills long ago!

And to think this hot and sassy Saddlebred spends his retirement time playing with his favorite little boy human.

Perfect.