Mystery Photo Number 1 from N/L No 15 revealed: -

Apollo Straw Girl - Margaret Kemp

Apollo Straw Girl first came into my life almost ten years ago, when I fell in   love with western riding during a stay in Texas and my sister, Roz offered me the opportunity of riding Bugsie, a recently weaned 6 year old appaloosa mare.

Bugsie, so nicknamed I'm told due to her Chicago origins, was imported as a four year old in foal to Mighty Executive.  Some of you will remember Mighty Straw Man, who sired a number of progeny in Wales & Yorkshire.  He is now in the USA with his owner who was working in the UK at the time of her purchase. 

By the time I was able to buy Bugsie she was again in foal, this time to Joyce Nutland's stallion Amazing Blue and so it was a further two years down the line after weaning 'Straw Girl's Image' that we could begin to think about training together   Problems in both hips were then found, one due possibly to the difficult first foaling and the other going back even longer.   Bugsie's exuberance in her field has resulted in recurrence of this problem and also one with a hock, that when scanned revealed an old fracture. 

Despite setbacks we have slowly progressed and I was so proud of my appaloosa when she beat all the quarter horses in the Amateur Trail at the 2003 WES Championships.   The memory of that event will live with me for the rest of my life and I don't mean the winning, although that was a bonus, but the wonderful feeling of being completely at one with Bugsie, from whom I have learnt so much.  Folks say what great levellers horses are and the following week I was brought down to earth by a none too respectful Bugsie reminding me that she is a spirited appaloosa, with an intense dislike of being in an indoor arena alone, and surely couldn't be expected to co-operate in the circumstances!!   In retrospect maybe the problem was more the rider (usually is) not completely focused on the job, which is something Bugsie will not tolerate! 

From The Editor:-

Thank you Margaret for writing in with your story.  We have followed your success with Bugsie.  She truly is a very special appaloosa and we hope to see you in action again at the national show this year.