Category: Arabian Horses

The Red Filly Continues

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, CC On Writing, Dreaming of Arabians, The Red FillyLeave a comment

It’s been a rough year, maybe two. I have done virtually no writing. A few months ago, I re-read the chapters of The Red Filly I had written so far and was not impressed…so, of course, my first instinct was to give up. Believing in oneself is one of the hardest things for many people to do. I’m aware that this is not the greatest blog post. It fails even at achieving mediocrity. But I’m writing, so there’s that.

I’ve struggled with this novel because it started out as a story that pays homage to books like, The Black Stallion by Walter Farley or For Love of a Horse by Patricia Leitch. At its heart it is still about the love for a horse and specifically an Arabian horse like in the books I mentioned above which helped inspire this story.

But a lot has happened since I was just a girl who loved horses, especially Arabian ones. Because of my life experiences this book has evolved and it’s still evolving. That also stopped me in my tracks. I’m not sure how the finished story will be received and that scares me. I spend way too much time worrying about what other people think. I have many flaws and that may be the biggest among them. So, because I am flawed, this story is as well.

The Red Filly continues…

The Island Stallion Races-First Edition

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Dreams, Just Fun Horsey Stuff, Ruminations and Such, The Island Stallion1 Comment

This was gifted to me by my good friend, Sharon Miesen. It’s a first edition, printed in 1955. I love old books like this one. Love the way they smell, feel, and the way they make me feel. It’s books like this that remind me why I want to be a writer.

This book has seen a lot in its time. It’s been handled and read by many people over the years, mainly young girls most likely. Girls who dream of having their own wild Arabian stallion who loves them the way Flame loves Steve Duncan. I’ll bet this book has heard laughter, tears, and everything in between.

Books can take us to any time and place. Books like this helped me to continue to dream of possibilities in spite of the often-dark circumstances in which I found myself as a young girl. Hope truly is a powerful thing.

My very own Flame (gelding though). Dreams can come true!

Classic Arabian Horse Books

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horse History, Arabian Horses, Just Fun Horsey Stuff1 Comment

I haven’t posted in a while, so just wanted to check in with a quick just for fun post. I picked up these two books at a Half Price Books in Dallas and they are filled with cool Arabian horse history. I shall add them to my growing stack of Arabian horse books which one day I will read and post articles from things learned from said stack of books. Was that a run-on sentence? It seems kind of long. Run on sentences and misplaced, commas are among my greatest writing skills. 😀

Anyhoo…here are some pics from inside these books. Hope everyone is having an awesome Saturday! It’s a little chilly here in north Texas, so I’m reading and writing today. 🙂

The Black Stallion and the Shape-shifter by Steven Farley

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Book Reviews, The Black StallionLeave a comment

So, I picked up this little lovely awhile back at Half Price Books and finally got around to reading it. It was a nice little find. It’s a first edition even.

As you all know, I have loved The Black Stallion series all my life, so I wasn’t sure about reading a story about the Black not written by Walter Farley. Well, it turns out his son, Steven, has taken up the mantle and handled it well. I loved this story! I’m partial to stories with a supernatural bent too, so I was enamored even more with this book.

Alec Ramsay and the Black head to Ireland so the stallion can exhibit his racing talents to a new audience. The Black is injured in the race, so Alec and his horse end up at a farm near the shore for recuperation. At first their visit is quiet and relaxing, but soon Alec begins to witness sights that can’t be easily explained. There is a long mystical history in this ancient place and Steven Farley has written the story in a believable way.

I really enjoyed this story because as always, a beautiful Arabian horse is at its center, but also a magical shapeshifting horse and lonely horse loving girl who Alec befriends and helps. These are all elements that I love, so I was very happy I came across this book. I highly recommend it to all lovers of horses and the mystical!

The Black Stallion and the Shape-shifter on Amazon

Cute Horsey Christmas Pics (Behind the Scenes)

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Just Fun Horsey StuffLeave a comment

So, making these cute Christmas pics of horses is not as easy as one might think. A lot of bribing and coaxing is involved as you will see by the photos and videos below. I wish I had gotten a video of when Flame first walked into the stall and started snorting and stamping because he had never seen a window in the back of a stall before, but alas, I was not prepared.

I haven’t posted in a while so I’m warming back up with this little Christmas themed post. Hope you all enjoy! I hope everyone has the Happiest of Holidays!

Quick Stallion Spotlight-TA Arapaho

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Stallion Spotlight, The Franch1 Comment
*TA Arapaho (Ekstern x *Algira by Balon)

Just a quick post about my favorite pure Polish Arabian stallion, so everyone will now I’m alive and well! I love this horse and will post something more elaborate about him at a later date.

One of his offspring, the beautiful filly, TA Melania, resides at The Franch along with my horsey loves!

TA Melania (*TA Arapaho x *TA Mariette by *Kordelas)

TA Arapaho currently resides in Dunkirk, New York at Mystic Side Arabians. For more info on this gorgeous stallion, click on the following links:

mysticsidearabians.com

Facebook-TA Arapaho

Facebook-Mystic Side Arabians

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Just Fun Horsey StuffLeave a comment

Picked up this little beauty at Half Price Books! It’s a little beat up, but being the 1968 edition, it really brings back memories. I first read this glorious story about a young boy and wild black stallion when I was in elementary school in the 1970s, so pretty sure this is the edition I first read. You can read about my introduction to this wonderful book series, here.

I’m re-reading this story for about the 50th time and love it as much as the first time! When I finish it this time, I’ll post a review, but spoiler alert…it will be a 5-star review for sure!

I hope all of you are well and staying safe. My plan is to re-read the entire series, so, many reviews will be forthcoming. Also continuing to work on The Red Filly and hoping to have the first draft finished by the end of winter. I hope 2022 will be a good year for all of us!

Flame aka Fyrecracker

Much Ado About Horses

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horse History, Arabian Horses, Just Fun Horsey StuffLeave a comment

This post is just for fun because I received these beautiful books from Much Ado About Horses today! I haven’t read them yet of course, but wanted to post a few pictures because I love them so much! Much Ado About Horses is a website that sells hard to find and out of print Arabian horse books. They mailed these to me within a couple of days of ordering them and in excellent condition so I highly recommend them! Check out, muchadoabouthorses.com.

Fortitude

On By Carla ConorinoIn Arabian Horses, Ruminations and Such2 Comments
Thunderhead, Copyright 1943, Mary O’ Hara

I’m currently reading the 1943 edition of Thunderhead, by Mary O’Hara, which originally belonged to my Granny, Frances Grimes, who passed away in 2014. What’s weird though, is even though she knew how much I love horses, she never mentioned her love for them. She also owned, My Friend Flicka, the first book in this three horse book series. I just finished reading that one and will soon post a review. It had been so long since I had read these books that I forgot the herd stallion, Banner, was half Arabian. And even the wild stallion that they call the Albino is said to have some Arabian blood. It’s amazing to me how Arabians seem to show up everywhere in the horse world, in one way or another!

I titled this entry, Fortitude, because of a passage in this book where, Rob McLaughlin, is talking to his son, Ken, about the boy needing to learn how to handle disappointment in life and he references a quote from a book called, Fortitude: “It’s not life that matters-it’s the courage you bring to it.”.

Even though I’m not a big fan of the character, Rob McLaughlin, because he’s often stubborn and overbearing, I was struck by that passage. It is very difficult to react well when things are going wrong.

I’m currently quarantined because I was in close contact with someone who is now struck down by Covid-19. I’m on the fourth day of said quarantine, and the first three days were not handled well by me at all. The first day was the worst, because I allowed my anxiety to take control of me the whole day, and that night I couldn’t sleep because my heart wouldn’t stop racing. I’ve wasted three days of prime writing time just waiting to get sick. I kind of snapped out of it a little yesterday; did a few household chores and worked out, but no writing…

Well now I’m writing this, so I guess that’s something, even though I’m reaching the end of the fourth day. To quote Scarlett O’Hara, “Tomorrow is another day.”