Happy Holidays.
I was going to post about the mythological background of the Arab horse. But we got sad news here in Delaware this week.
If you saw my last post you saw the picture of the young woman sitting with her mare, and I mentioned that Delaware has a very strong Arabian community. On the 21st we lost 11 Egyptian Arabians, one mare is being cared for at New Bolton. The Farm is Yorklyn Arabians and they had a fire.
a Go Fund has been set up to help the family here. If you can donate it would be awesome, if you can boost the signal that would be awesome as well.
My Published Work
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
JOSEY’S CHRISTMAS COOKIE BLOG TOUR
JOSEY’S
CHRISTMAS COOKIE BLOG TOUR
CHRISTMAS COOKIE BLOG TOUR
BY
SHARON KLEVE
SHARON KLEVE
FIVE
STAR REVIEW
5.0 out of 5 stars A Lovable Story!
By Debby Lee
I loved this
heartwarming Christmas story.
Josey was a workaholic who spent all her spare time at the office in order to
cope with the tragic loss of her parents and being jilted by her fiance. I
really felt for her.
Clint was a handsome veterinarian Josey met at an animal rescue event who
helped her buy a large slobbering dog named Cookie. Clint handled the animals
with professionalism, sincerity, and great care.
The two Morning Dove's in the story, Harry and Beatrice, were desperate to see
Josey and Clint get together in time for Christmas.
If you enjoy sweet plots, whimsical animal themes, and stories that make you go
"aaawww" this one's for you.
Highly entertaining, highly recommended!
heartwarming Christmas story.
Josey was a workaholic who spent all her spare time at the office in order to
cope with the tragic loss of her parents and being jilted by her fiance. I
really felt for her.
Clint was a handsome veterinarian Josey met at an animal rescue event who
helped her buy a large slobbering dog named Cookie. Clint handled the animals
with professionalism, sincerity, and great care.
The two Morning Dove's in the story, Harry and Beatrice, were desperate to see
Josey and Clint get together in time for Christmas.
If you enjoy sweet plots, whimsical animal themes, and stories that make you go
"aaawww" this one's for you.
Highly entertaining, highly recommended!
BLURB:
In the blink of an eye, Josey lost the most important
people in her life, her parents.
people in her life, her parents.
Can a hound dog named Cookie, a pair of mourning doves,
and a passionate vet bring the holiday spirit back to Josey's life in time for
Christmas?
and a passionate vet bring the holiday spirit back to Josey's life in time for
Christmas?
EXCERPT:
As I
stared at the pathetic dog in his diaper, I realized no one wanted the dog,
they were just gawking at him. The sign said his name was Cookie, part Basset
Hound and part Redbone Coonhound. I didn’t know anything about either breed. I
did know he was very large and he was slobbering everywhere and he should have
a diaper around his neck. I turned to continue my search and a felt a tug on my
pant leg. I looked down and Cookie had a hold of my jeans. When our eyes met,
Cookie's eyes twinkled, just like Clint's.
stared at the pathetic dog in his diaper, I realized no one wanted the dog,
they were just gawking at him. The sign said his name was Cookie, part Basset
Hound and part Redbone Coonhound. I didn’t know anything about either breed. I
did know he was very large and he was slobbering everywhere and he should have
a diaper around his neck. I turned to continue my search and a felt a tug on my
pant leg. I looked down and Cookie had a hold of my jeans. When our eyes met,
Cookie's eyes twinkled, just like Clint's.
A
glob of drool hit the top of my shoe. He let go of my pant leg and licked the
goo off my shoe. I wanted to say, "gross," but instead I said,
"thank you." I was hooked. His fur was a reddish brown and soft as
silk. Not caring about drool or dog hair, I sat down on the floor next to
Cookie, wrapped my arms around his neck, and finally felt at peace.
glob of drool hit the top of my shoe. He let go of my pant leg and licked the
goo off my shoe. I wanted to say, "gross," but instead I said,
"thank you." I was hooked. His fur was a reddish brown and soft as
silk. Not caring about drool or dog hair, I sat down on the floor next to
Cookie, wrapped my arms around his neck, and finally felt at peace.
Another
glob of drool hit the floor next to my butt. He looked sad, like that was a
deal breaker and I'd leave him behind. I looked Cookie in his sad eyes and
laughed. He pulled back his goofy lips and smiled back.
glob of drool hit the floor next to my butt. He looked sad, like that was a
deal breaker and I'd leave him behind. I looked Cookie in his sad eyes and
laughed. He pulled back his goofy lips and smiled back.
That's
when I heard Clint's voice, "Well Josey, it looks like you found your soul
mate."
when I heard Clint's voice, "Well Josey, it looks like you found your soul
mate."
He
laughed, but not at my expense.
laughed, but not at my expense.
ABOUT SHARON KLEVE:
Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.
Sharon is a multi-published author of
paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading
romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets
no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's
arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they
deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.
paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading
romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets
no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's
arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they
deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.
One of her favorite things to do is
picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the
emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way
her favorite authors have inspired her.
picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the
emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way
her favorite authors have inspired her.
When not writing, she can usually be found
either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the
kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.
either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the
kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.
CONTACT SHARON HERE:
GRAND PRIZES
(1)
$5.00 gift card
$5.00 gift card
(2)
Audio books or (2) eBook copies. Winner’s choice
Audio books or (2) eBook copies. Winner’s choice
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Arab; the first breed
A lot of ink has been spilled about the Arab horse. How old it is, how many breeds were developed from it, what you can do with it. For me the answers to that are; very old, most of them and everything.
Kuhaylan: a masculine and strong strain of Bedouin Arab, thicker and stronger than the others I will write about in this section. They also have a quieter nature.
The Arab is a small light horse with a high head and high croup. Many Arab Horses have 5 lumbar vertebra and 17 sets of ribs, one less than horses of other breeds.
As a war horse the mares were ridden into battle because of their courage and mental strength. Personally, I always thought that would lead to many interesting battles during the crusades since Western European knights rode stallions.
The Arab started coming to Western Europe during the Crusades, when crusaders came home bringing this ‘new’ horse with them. That was around 1095. After that when the Ottoman Turks pushed into Hungary in 1529 they brought Arabians with them.
From there it went on to influence just about every breed in Europe with the possible exception of the Icelandic, since the stud book there was closed around the year 1000.
Don't ride your horse this way, but even with a bad rider an Arab can do anything
Don't ride your horse this way, but even with a bad rider an Arab can do anything
There are several strains of Arab. Originally there were the Bedouin or Desert bred types
Hamdani: Taller and longer than the Kuhaylan, more refined but still very strong and masculine they are the desert strain with the highest endurance.
Abayyan: even more refined with a high carriage and the high forehead and tapered muzzle that we all think of as the typical Arab. It is more spirited than the Kuhaylan and the Hamdani.
Dahman: a medium sized horse with the refinement of the Abayyan and the strength of the Kuhaylan.
Seglawi: extremely refined, with a much more feminine look. These horses are fast but with less endurance than the other larger bloodlines
Got that?
Well it gets more complex:
Now we have the modern European and Colonial strains
Polish: the Polish strain of Arab is very refined and fast, still they are quite athletic. This strain has been effected by the wars in Europe quite a bit.
Spanish: this strain of horse is known for its disposition,versatility and its big eyes.
Crabbet: the Crabbet type is sturdy and sound and can be used and worked without worry about any kind of breakdown. They can be a bit plain and a bit larger than others.
Russian: the goal of the breeders of this strain is to produce an animals that is pleasant to look at while being extremely athletic.
Egyptian: the Egyptian strain only contains bloodlines of the original desert types. The Egyptian strain is less than 2% of the Arabs registered in the US but hold 30% of the national titles. That says something. 
Azzizah an Egyptian Arabian Mare owned by Evening Star Arabians
Azzizah an Egyptian Arabian Mare owned by Evening Star Arabians
Domestic: These animals are the descendants of animals imported before 1944. I would say this is a bit like the population of the US, mostly English (Crabbet) with other strains mixed in.
CMK: this strain is the combination of three studs lines the Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg.
The various breed registries use genetic testing to a much higher extent than I am used to in horses. I’ve seen similar uses of blood testing in rare breed programs but while poking around for info for this blog I saw a lot of information on both genotype and mitochondrial DNA use. The use of mtDNA makes a lot of sense, since this breed is matrilineal.
With the Arab’s strong body, quick mind and great beauty it is one of the best Lady’s horse out there.
These horses bond very tightly with owners and are awesome family horse. 
Melanie and Azzizah
I needed a lot of help with this post, including Wikipedia, the site for the Arabian Horse Association also the Pyramid Society and Al Khamsa. Last but not least Evening Star Arabians.
Melanie and AzzizahI needed a lot of help with this post, including Wikipedia, the site for the Arabian Horse Association also the Pyramid Society and Al Khamsa. Last but not least Evening Star Arabians.
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