If any visitor had come to the MMSC this morning they would
have been witness to a whirlwind of activity as we all prepared for our
afternoon event: a luncheon for the National Horse Center, hosted by the
Fresian Association and the Paso Fino Association. This luncheon included 50
people, seven MMSC staff, three Paso Finos, four Friesians, and a catering
crew.
Before I continue, let me tell you about an ingenious plan I
recently devised to ensure all interns work to their full potential and receive
recognition at the end of each day. Every afternoon, one lucky deserving intern
is crowned ‘Intern of the Day.’ I took the initiative and voted myself
President of the voting committee. To date, there are no other members of this
committee. Also, to date, I have won the coveted title four days in a row.
The MMSC was abuzz with activity preparing for our guests;
barn crew sweeping, knocking down cob webs; office crew polishing furniture, cleaning
bathrooms and the like. I was assigned “flower arrangement” duty. I spent the
morning foraging through the rose bushes outside the office for possible
contenders for what I was hoping would turn out to be a Martha Stewart look-a-like
bouquet for our front desk. I ended up with two mismatched bouquets in vases,
which I half filled with rocks from our driveway (Susanna told me I cut the
stems too short and needed to add height), two hands full of thorns, and a few
bare looking flower pots around the farm which I had ravaged for blooms. I
learned today that flower arrangements are not my forte.
As I fought with rose bushes out front, Catherine conquered
the large John Deere tractor and harrowed the arena for our guests’
demonstrations. She even managed to back the large machine into the garage when
she was finished! When the morning began I was winning the race for intern of
the day, however after Catherine’s success, she was only behind me by a hair. Shelby
spent her lovely morning mopping every moppable surface of the MMSC office,
including the bathrooms. And for that, I voted that she received ‘Honorable
Mention’ in this nose-to-nose race. Our new intern Kiley was summoned to
spit-shine the barn. New intern hazing at its finest. I’m proud to say that
when she was finished, the barn looked stunning for our arriving horse guests.
As Today was Kiley’s first day, she did not receive one of my nominations.
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At noon the Secretariat Center opened up its doors to all
luncheon guests. After eating, mingling, and enjoying horse demonstrations, all
of us were greeted at the front of the MMSC by two horse carriages, each pulled
by two stately looking black Friesians from the draft barn here at the Kentucky
Horse Park. Our great neighbors gave visitors rides around the property, the four
veteran Friesians were perfect gentleman! They stood as still as statues as visitors
climbed into their carriages, were gentle enough to pose for pictures, and they
willingly endured the hot sun so everyone could have a ride.
We all also had the privilege of watching a demonstration by
the Paso Fino Horse Association which is located in Frankfurt, Kentucky. They
even allowed all spectators to ride any of the three horses that they had brought.
Riding the Paso Finos was a very unique experience, especially for this intern
who was unfamiliar with the breed’s distinctive gait. Compared to our large
strided Thoroughbreds, the Paso Finos moved like professional tap dancers as
they toted member after member around the arena. What great sports they were as
we all tried our best to become accustomed to their smooth ride and swift feet!
As the last car rolled down the drive way, business as usual
picked right back up at the farm. The horses were fed, stalls were cleaned, and
who do you think won ‘Intern of the Day’? Yes, shocking to us all, my winning
streak continues….
