Tribute to Noodle

Just thought I would sit down and write a tribute to my horse Bold Ambition, “Noodle”. He was born on March 20, 1986 by the great breeding stallion Pride’s Delight K. out of a Pride’s Hallelujah mare. He was in good company because on March 2, 1986 the great mare Lady Fame was also born by the same Pride’s Delight K. Bold Ambition came to my house and Lady Fame stayed in Tennessee and became the mother of Pride’s Jubilee Encore, The Skywatch and Generator’s Fame.

When I started Bold Ambition he was clumsy and loose as a noodle and I guess that name stuck. When I got him I had no idea he would have relatives as famous as the three I mentioned above. Noodle was not destined for greatness but was destined to a relationship with me that is a joy to explain.

I worked him as a plantation horse and showed him in his younger years in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois. He won some gentleman’s plantation classes, some driving classes and got in the ribbons many times.

His true greatness was right here at home. I can’t tell you how many times I have nailed shoes on his feet but I’m the only one who shod him over the past 20 years and he never went without them. I’m sure if the old shoes were in a pile it would fill a wheel barrow. Every time he handed me one of his feet he would let out a little groan that was specific to him.

I wore out a Blue Ribbon saddle largely due to the many times I threw it over his back. I used to tie the sleds to the back of my sleighs and pull my kids threw the fields at a dead run and plaster them with chunks of icy snow from his hooves. He was also no stranger to the trails. He has been to Grayling, MI., Potato Creek, Tippecanoe, Salamonie, Brown County, Hoosier National Park, Shawnee National forest, Hocking Hills, Green River Park, Big South Fork National Park, East Fork Stables and of course York Hills Horse Park. He has pulled sleighs, carts, buggies and carriages and has been ridden down most of the dirt roads in LaGrange County. Before I started York Hills he used to pull my carriage around town on Friday and Saturday evenings for couples to enjoy a romantic ride. There was no risk with him. He would stand and wait at the crossing arms for a train to go by and then proceed on. He would even go through the drive up at the Dairy Queen.

I’m sure people that know me think that to me horses are expendable but no so. Not all horses make it but I have a tremendous soft spot for those that do.

The last couple years Noodle was our loaner and many people have enjoyed him for a day. When Becky came to me and told me Noodle was standing in the field with a broken leg I was hurt. I walked out to him and as soon as I saw his leg I broke down. When I got to him he looked at me and let out that little groan, I hugged him and cried like a baby. I buried him behind the house on the highest hill on our property next to Duke, my old boxer. Bold Ambition was never a famous horse but he was quite a Noodle.

March 20, 1986 – July 5, 2008
22 years of fun