Malarky
 You would think that
Chris had learned her lesson with Jackie (see "The Funnies") but
then she started pining away for a pinto or a paint. Chris has
this thing about wanting all the different colors represented in
the stable (something about advanced color lectures). Usually I
ignored her, as I do about the palomino and the buckskin, but
just by chance, I purchased not one but 2 pintos in the same year
and surprisingly had another one foaled. Malarkey was one of the
purchases. I am amazed he made it through the first summer. Nick
named "Bad Boy Malarkey" or "Full of Malarkey" He is known by all
as the real character in the barn.
 With some dedication of advanced
year around Cedar Lodge riders, Malarkey came back the
second summer as a star performer. He started the spring
out with several horse shows where he placed well and was well
loved by all (even when he stuck his head in the garbage can to
see if there were any treats). He worked hard all summer in
advanced flat, beginner and intermediate jump classes and
finished the fall with another horse show where he ended as the
best placed Cedar Lodge horse! We have big plans for
Malarkey......but don't let him know. He would be bound to get a
swelled head!
Several years have passed now since (still) " bad boy Malarky"
has come to Cedar Lodge and I must say that he has certainly
eared his place in the herd. Though he still can be opionated and
strong minded, has turned into quite a pitch hitter and is used
heavily in beginner and intermediate jump and novice show
team as well. Several of our Cedar Lodge Show Team riders
that are more advanced started their showing career on
Malarky.
 At our annual
Labor Day Horse Show, another stable came to Chris on
Friday and asked if they could borrow a pony. It seems that the
pony that one of their students was leasing had just come up lame
the day of the show, leaving them with one broken hearted little
8 year old! Chris laughed and said, "One pony? I have a half a
dozen!" Chris gave them Malarky and the little girl had
just Friday night to get use to her new ride before showing him
in his divisions the next day. Malarky was a super star. Not only
did he come out as champion in several divisions that day and
help the little girl qualify for her medal finals, but he ended
up winning the medal finals in her division 2 weeks later at the
final LMHJA horse show! Way to fill in Malarky!
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