2008 Love Your Horse Senior Horse Photo Contest Winners

It was November 1990 when I was given a 3 ½ year old halter broke purebred Arabian stud colt. I had not had horses for 20 years, had not planned on ever having any again. I went to see him-under protest-with my husband, who insisted we should at least take a look. All these years later I am still picking the gravel out of the bottom of my chin, from where it hit the dirt when he floated out of the barn. He was stunning...GORGEOUS! PERFECT! And mine just for the asking. It was impossible to do anything else but say Yes! I want him! Arabians had always been my all time favorite breed...and here was the one I had always dreamed of. We barely beat the frost putting in a new pasture fence, built him a stall in our 2 car garage and brought him home.

Over the years we have grown older together. Gone trail riding while learning to trust each other to keep us both out of trouble. Crossed running water...blazed woods trails where there were none...faced down horse eating moose and deer. Together we learned to trust our respective dentists (if he can take it with class...so can I). We share secrets, apples, beer, laughter and tears. He has a wicked sense of humor, and is a ham if you are holding a camera. His apples are handpicked at the grocery and he gets warm water with real maple syrup in the winter. Dai Sha Voo still lives in our attached 2 car garage where he can visit with us through the kitchen door, kind of like the Bedouins living with their horses in tents. June 15, 2007 he turned 20 years old. A senior in years only, he still looks and acts like that colt I first laid eyes on.

Dai Sha Voo has been on Blue Seal Vintage Senior for the last 10 years on his vet’s recommendation.

He has also inspired a new horse product and business. The fall after he came home I became concerned that hunters were shooting too close to my house – and my horse. The stores only had orange halters available for hunting safety. I have 30 years of industrial stitching and manufacturing experience. Using him for a model I developed and manufacture The Original Equine Protectavest line of orange equine hunting season safety wear. Dai Sha Voo now earns his apples and maple syrup by modeling Protectavest products on my website www.protectavest.com.