Signs of the Times

I was judging at the Will O Wind Horse Trials on the weekend. It was a fun getaway, a chance to visit with a lot of old friends, and to watch a lot of nice horses compete.

Ann and Geoff do a wonderful job on this competition -- their courses are among the very best in Canada. Magnificently built, and incredibly decorated. That's one of the reasons their site has been selected to host the cross country portion of the three day event when the Pan American Games roll into Toronto in a few years.

With so many people coming on the farm property, the owners go to extreme lengths to ensure the safety of their beloved dogs.

I had to share these signs. They take me back to years gone by when we had a sign at Bondi that read "Please drive carefully. BLIND CAT." That was Rosemary's beloved siamese Tia... and the sign would cause guests to park up by the road and walk in to the office. Tia got around very well... we think we must have used braille, because she still went outside, still hunted. Still caught mice. When my dog, at that time a miniature poodle named Amy, lost her hearing, we contemplated adding to the sign, "DEAF DOG."

Then, as my father pointed out, we would probably have to add another line: "LAME HORSE", so we relied on Tia's sign to slow traffic.

There was another sign on display in the stabling area. Dreamcrest always arrives with a lot of horses, in a big van. And one thing about Ian and Kelly -- they always call it as they see it! Those of us who transport horses are always set on edge when other drivers' tailgate. It is very important that the horses get a comfortable ride, so they don't become unwilling to get into the transports in the first place. And we are often on single lane roads that require driving with care. Most trailers carry the warning: Caution. Horses.

Dreamcrest goes a little farther in the explanation.