Not Horse Sense, It’s Horse Love
Marion O’Connor knew better, but she’s a slave to her soft heart.
She bought Kokolo at a spotted quarterhorse auction in August 1992 because the filly was dainty and half the price of other black and white horses. Best of all, Kokolo’s March 22nd birthday was the same as Marion’s.
“I was pretty inexperienced. I didn’t know she was a runt. She was so cute,” Marion says, laughing.
She paid $1,450 for Kokolo, then learned a few days later that her filly was a twin. The veterinarian told Marion that twin horses typically are underdeveloped and don’t grow much. He told Marion not to expect ever to breed her horse.
Five months later, the vet diagnosed Kokolo with a degenerative bone disease. Everyone advised Marion to give her horse to a veterinary hospital where students could practice surgery on her.
“No way,” Marion says, blanching at the thought.
Surgery for Kokolo’s bone problems cost $1,200 and the vet declared it a success. Marion, a courtly dressage rider from Careywood, began looking for a trainer.
She liked Scott Seeklander’s patience. Scott, who works in Garwood, trains horses for reining, a rough-and-tumble type of dressage that grew out of cattle work.
He saw promise in Kokolo. She responded well to his subtle body movements, making their routine seem effortless.
After a year of training, Marion entered the 3-year-old in her first show - a world championship for spotted quarterhorses in Reno.
“I was scared to death. I thought we’d look like the hillbillies from North Idaho,” says Marion, who’s 30. She bought a $300 saddle pad in Reno so Kokolo would look as fancy as the other horses. She’s sure it brought her luck.
In the final competition at last month’s show, Kokolo, with Scott riding, won $200 as the reserve grand champion. Marion nearly fell from the grandstand in her glee.
“It was stupid to buy her from a financial point of view,” Marion says as a massage therapist rubs Kokolo’s dark flanks. “I know it’s just a coincidence she’s repaying me, but I’d do it again.”
Prairie past
It worked for Will Rogers, so why shouldn’t Doc Baker of “Little House on the Prairie” fame take his homespun philosophy on the road? Kevin Hagen portrayed the popular doctor on the television series for nine years. He’ll be at Coeur d’Alene’s Lake City Playhouse Aug. 24-27 in character for “A Playful Dose of Prairie Wisdom.”
Here’s a preview of his pearls: “I remember a sign on a neighbor’s fence that warned: You better be able to make it to the other side of this field in four and a half seconds ‘cuz the bull can make it in five.”
The doc comes to life at 7 p.m. most nights, but 2 p.m. on Sundays. Call 667-1323 for tickets.
To strut or not
It may be politically incorrect to publicize beauty pageants, but people still want to know about them. So here goes.
Miss Idaho USA and Miss Idaho Teen USA want contestants for the 1996 pageants. Before grabbing your application, consider the qualifications: female, single, never married or never given birth. Pregnancy isn’t mentioned.
Contestants will go through an interview, swimsuit strut and evening gown parade for the chance to win a wardrobe, luggage, savings bonds and passage to bigger pageants. It worked for Post Falls’ Amy Tolzmann. She’s now Miss Idaho USA. Call 664-5116 for more details.
Hasta la vista
I’m vacationing next week, but don’t let that stop you from telling me your tales. Keep ‘em coming to Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 83814; FAX them to 765-7149; or call 765-7128 and tell my voice mail you miss me.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo