Girls fall into two camps: horse-obsessed or horse-clueless. I fall into the latter category. I wouldn’t know an Appaloosa from a Palomino if my life depended on it – something to do with spots, right? By some fluke of the universe I have a granddaughter who is possessed by the four-legged beasts. At last inventory she counted 30 plastic horses. Not to mention their equine accoutrements. There are saddles and brushes and stables and barns and fences. There are cases to carry them in and beds with blankets to tuck them into for a good night’s rest. Some have mane that needs to be washed and braided. At least they don’t eat much.
I credit her Grandfather (aka PaPa) for encouraging her equine interests. Trust me. If it was up to me I would have just led her into another museum. I am not one to go mucking about a stable. Anyway, one day he discovered the Golden Gate Park Police stables (across from the Buffalo paddock). One of the friendly mounted police officers was willing to talk to LG and let her pet her horse, Bubba. Love at first sight.
Since then we have found every horse in San Francisco. Sometimes we stalk, I mean chase them down on duty as in this photo from opening day of Original Joe’s in North Beach.
In addition to the Golden Gate Park Police horses there are the Presidio Police horses. Check out both the Upper Corral:
And the Lower Corral:
Sometimes we even find VERY BIG plastic horses to charm. Such as our friend that stands in front of the very proper Tal-Y-Tar Tea & Polo Shoppe. Scones and a pot of tea taken in the back patio is a must.
And when a plastic horse just isn’t enough, there are the Mar Vista Stables just minutes from Golden Gate Park. Yippee!
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