Step it Up

I saw him, from a distance, as he stood under the canopy of a large shade tree, near where the trail splits in two. I was on my way out of the woods, he was heading in. He was a fit, older man, leaning against the trunk of the tree. Was something wrong? He didn't appear to be in distress. I kept walking, while my right hand reached around and felt the corner of my cell phone, sticking out of my back pocket. A great feeling of relief washed over me. A couple of swipes with my finger and I checked the time on my phone. I was making good time, one of my best yet. I was now within a few feet of the old man and as I held my hand up in a friendly gesture of hello, he shot back, "step it up man!" I shook my head, not knowing what to say or do and kept walking. The more  I thought about what the old man had just said, the more irritated I became, as I had clocked one of my best times on this particular trail. 

It wasn't until the next day, when I heard the old man's words again in my head, except this time, not only were the words less irritating, they now made my hair stand on edge. Maybe the old man was talking about something far more significant than walking. Maybe, the words came from elsewhere and the old man was the chosen messenger to deliver them. Yet, I am puzzled, exactly what do I need to step up?

*Ganges (*Monogramm x Garonna) as photographed by Anette Mattson

*Ganges was bred by Michalów Stud, one of 29 colts sired by  *Monogramm ( Negatraz x Monogramma) during his first breeding season in Poland, 1993. *Monogramm offered the Polish breeders an opportunity to "step it up" by incorporating the valuable Kuhailan Haifi sire line through a proven American-bred, pure Polish sire, recognized for siring horses with beautiful, chiseled, breedy heads, longer, swan-like necks, well-muscled hindquarters, strong movement and a presence that was electric. 

His dam, *Garonna, also bred by Michalów Stud, was by Fanatyk, a grandson of Celebes, a small, Kuhaylan-type bay horse who was with a circus for 12 years, before being discovered by Michalów, because he was one of the last living Witraz sons. *Garonna, an  Oaks winner, was a proven mare on the track and in the breeding shed, remaining in Poland until 2001, when she was exported to America. What's interesting for me is Gastronomia, *Ganges' maternal great-great-granddam. Aside from her great name, she also produced Gomora, by Comet, who when bred to Partner, foaled *Gokart in 1975! Also, the matriline traces back to the critically important mare Gazella, one of four desert-bred mares purchased by Count Julius Dzieduszycki for his Jarczowce Stud. The mare families produced by Gazella and Milordka, Ukrainka, Szweykowska, Sahara, Woloszka crossed with select stallions helped to keep Michalów Stud firmly focused on the Saqlawi strain, for which the Stud is globally recognized. 

Now 30 years old, one can say that *Ganges is living the legacy that his pedigree promised he would live. He is a proven sire, many times over, with get all over the world and perhaps, his 2009 bay daughter, Pia, out of  Pianissima is the most special of all.

I'm embarrassed to say that I was not so much a *Ganges fan, in the same way that I was a fan of Ekstern. I thought, yes, he is a solid, substantial horse and  yes, he is stronger in conformation than many other stallions but *Ganges didn't fire my imagination in the same way that Ekstern did. He didn't make me dream, the kind of dreams *Ekstern inspired me to dream. When I saw the above photo, I was stunned over the size, shape and placement of *Ganges eye. I somehow missed all of this. And then, I stumbled upon the photo below, also taken by Anette, which not only reinforces his beauty and Arabian type but we also have proof of yet another breed trait that *Ganges possesses.  Is this what the old man meant when he said step it up? That I am missing obviously phenomenal horses like *Ganges?  How does the old man even know that I like horses? 

*Ganges (*Monogramm x *Garonna) with photographer, Anette Mattson

In many of Anette's social media posts, she tells us of *Ganges sweet character. An intangible quality, there really is no way to capture disposition photographically, unless of course a relationship exists already, like the relationship that he enjoys with Anette. That is the significance of the tender photo that Anette has shared with us. We need more horses like *Ganges and less squealing, striking and rearing "hot house" stallions. Through Anette's generosity, she has allowed us into her private *Ganges moment, so that we too can experience the loving nature of *Ganges, all for the love of an Arabian horse. And for me, the opportunity to learn about *Ganges also offers a chance to step it up in the world of Arabian horses.

It's been about a week, since the old man told me to "step it up." I have thought about what he said alot. I knew I had to do something about it. If not, it would continue to gnaw at me. And so, I did, starting today. I opted to make my walking route longer, significantly longer, by moving the

starting point to a spot  nearer to one of the most famous landmarks in town, the red mill. The newness of this location, the sight and sounds invigorated me and made the extra distance easier.  I also focused on lengthening my stride, which actually felt really good, as well as improving my personal best milestones, in terms of clocked performance times.

And having increased the distance by moving my starting point a good way away, I balanced that decision by moving the turnaround point too, thereby walking a little farther on the trail, all the way to the restricted area sign. You can't walk any further than this!  Although horses are not allowed on the trail, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to do this trek with *Ganges.  It's got to have a horse in it or life would be so, well, lifeless. And yet, with all this said and the amount of physical energy expended today, I still can't help but wonder that what the old man meant, is something totally different.