eewww, Smurfs. Nearly as bad as Barney. I recall an expression from high school -- "Oh, gag me with a smurf."
We did meet a totally adorable miniature pony this afternoon! Of all things, there was a Renaissance Faire at Mom & Dad's community today -- with a jousting demonstration!! Two beautiful horses and a couple of extremely skilled riders.. If you've never seen a demo, it's quite impressive. They ride straight and fast, lances leveled, and pick up these tiny rings dangling from ribbons in their path. The largest ring has a hole about the size of a quarter... the smallest is like a life saver! I kid you not.
I talked to one of the jousters, asked him if they'd done an event here before -- we were preoccupied last fall, but I didn't remember hearing about any such. He said this was the first time here, but his father had recently moved in. He'd done a lot of jousting with the association in his time, winning something like half a dozen state championships and a couple of national titles, and he wanted to show his new community was this jousting thing was all about... so his son obliged!
Along with the jousting, they had cookout type food, face painting, balloon animals, and a couple of kids games set up. Really fun, and I bet those who didn't drop by will hear all about it and be rarin' to go next year if they repeat the event.
After the jousters showed off their skills, they offered to give interested folks a leg up and a chance to try their hand with the lance (at a walking pace, LOL). A frail but spunky lady in a bright red jacket was one of the last to mount, and it took 3 people to gently help her from the block to the saddle. Once in place, it was clear she knew her way around horses; she straightened up with a proud and perfect "seat." The person standing next to me said oh, yes, she not only rode but competed in fox hunting -- that's some serious riding.
I went over afterwards to high-five her, and she said the jousting horse had the strangest gait of any horse she'd ever sat. We thought maybe that was due to the very level gait needed to keep the rider's lance straight and steady... instead of prancing up & down, these horses must swing their hips from side to side!
I'm still trying to talk someone into going with me:DH or DS & family or DSis. 
