Many people ask me where he got the name L.E. Font. Most assume it's something fancy. Maybe it relates to the breeder like RF 'so and so' or our very own Calysta MWF?
No. It's mostly meant as an inside joke and references Smellie's formative years.
Elliot was not a naturally brave horse. He was skittish as a baby and a couple incidences over fences made him certain the world, and particularly the jumps, were out to get him.
It started at one of his first events when a dirt bike backfired at the the show jump in gate as Elliot was coming around to finish. For lack of a better word, it scared the poop out of him.
Next came the jumping at night episode a couple weeks later. It probably goes without saying, but I want it on record that it is never a good idea to jump horses in the dark without lights, even over the bright white rails. Elliot ended up galloping back to the barn with a flower box bracelet. After that, he wouldn't go anywhere near a jump or a pole or a standard for a long time.
Betsy likes to tell stories about jumping Elliot at Redbud and spending hours running through small verticals or putting eight very squirrely strides in a three. She finally got him to get near the jumps by putting a pole in his stall so that he had to walk over is to get his food.
Even at our first event, he wouldn't go near most of the cross country jumps and I thought, what have I gotten myself into?!
Basically, the name came from Elliot never forgetting what's happened in the past. 'Elephant' didn't seem appropriate since I don't think of elephants as particularly light on their feet or cat-like, though they do have a certain majesty and grace about them. L.E. Font, however, somehow seemed to fit.
This personality now works to my advantage. Once he realized jumping was fun he was ALL about it. Furthermore, you only have to show him a question once and like an elephant, he never forgets!
So when you hear his name announced, it's okay to chuckle. Neither Elliot nor I take ourselves too seriously. We're just doing what we know and finally having fun!
No. It's mostly meant as an inside joke and references Smellie's formative years.
Elliot was not a naturally brave horse. He was skittish as a baby and a couple incidences over fences made him certain the world, and particularly the jumps, were out to get him.
It started at one of his first events when a dirt bike backfired at the the show jump in gate as Elliot was coming around to finish. For lack of a better word, it scared the poop out of him.
Next came the jumping at night episode a couple weeks later. It probably goes without saying, but I want it on record that it is never a good idea to jump horses in the dark without lights, even over the bright white rails. Elliot ended up galloping back to the barn with a flower box bracelet. After that, he wouldn't go anywhere near a jump or a pole or a standard for a long time.
Betsy likes to tell stories about jumping Elliot at Redbud and spending hours running through small verticals or putting eight very squirrely strides in a three. She finally got him to get near the jumps by putting a pole in his stall so that he had to walk over is to get his food.
Even at our first event, he wouldn't go near most of the cross country jumps and I thought, what have I gotten myself into?!
Basically, the name came from Elliot never forgetting what's happened in the past. 'Elephant' didn't seem appropriate since I don't think of elephants as particularly light on their feet or cat-like, though they do have a certain majesty and grace about them. L.E. Font, however, somehow seemed to fit.
This personality now works to my advantage. Once he realized jumping was fun he was ALL about it. Furthermore, you only have to show him a question once and like an elephant, he never forgets!
So when you hear his name announced, it's okay to chuckle. Neither Elliot nor I take ourselves too seriously. We're just doing what we know and finally having fun!
