GYPSY VANNER HORSE
In Kentucky, it’s not unusual for a horse to be the center of attention, but one special horse is becoming quite the celebrity.
In fact, the 13-year-old Gypsy horse has become most famous among schoolchildren, primarily for the “message” he takes to them.
“His message is be a friend; be a friend to yourself, be a friend to others, and to be a better person,” Lash’s owner Jacki Clark said.
Lash spreads his message through a program at Shirecrest Equine Education Center, which Clark runs.
Jacki Clark
He was actually donated into our not-for-profit program,” said Clark, who also is an elementary school teacher, as well as a substance abuse prevention professional. She has worked for years with children and their families in the area of developing life skills and helping individuals learn to maximize the most of what they have and the most out of their opportunities.
“Its purpose is to really demonstrate how important horses are in our lives and how important they become to help us learn life lessons; everything from empathy to responsibility and we focus on the educational piece of that,” Clark said of Shirecrest, which has an office in Science Hill and Georgetown.
Upon coming to Kentucky after retiring from Kansas State University, Clark developed the program with the understanding that children remember a message if the messenger is memorable. She did so by writing a book, Lash’s First Adventure, and developing a series of Lash’s Lessons as a way to teach and communicate healthy living and character building concepts to children.
The book describes Lash’s journey to a place called Friendly Acres and how he learns to make good decisions.
Lash was developed to be a messenger for healthy life skills for children, and once they meet Lash, because he is very unique and one of a kind, the children will hopefully remember him,” she said. “So, whenever they see him or think about him they will remember his universal message.”
Lash is accustomed to being the center of attention, wherever he goes. As the first colt of his breed to be born in this country, Lash has a certain distinction about him to begin with, said Clark. The Gypsy, which originated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, is known for its long hair, especially around the legs.
Todd Walker and Lash escort local dignitaries to a recent fashion show in Georgetown. (Photo by Tim Thornberry)
Lash is so distinct, he was selected as ambassador of the breed during the World Equestrian Games, showing all 16 days of the event at the Kentucky Horse Park. With that, and because Lash calls Georgetown’s Spring Hill Stables home, he was presented with a key to the city and became an instant star.
Todd and Alison Walker, Spring Hill’s owners, train and care for Lash and make sure he gets to all of his events.
Alison Walker said because he has such long hair much care has to go into to grooming the horse in addition to the training. But it’s all worth it when children get a chance to be around him.
“It’s amazing to see how children and adults react to Lash,” said Walker. “They want to pet him and have their picture made with him and because he is so good natured, Lash just takes it all in.”
She added that it has been her experience with Lash, as well as other horses, that most people seem to bond with and relate to animals in a special way
This bonding experience has turned Lash into quite the phenomenon. A series of books has been developed based on the horse along with a whole line of Lash toys and coloring books.
But perhaps more important for Clark are the lesson plans teachers can use with children and a website that contains all the information they need to learn more about Lash’s Lessons and how to implement those into their curriculum.
lsh is now the subject of a series of books, as well as a line of toys and coloring books. (Photo from Lashslessons.com)
The site also has information for parents, coloring pages for children and a complete history of the Lash program.
“The thing is, Lash isn’t fictitious, he is real and he really represents many of the things that are key to children,” said Clark. “And everywhere Lash goes, we introduce him as being from Georgetown, Ky., representing the Horse Capital of the world.”
Clark added that one of the goals of the program is to send more messages and “offer ourselves to implement the program as assistance to what teachers and community people are trying to do to help children and families.”
Alison Walker said in all the years she has spent around horses, it comes as no surprise how much people relate to them.
“Lash is an example of how much we can learn from these animals simply by being around them,” she said.
As Lash finished his duties at a recent event in Georgetown, children came to his side to get their photos made with him and to rub his long mane.
odd Walker said that is what happens wherever they take him.
“No matter where we go, you can bet a line will form of kids and adults alike that want to get a chance to give Lash a rub or a hug and to take a few photos,” he said. “It’s amazing.”