Scranton, PA

May 7, 1945 started early for General George S Patton with a 4am call from General Omar Bradley. The Germans had just surrendered.

Miles away Col. Alois Podhajsky an Austrian, was looking for a way to guarantee the safety of the riding school and the horses he supervised as the Third Reich collapsed around him.

• Several day earlier Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker’s XX Corps had captured the renowned Spanish Riding School of Vienna. It included hundreds of the finest horse bloodlines in all of Europe. Among this herd were 250 of the prized War Horses, the famous white Lipizzaner's. The only surviving stock left in Europe.

George S. Patton spent a lifetime with horses. While stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, after his graduation from West Point, he played polo, fox-hunted, and competed in mounted steeplechases. He was a participant in the first modern pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, placing sixth out of 23 in the equestrian phase.

Alois Podhajsky, the son of a cavalry officer, was one of the youngest lieutenants in the Austro-Hungarian cavalry in World War I, and won a bronze in dressage in the 1936 Olympics.

• While Germany had surrendered the war had not ended. The temporary headquarters where Podhajsy had spirited the horses for safety in Austria was in the path of the advancing Russian army. The mares and foals were being held by the Czechs. Podhajsky feared for the safety of these rare animals. He was concerned these magnificent animals would be slaughtered and used for food by the armies.

Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker a protogee of Patton, had arranged a private showing of the Lipizzaners exclusively for the General. When Patton nonchalantly strolled onto the farm that day, Podhajsky saw the possibility of saving his school and his precious animals.

Patton was impressed by the agility and the intelligence of the Lipizzaners and the precision of the program.

• When it was over, Podhajsky halted his horse before Patton and removed his hat in a traditional salute. “In a little Austrian village in a decisive hour two men faced each other, the one as triumphant conqueror in a war waged with such bitterness, the other as a member of a defeated nation.”

Podhajsky asked Patton for protection for the centuries old riding school during the uncertain postwar period, and for help in retrieving its breeding herd from Czechoslovakia. The Germans had sent the horses to a Wehrmacht-controlled stud farm.

Standing to address the man on horseback before him, Patton replied that he was putting the Spanish Riding School under the special protection of the U.S. Army; he later told Podhajsky he would do what he could about the horses in Czechoslovakia.



A historic meeting of two Generals turned into one of the great sagas of World War II. The details that went into this rescue carry as much intrigue and planning as any battle.

The Russian army was 60 miles away to the north and advancing. Patton's army was 35 miles away to the south.

• Also heading right towards them was a German Panzer division. The news of the surrender had not reached them.

Along with hundreds of horses the farm also housed hundreds of POW's that General Walker had taken custody of. Some were Americans, British and Czechoslovakian.

• To evacuate the horses safely meant traveling through dense forests to stay off the main roads. The trip would take them behind enemy lines. They traveled by night and had to hide during the day.

Polish, Czech, and Cossack horsemen as outriders, along with a smattering of Americans saddled up to begin the 130 mile trip to safety.

The operation was dubbed Operation Cowboy.

• All but 2 of the endangered Lipizzaner's made the trip to safety under the protection of the United States Army.

The rescue came at a cost—and a simple fondness for horses can’t explain the many instances of risk, bravery, and personal sacrifice that arose during its execution. For that, it was Colonel Reed, fittingly, who provided the answer: “We were so tired of death and destruction,” he said, “we wanted to do something beautiful.”



During the occupation of Germany Patton was afforded the opportunity to ride an exquisite Lipizzaner mount who once belonged to Ferdinand of Spain.

Today only 3,000 Lipizzaner's exist. They are a rare and treasured breed. Several breeding farms exist in the United States.

Occasionally one of these incredible creatures is available for sale to private owners.

The Lipizzaner's do tour the United States. Their shows are incredible and suited for young and old. You do not have to know anything about horses to appreciate the skill and artistry of horse and rider. If you ever have the opportunity to see these highly trained and intelligent horses you will not regret it.

Thanks to Gen. George S. Patton their heritage lives on today

(Full Article)

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Beginning February 1, 2011 you will be required not only show ID but provide a fingerprint to buy ammo for handguns in California. Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 962 into law on October 11, 2009.

AB 962 requires purchasers to show bonafied ID to ammunition vendors in order
to purchase handgun ammunition. The bonafied is spelled out as a government
issued ID with a photo.

Acceptable forms include a driver’s license or military ID. In addition, the vendor is required to record the purchasers name, driver’s license number, state of issuance, signature, thumbprint, residential address, date of birth and phone number. In addition the name of the sales person, the date of sale, brand type and amount of ammunition sold must also be recorded. The records must be kept on the vendor’s premises for a minimum of five years.

There is no provision for how the records are maintained (paper or electronic)
stored, or securely destroyed.

Once again a law is passed that only impacts those who are law abiding citizens not the criminals. A criminal can cross the state line to Nevada or Arizona and purchase ammo without restriction. The law abiding citizen becomes part of a data base tracking the purchases of ammo and their buying habits.

The law also bans the purchase of ammo via mail order or through the internet. Many hobby shooters who compete rely on mail order purchases for affordable ammo to be used in target practice.(source)

• AB 962 should be of real concern to all firearms owners for two important reasons. First, it is of concern because of the requirement to collect personal information from purchasers of handgun ammunition – a serious privacy rights issue.

• Second, it will prohibit the purchase of ammunition through internet and mail order vendors. This second part has the potential to severely impact junior shooting sports programs that rely on internet and mail order ammunition purchases.

A bill was in the works shortly after AB962 was signed into law to repeal it. For more information on repealing the law please see the article supplied.

Repeal AB962
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The Lipizzan is the aristocrat, the royalty the light and the nimble dancer and the aerialist of the equestrian world.

His distant ancestors from the Orient bore Ghengis Khan out of the wastes of Asia to conquer much of the then-known world. The fleet Arabic strain in the Lipizzaners patrolled, guarded and raided treasure-laden caravans in the golden sands of the Sahara. Their masters were Bedouins, Tuaregs and riders from a dozen long-forgotten tribes.

It is believed that the forerunner of the Lipizzan was bred in Carthage, more than 2,000 years ago. The Carthaginian stock was bred to the Vilano, a sturdy Pyrenees horse, and with Arab and Barbary strains. The result became the fabled Andalusian of ancient Spain.

In 1945 General George S Patton rescued the the last 250 surviving Lipizzaners to preserve these incredible animals and their lineage. We have posted this incredible true story in another blog you may wish to enjoy. Lipizzaner Rescue

Their abilities are astounding. For centuries they have been trained for war and dressage. Today they perform around the world captivating audiences and spellbinding them with their agility and perfection.

If you have never seen these magnificent animals here are a few photos and a video that you may enjoy. The linked article gives you the history of the Lipizzaner and describes in detail each of the stunning acrobatic techniques they have been trained to do.

The History of the Lipizzaner.

This is a video taken during a show demonstrating some of their incredible maneuvers.

The "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions

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December 3 thru 31

the Electric City Trolley Station & Museum, 300 Cliff Street in nearby Scranton.

There are over fifty Christmas trees decorated for the holidays by various local groups and organizations.

This Benefiting Toys for Tots, the display will remain open through the holidays during museum hours, 9:00am to 5:00pm seven days a week.

For directions and more information, call the Electric City Trolley Museum at (570) 963-6590.

Newsweek has always competed with Time Magazine for market share. Both magazines offer political articles as well as timely national and international issues.

Rag Mags and tabloids constantly battle for distribution and readership. The concept is that sleaze sells. The more outrageous the claim or inflammatory - the faster they fly off the shelf. The trash magazines have used this technique to push sales since their inception.

Newsweek published an edition that coincided with Sarah Palin's book tour using a sexist photo of her for the cover. The cover story was "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Sarah - She's bad news for the GOP as well as everyone else, too."

One might expect such a lead story would have a more neutral photo of Sarah at a rally or speech. Instead Newsweek chose to use a photo showing Sarah in runners shorts and her hair in pigtails.

It is clearly a sexist move on their part in an attempt to minimize the former Governor and her political position. The picture leads you to expect some article about Sarah competing for charity or supporting physical fitness. Certainly not a serious political opinion article.

As women we should be outraged that any female political figure is portrayed in such a sexist manner by the media. You do not have to agree with Sarah Palin or support her to voice your dissaproval to Newsweek.

Women have been fighting for equality for decades. One would think we had moved ahead - not backwards. We are a force in this country and should not be treated as insignifcant or unimportant.

Take a moment today and let Newsweek know how you felt about their cover story. Let them know you will never buy their publication.

Give us an apology Newsweek - you have demeaned all women.

HEAR US ROAR NEWSWEEK.!

Let's see some equal coverage Newsweek. Let's see Obama, Pelosi or Reed make the cover scantily clothed when a serious political story about them is published!

Perhaps Newsweek readership has been declining and this is a desperate effort to capture market share. Perhaps it is a well designed political campaign to send a subliminal message to the masses whether they buy the copy of not.

Getting full view at the checkout counter allows this well conceived ad campaign to be digested by almost every American in the United States.

Newsweek - are you selling Calvin Klein underwear or are you selling serous news?

Shame on you Newsweek - The New National Enquirer!

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