Myra Ford Hendry's Buddy
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 
Welcome to WEG week on HH! Today's photo is the first in a series that come to us from Becky Rice of Sumner, Wash., who writes:
"This is Myra Ford Hendry, my Grandma, with her horse Buddy. This photo was taken at their home, named 'Linger Longer,' in Brighton, Michigan in 1930, when Grandma would have been 24. Grandma was a niece of Henry Ford, and she always spoke of her Uncle Henry with great affection and gratitude. Buddy was a gift to her from her dad, William Ford.
"Grandma suffered from osteomyelitis in her left leg; it was atrophied and fragile and she had trouble walking for long distances. Riding was a good therapy to help develop strength in that leg, and she was thrilled when her dad bought Buddy for her.
"Buddy, who was a Tennessee Walker, was truly her buddy; he packed her around despite her less-than-perfect equitation. They loved each other and she even taught him some tricks (like lifting up her hat to find a carrot).
"This first picture is kind of faded, but along the bottom it says 'Dad' (William Ford), then 'Myra' (my Grandma), then 'Buddy' and the date."
First, I've got to say how much I love Myra's outfit -- from her heeled oxfords to her high-waisted breeches and checkered wool jacket, it's obvious she had an immpecable sense of style. I've always been interested by the intersection of fashion and equestrianism; the precision and artistry of both realms seem to align in a way, and luxury brands like Hermes, which began as a harness workshop in the 1830s, still take inspiration from horses in their branding and advertisements. Like any horse girl, I drool over an expertly tailored show coat, but my everyday barnwear has nothing on Myra's -- I generally find myself drooled on by my horse in a mere few minutes. Still, I love to imagine a world where folks get all dressed up for the barn (Mad Men, anyone?).
Of course, Buddy's outfit ain't too bad either -- his four white stockings and sizeable white star made him quite the adorable eye-catcher. Horses don't come with much cuter expressions than Buddy's, and there's something about the bobbed length of his tail that seems to fit his character -- a playful statement. Like horse, like rider: seems Myra and Buddy were both devotees of the bob 'do.
In the background, William is peeking out from a doorway above which a horseshoe is nailed the wrong way around; no matter, though -- the Ford family doesn't seem to have suffered for it, and it's neat to think that William Ford, brother of Henry, bought his daughter the real form of horsepower instead of a Model A (though perhaps Myra's car is just off camera)!
Speaking of riding outfits, (and in honor of the fact that I'll be trekking down to the World Equestrian Games tomorrow - so excited!), check out this little beauty that I'll be shamelessly donning throughout the WEG weekend. If you'll be at the WEGs this week, keep your eyes peeled, and if you see me out on the cross country course Saturday, definitely say hello!
Also, if you're not already a Facebook Fan or Twitter Follower, make sure to sign up; I'll be updating the Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the week with pictures from the WEG, and if I can find some suitable historical subjects (and a wifi connection), there might be an extra post or two here as well.
In the meantime, stay tuned for more from Myra, Buddy, and their home, Linger Longer -- which, by the way, is the perfect name for the place where you keep your horse. Whenever I'm at the barn, all I want to do is linger a little longer...
Reader Comments (6)
Don't think the horse didn't drool on Myra's togs in that picture. Maybe we just can't see the smudges. I had jodpur pants like that, when they got grimy and we washed 'em.
Thanks so much for posting this-Grandma would have loved it!
Wikipedia can be a great resource, but you have to wonder about some of the inaccuracies - it says my Great-Grandpa William Ford (Henry's brother) died in 1917, but here he is alive and well in this picture from 1930!
And those jods- I want them! - Well, every style comes back in fashion, eventually.
A beautifully written article about a "couple" who shared a very special relationship, Myra and Buddy. Love your article.
What a great heritage. And aren't we glad 'they' wrote names and dates on their photos! Looking forward to the WEG photos too. Thanks HH.
Hey, I have to say this, Myra Ford Hendry is a distant relative of mine. She married someone from my grandmas side of the family, I only found out today that Myra Ford married Alexander H. Hendry in 1936 through old family records that have been hidden away for years. And I'm sure if I look far enough back in our photos I will find pictures of the two. Perhaps we can talk sometime.
Super cute! My little man would look so stylin' in those! dhjzhw dhjzhw - manolo blahnik shoes.