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e've been watching this show for years. The cast of central characters, which has evolved over time, has been blessed with big personalities. They are endearingly goofy and mischievous, and shenanigans inevitably ensue. Suffice to say, it's always comical and engaging, and what it may admittedly lack in action, it more than makes up for in intrigue. My wife calls it `Horse TV'. Or, alternatively, `Live Horse Theatre'. At our house, we watch Horse TV , we experience Live Horse Theatre, from two vantage points. Indoors, from the glassed-in sunroom that affords a bird's-eye view of the paddocks in our backyard. And outdoors on the upstairs deck. Admittedly, there tends to be chardonnay involved in the viewing as it typically occurs as we unwind at the end of another sweet summer day. Ideally enough, it's a show that can be wrapped in conversation, or enjoyed in comfortable quiet. Despite its innate appeal, Horse TV has always had a limited audience. While my wife and I could watch for hours, guests tend to have a shorter attention span. They marvel for a while at the majesty and raw beauty of the horses at work (heads in the hay feeder, or heads down, grazing) and the horses at play, and then turn their How the ratings went through the roof for `Horse TV' That's W Life Guest Contributor 15 | Thursday, July 17, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Andy Juniper attention to small talk. Our kids can watch for a minute or two and then they lean towards boredom and head back to their computers, muttering things like: "They're not doing anything." Granted, they're not jumping through flaming hoops (in the grand style of, say, Cavalia), but, ah, horses are always doing something. Around our house, the Horse TV season typically extends from early May to November, at which time we trailer the ponies off to their winter home at a ranch just north of us. This year, due to complicated life logistics, we were unable to welcome back Nicky and Amigo, Nicky's companion for the summer, until Canada Day. Anxious to catch up on a little Horse TV , my wife and I have spent considerable time up on the deck in recent weeks. Alas, to our surprise, we're not alone out there. We have company -- which is to say, the ratings for Horse TV have soared, from two regular viewers to... three. Late last year, our daughter rescued a boxer puppy. She named the pup Phoebe. Now Phoebe, who previously seemed unable to remain still for more than a second, sits contentedly and watches Horse TV -- in the sunroom, on the deck, and oftentimes by herself. Now, I'm the last person to try and figure out what's going on in her head and comprehend why she sits and watches, in part because I don't think there's ever a whole lot of anything going on in her noggin. But she does sit and she does watch, with apparent interest that seems to border on fascination, distracted only if a wasp flies by that she thinks she might like to try to catch. And eat. With all the inevitable, obvious, disastrous results. I'm not saying Horse TV viewers are inherently intelligent, or discerning, but, hey, the audience is definitely growing. -- Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found on Facebook www.facebook.com, or followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thesportjesters. Get hands-on Secure your future training that pays. with hands-on training. APPLY NOW DATES! APPLY NOW FOR FOR2014 FALLSTART START DATES! September 2, 2014 February 24, 2014 Electrical Training Program Program(22 (22weeks) weeks) Electrical Training March 10, 2014 September 15, 2014 Industrial Millwright/Machinist (22 weeks) Millwright & Machinist (22 weeks) April 14, 2014 September 22, 2014 Home Renovation Home Renovation Program Program(26 (26weeks) weeks) Chris, Electrical graduate For more information, call 905.333.3499 x121 or visit wannatrade.ca r#FESPPNTr%JOJOHSPPNTr6QIPMTUFSZ.PSF 07&342'54)08300. 2269 Fairview St., Burlington Contact us @ 905-631-6000 www.Lizathome.ca On Selected Floor Models