The Gray Goose

The Gray Goose was a horse ridden by American eventer Kim Walnes. At one point, the pair was ranked third in the world.

Kim Walnes first met The Gray Goose at a local riding stable in Ireland, when he was a three-year-old. They were separated for two years, during which time the horse was started under saddle, and fox hunted, where he fell and injured his knees. As a five-year-old, Kim began riding him, and she bought him a year later and returned with him to the United States.

Gray was a nervous horse who hated to be ridden, and would regularly bolt and buck off his rider. Working slowly, Walnes gained his trust and respect. However, it was not until their first event in the spring 1976, during the cross-country phase, that Gray grew to enjoy his time out riding.

Although Kim Walnes and her mount never had regular lessons, the managed to work up the levels. In 1979, they finished Intermediate level cross-country at the Lexington course (slightly modified from the 1978 World Championships) as the only pair to make the time. Due to their performance record, Walnes and Gray were invited to train with the United States Equestrian Team, and compete with the team in Europe the following year.

Anser (bird)

The waterfowl genus Anser includes all grey geese (and sometimes the white geese). It belongs to the true geese and swan subfamily (Anserinae). The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with at least one species breeding in any open, wet habitats in the subarctic and cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in summer. Some also breed further south, reaching into warm temperate regions. They mostly migrate south in winter, typically to regions in the temperate zone between the January 0 °C (32 °F) to 5 °C (41 °F) isotherms.

The genus contains ten living species, which span nearly the whole range of true goose shapes and sizes. The largest is the greylag goose at 2.5–4.1 kg (5.5–9.0 lb) weight, and the smallest is the Ross's goose at 1.2–1.6 kg (2.6–3.5 lb). All have legs and feet that are pink, or orange, and bills that are pink, orange, or black. All have white under- and upper-tail coverts, and several have some extent of white on their heads. The neck, body and wings are grey or white, with black or blackish primary—and also often secondary—remiges (pinions). The closely related "black" geese in the genus Branta differ in having black legs, and generally darker body plumage.