Happy Birthday Diamond...photos of Diamond as a foal and growing up.
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Diamond's Dad:
I first met "Odessa" when he still appeared black and in training at Buckhorn Ranch.
I got to ride him years later at the ranch. Looking back now, how he thinks is very similar to Diamond - bold, willing, and he thinks faster than I do.
Here we are together on a visit to the farm (I believe this was the same summer Diamond was born or the year before).
Diamond's Grandsire: *Tamerlan
I first met *Tamerlan when I was very little, and I remember being impressed by him.
You may have heard of *Tamerlan recently, thanks to horses out of a mare named Kilika: "...who is a a daughter of "the great Arabian race horse, *Tamerlan. By the Polish, Arax (a son of Amurath Sahib) Tamerlan still, to this day, holds records on the Russian race track. Kilika's dam, *Kilifa was by the very beautiful Kilimandscharo, a son of Aswan out of a daughter of Arax.
"...Arax, renowned as a sire of fine and handsome athletes. From Arax also come extraordinary top lines and magnificent, deep hips"
*Tamerlan�s sire, Arax was pure Polish. His dam, Trapecia, was by the Russian bred Pomeranets and out of the pure Polish, Ofir daughter, Mammona, the most important mare acquired by the Russian�s from Poland.Trapecia�s dam, Taktika, was also Half-Polish and Half-Russian. *Tamerlan, born in Russia, was by the Polish acquisition, Arax, a son of Poland�s beloved Amurath Sahib, who was the sire of *BASK�s dam, Balalajka. An extraordinary athlete, *Tamerlan set records on the Russian race track that have never been broken.
This renewed awareness of *Tamerlan's contributions is terrific.
Looking at these old photos of him now, I see so much of him in Diamond and Odessa.
As I recall, one of the records he set was indeed broken... by one of his grandsons.
I also remember that he was graded Elite, the highest grade possible in Russia.
Diamond's Mom:
"Blitzen" is german for Lightning, and her blaze did look like a lightning bolt.
My mom and I rode her on the roads and trails on the ranch, taking turns on Blitzen and Samirette. I always had a soft spot for Blitzen.
More photos of Blitzen here.
Diamond's Uncle:
Nick-a-bask was a full brother to Blitzen, jet black, and I leased him for a year when I was growing up.
Here we are in costume for a Halloween Parade.
Diamond's Half Brother, JK Cruise Control:
Same sire as Diamond. Dam is Amala. Born 1995. Cruiser was sold and I believe he lives in Iowa.
Diamond's Daughters:
His first daughter, Silver Salute, is a grey and his second daughter, Tamerlans Rock Star, is a bay. Unfortunately, I could not keep them all, and both have already been sold. 
His last daughter, Distinctly Diamonds, is available for a new home.
She is pictured on the right with her dam, Amala, a wonderful mare and my partner for many parades and great trail rides down the roads and in the woods. She was also a great babysitter and gave "pony rides" to my nephew and other young children.
Distinctly Diamonds is very special to us. Not only is she a great result of the cross between Diamond and Amala, but she is the very last foal from both her sire and dam.