Friday Flicks: Kelsey Grammer, equestrian enthusiast

Did you know that this famous television actor was also a horse owner? Amanda Ronan reads up on his equestrian exploits.

From Amanda:

Kelsey Grammer, better known as the slightly neurotic Dr. Frasier Crane of the TV hit comedies Cheers and Frasier, is an avid Thoroughbred lover. Grammer was first exposed to the “cowboy lifestyle” by his grandfather who owned a California ranch. Nostalgic for that simpler way of life, Grammer bought a luxurious 16-acre property in Malibu, complete with riding ring, stable, a marble horse fountain, and a 15-foot-high horse sculpture.

Kelsey says, “Our home is our refuge. We come here to hang out. Camille and I both love the property, the horses, and the outdoor lifestyle. When I get on a horse it can reduce the events in my life to a simple desire to stay alive.”

I often feel that same way going around a cross country course, Mr. Grammer.

Kidding aside, Grammer truly seems to love horses and one in particular, a 17-hand thoroughbred named Napoleon. Napoleon came to Grammer a burnt out hunter/jumper afraid of water and his own shadow.

“What I have is a great athlete who is a little bit temperamental. He is also afraid of his own shadow, which is an interesting phenomenon. The first time I came around a corner sitting on Napoleon and the sun was directly behind him, he saw his shadow and really spooked. But the good thing about my relationship with Napoleon is that he is basically teaching me how to ride him. I have done some jumping, too, although I am certainly not skilled at the sport, and Napoleon helps me with that at his discretion.”

“One of my most fun and amazing memories was when I put together a three-in-a-row jump for the first time. There was only one stride in between each jump and it was almost like flying!”

Source: Rappaport, Jill, Wendy Wilkinson, and Linda Solomon. People We Know, Horses They Love. [Emmaus, Pennsylvania]: Rodale, 2004. Print.

Author’s Note: Unfortunately, life wasn’t always marble fountains flowing pink lemonade for Grammer evidenced by this Oprah interview. After a dramatic relationship full of personal highs and lows, Kelsey and Camille Grammer finalized their divorce in 2011. I was unable to find out the whereabouts of Napoleon or Camille’s horse, Sox, but I did find the property. For a meager $15 million you t0o can live the Malibu dream.

At least they both loved horses.

About the Author

Amanda’s experience with horses is just as eclectic as her taste in movies.  She has dabbled in almost every discipline from eventing to team penning to fox hunting.  She started riding when she was 8 with her local 4-H club in Western performance events.  She moved on to the AQHA circuit with her Quarter Horse, “Aggie,” when she was 12 and he was a green 2 year old.  Through college she held a working student position at Seahorse Sporthorses, owned by Terri Adams, where she was introduced to the wonderful world of show jumping and eventing.  Along with Aggie, who just turned 20 years old, she has two OTTBs in her herd named “Gump” and “Lizard.”  Amanda continues her jumping training with Ms. Adams and works on that necessary evil also known as dressage with Mimi Burch of Blue Moon Farm.