I started riding in 1980, my Uncle John had a pony for my cousins and I was always hoisted up onto Star's back. The story is that I was literally bitten by the horse bug, as in one day Star bit me and I giggled.
Fast-forward four years and I'm watching the 1984 Summer Olympics from Los Angles. After watching Abdullah and Conrad Homfeld help the United States capture our first gold in showjumping, I turned to my Dad and said, "THAT'S what I want to do..." It had simply amazed me that horses and people could work together and defy the odds and obtain such gratification. Within a month my Dad signed me up for professional riding lessons at Fox Meadow Farm in Temperance, Michigan. I remained there for nearly 15-years riding and showing Hunter/Jumpers. (As a side note, from March 1991 to June 1991 I did take additional lessons in Classical Dressage with John Kneeper. In August 2007, I returned to Dressage and it has remained my discipline of choice.)
Sometime around 1987 I got my first Thoroughbred, Ears, whom my parents leased him for me as a Children's Hunter mount. I loved Ears, absolutely LOVED him and every memory I have of him is precious to me, and I firmly believe it is because of my connection with Ears that has led me to my life long love of Thoroughbreds. After Ears there were plenty of other Thoroughbreds: Mickey, Odie, Dusty, Brownie, Romero, Lyndie, Phantom, Mocha, etc. Every single one of them had been an off the track Thoroughbred (OTTB).
Now this is not to say I never rode any other breed of horse, I rode my fair share of Quarter Horses, Paints, various crosses and some European Warmbloods. It is my opinion that there is nothing nicer than a well-bred and well-trained Hanoverian, a true powerhouse over fences. Next to Thoroughbreds, I absolutely love Paso Fino horses. Talk about a fun and versatile breed!
After Fox Meadow Farm, I worked for more than a year on a Paso Fino breeding farm handling stallions and riding. I then moved on to a Standardbred racing stable where I cared for 13 actively racing horses, I was there less than a year before returning to my roots and working for another Hunter/Jumper barn.
Currently I own a 19-year-old Thoroughbred mare named Angel. I got her in April of 1997 while at Fox Meadow Farm from Grand Prix rider Aaron Vale. If Angel were a cat she would have exceeded her nine lives years ago...but that's a totally different entry. So I'll just add that in March of this year, she had a freak accident that led to a sacroiliac injury (where her spine and pelvis meet) which resulted in severe ataxia (she couldn't stand up unassisted). Eight months have now passed and she has good days and bad days, and I am in a constant battle of whether or not I should just put her down. In good conscious I cannot. She maintains (has gained even) weight, is bright eyed and shows a great deal of interest in her surroundings. Until those things change, I will keep her around.
I also own a 22-year-old Paso Fino gelding, Sancho - or Señor Sancho. He's my boi. I got him in June of 1999 from a lady in Texas, actually he survived a trailer accident and wasn't really thought to heal beyond being a pasture ornament so I got him for next to nothing. His life before me had him as a show horse, a breeding stallion, and a trail mount. With me he has continued to be a show and trail horse, a parade mount, and he has also dabbled in dressage - he schools 2nd and 3rd level movements. For the last two years, we have been selected to Ride with the Best at Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio.
Given the advanced ages of my horses, I started to casually look for a new mount two years ago. After Angel's accident in March I started to take my search more serious. By October I had looked at five or so horses as prospects, but each time I had dragged my feet and lost out. I just didn't feel any spark that made me think, "THIS is the one...", and knew in my heart that when I found the one I would instinctively know.
And then I made a casual trip to Kentucky that would change everything.
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