Some background info.

Since basically everything is constantly the same on the work I'm doing (a lot of cleaning) I figure I would write a post on my history with horses.

First off....it runs in my blood....my aunt and uncle were both jockeys....my mother and other aunt grew up riding...my cousin showing a pony named Jingles is what first peaked my interest in them and my uncles father is a TB trainer in Cleveland....I was born to ride....and although I'm only 5'1" and do not have the body of an "equestrian" home for me is in the saddle.

The first horse that I ever remember riding is my Bullet James....I believe I was 7 and he 6 or 7....he was an OTTB and as soon as I got comfortable walking him around I told my aunt I wanted to go fast. In very many ways I am so proud that I am like her when new people get in that saddle...we both have the same approach to it....alright well here is how ya do it....have fun. Bullet took off into a canter and it was the most terrifying thing that to this day I could never get enough of....that horse cantering with me will forever be the best feeling in the world. 

Shortly after that ride I went home and told my parents that is what I wanted to do. After my Dad put me through a couple things to make sure I was dedicated (the infamous move the pile of dirt story and the paper route so I would value the price of my new infatuation). I was surprised one summer day with Bullet James in a red bow thanks to my beautiful family.

After that my Mom coached me for a year or two on the basics....which would have been enough until I decided I wanted to show and I wanted her to do it with me. She and I moved from barn to barn with what feels like a million different trainers learning so much and slowly molding me into having my own style and approach to horses.  I had veryyyyyy aggressive trainers that believed in massive amounts of equipment and demanding things from these 1500 pound animals instead of asking and showing would produce results....of course the horses did what any animal would do....react violently to get away from the abuse. So because of this I became terrified of these beautiful creatures for quite awhile....although I loved Bullet so much I would never admit it and risk the chance of loosing him.

Eventually I found 4 trainers that I rode with regularly that shared my beliefs and built both mine and Bullets confidence back.....this was when I turned into that evil monster 13-14 year old that I'm sure everyone in the horse world remembers very very well. I believed Bullet and I were better than everyone and was a giant twat! If I had the chance to meet that girl now I would break her jaw and hug her parents, family and trainers for putting up with it. 

Eventually I got a huge dose of humble pie when my Bullet got severely ill and I couldn't ride anymore.  When he was better (never the same but better) I got away from the show world and back to basics....he and I went to a small farm and worked a girl scout summer camp and I gave MRDD riding lessons....by far the most amazing summer of my life. After that barn became a mess James and I moved elsewhere and just spent time alone getting to know each other....walking around on trails for hours until one day he showed me he could and wanted to run. Then for months we would go out into fields and do whatever he wanted with nothing more than a halter and lead rope. Sometimes I'd ride....sometimes just walk....whatever this brilliant boy was in the mood for.  When my family had seen the huge change from evil show monster to human being that actually had a way with horses Bold Run was purchased.

Since Bullet had been retired and only ever made appearances at shows when he and I were both bored and just felt like having fun down the road at the small shows held there, I decided I wanted a project horse finish the journey Bullet and I were headed down before he became so sick....enter THE Mike Jones. The horse I wanted to finally make it to the New Albany Classic with. When we went looking we went straight to the track and saw a dozen or more amazing horses and one dumpy terrified chestnut that was going to slaughter by the end of the week. Needless to say the dumpy one became my little monster. It took us about .0385 seconds seeing that horse in the pasture for us to realize the nut was painfully talented....figuring him out however took a lot longer....about 50 broken cross ties, stall guards and a few stitches later...there was a gleaming athlete in our backyard. This is important because I very much think Michael was very misunderstood....he was never ever mean or violent under the saddle or on the ground. The horse CLEARLY had a very rough life before we found him and he was scared to death of people. One night a friend of mine was holding him while I was grooming and she SNEEZED he reared up, smacked his head on the ceiling and started to shake. At the moment I was so happy that I had found him and he didn't end up with those overly aggressive crazy horse people that would pull out shanks, twitches, kick chains and whips....that is what made him like that you assholes! Michael never had a whip or spur or anything aggressive used on him.....to this day he only ever refused 3 fences (one because I had a seizure on him) and did have a small bucking issue for a few weeks because he needed a damn chiropractor. Within 6 months of actually training consistently (I had been on and off for awhile because of my health). Mike was a dream! He and I found a new trainer (Mike....which would get very confusing) and were on our way. He had found so much love and trust for humans that he would follow anyone around like a puppy...we were his safe place no longer a nightmare....he didn't even need a lead rope. Tell me that horse you beat the shit out of can go without one......you can't shut the hell up. With such a profound difference my Dad had a realization that this is what I need to spend my time doing....and started to help me plan :)

Unfortunately with my father's passing Mike was sold and is now proudly shown and ridden by a young girl in Ohio...the only issue they've ever had...one we were unable to tackle because we simply didn't have the room was his separation anxiety that he got when he was left alone in the barn....that is now completely resolved and he is the amazing horse he had never gotten a chance to be because no one would just get to know the poor guy.  

So now I'm doing everything I can to get back to that place where I can grab another Michael and allow him the chance to be loved by a little girl and thrive on his God given talent.