About Me
I've been riding since I was about 8, or at least that's when I started taking lessons at a barn called Cool Meadows. I took a break for a couple months, probably just after I was 8, or even before because I seemed older than I was. I took the break because I had multiple ankle injuries, to both ankles. Anyway, I rode a pony named J.J./ Silver for years there with my trainer, Kim Salmon. I rode J.J. for the majority of that time. Proudly, I'll say no one else could get him to canter off hand without a crop or spurs. I remember one day specifically when there were gun shots right in the middle of a group lesson I was in. I was riding J.J.. I remember him freaking out and racing around the ring, and I just brought him back and talked to him. I wish I was still that same rider. So confident and willing; I was young too. You know? I had a kid's will power, and hadn't yet developed an adult's sense of nervousness. I'm definitely a better equitation rider now, or at least I think I am, but my true riding skills have almost deteriorated. It's sad. I guess everyone has a story like that though. Anyway, when I was in 6th grade, and since I'm young I'd guess I was about 11 (March of 6th grade), I was given a horse by my aunt's friend. So I stopped taking lessons at Cool Meadows because my parents couldn't afford both, and it made more sense to focus on my own horse. For a year or so after I got my horse, Kim Salmon gave me lessons at the farm my horse was kept. My parents decided to just keep him at the place he was originally. Then for one summer, my uncle offered to pay for a summer camp for me. Automatically I wanted to go to a horse camp. My friend, Brooke, had been going to this one barn's summer camp for years so I decided to go there. And it was closer than the farm my horse was at, at the time. So we decided to board my horse there for the summer camp. We ended up staying at J-Mar Stables. My horse and I have been there about 2+ years now. I'm not quite sure exactly how long. Things blend too easily. I guess if I wrote a formal time-line it would be easier, but I don't think anyone cares all that much about my life. My horse pulls, is very hard-headed and stubborn like me, is old and has a bump below his right front knee. He's disproportional, has an extremely large chest, a normal, QH sized hearty hind-quarters and has a huge head. His legs are normal sized, probably for a TB, so on his body they're thin, but muscular. He has a some-what swayed back and gray hairs throughout his chestnut coat. In the winter he defies even nature, and refuses to wear a blanket (he'll rip it to shreds if I try to put one on him and because he's complete field board it's not worth it). In result, his fur gets extremely thick and more of a reddish tint to it. Many more gray hairs show up as well. His coat's always dusty and dirty in the winter, no matter if I went up every day to curry him. For a while, just a couple months ago, when I'd try to ride him, he'd pull so much and yank and throw his head and be so much on his forehand, I just couldn't ride him. I tried western with a curb bit and for just about 3 times with the bit his mouth became the softest I've ever felt it, so I hardly touched his mouth; I knew it hurt if I pulled so I didn't. Turns out, the 4th time I try it on him, he is immune to this bit as well now, and breaks the chin strap on the bridle. I love him to death, but I honestly can't stand him anymore. He's just not what I need. I wanted J.J. That's the only horse I'd ever wanted. I'm short, and I probably won't get much taller so I don't need a big horse. And J.J. was just about as big as my horse, but much smaller-boned. He was part Arab I think. A nice flee-bitten gray color, but it was pretty; to me. There was this large dark gray spot on his left shoulder that always told me it was him. After over a year, probably more, of being at J-Mar, I saw J.J. again at a Tranquility schooling show. As soon as I got within viewing distance of him, I could sense his aura. But it was different then it had been when I was riding him. I was told that Kim hadn't been using him in her lessons for a while now because he "was dangerous; no little kid could ride him". And when I walked up to him with my heart racing, I realized this was true. The girl on him was just about my age, a little plump, and probably taller too. She looked awkward on him, and he looked like he felt it. I spoke with the girl on him quickly, I forget her name, but she was one of Kathleen's students. Kathleen was the daughter of the owners of Cool Meadows. She was the other trainer at the farm. My mother refused to let me take lessons with her. I praise her for that to this day. Kathleen proceeded to blame me for what happened next. J.J. and his rider entered the jumping ring (the height of the fences was probably about 2'6"). It was a fairly simple course, although it took some memory. The girl missed one fence, and got disqualified. Kathleen yelled, no, screeched into the ring, "NOW IF YOU HADN'T BEEN TALKING TO -SOMEONE- ELSE, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO REMEMBER YOUR COURSE!". At that point, I had to walk away. I was with a friend at the schooling show, and she was looking for me so we could leave. But at that moment, all I wanted to do was to go cry in a dark corner. It was horrible to have my happy visions of J.J. I knew weren't true anyway washed away. The subconscious hope was put in it's place. No longer could I imagine J.J. living a happy appreciative life where ever he may be. Probably a year or less after this incident I was informed by the girl who occasionally used to ride J.J. (he hated it when she rode him) who was in my 4H club told me he was dead. "...How?" I calmly asked. Ashley: "Oh, he got caught in a lose fence board and strangled himself to death." Me: "Oh... that's... sad." Something to that extent. Never will I see him again and get a second chance. He won't be my horse. On to more options. Since I truly couldn't stand my horse, my father's cousin's father had horses from an auction. One of which I was attracted to immediately, love at first sight if you will, and after 3 years or so of riding him on and off (meaning once every couple of months) I asked him if I could 'lease' him for a while. He delightedly agreed, knowing full well I was madly in love with his horse. Not so madly am I anymore, I'm less passionate about things, but when I first met him I was. Those three years tied into me not having consistent problems with my horse, and being before and after J.J. died. Blaze, which is the horse's name, is not mine yet. I'm at that part of the story in real life. And no I've yet to get rid of my horse. I have a feeling I still have a couple things to learn from him first. And I can't get Blaze until I get rid of my horse, Tacoma. Sadly, I'll try to keep the non-existent people reading this, updated.
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