March 2010: Dream Team

by Ashley
(Prince George Canada)

Growing up wasn't a struggle for me, mom and dad had the money to do what ever my dreams were, my dream was always to have a horse. I had gone to lessons twice a week for six continious years, but it wasn't enough. I loved horses, I wanted to be around them all the time.

For my Twelvth birthday Dad surprised me with a horse, or course he didn't know nothing about horses and neither did my mom. They didn't know what to look for in a first horse for your 13 year old daughter! We were all clueless but the sellers encouraged us that she was the perfect first horse. 3500 dollars later on a non registered, non broke, I got my first horse.

I'd never been so terrified of horses in my life, but something told me that i was in love. I remember getting up every morning and bringing a carrot to my new horse. Every time she would nip and throw her head at me, knocking me to the ground on some occasions.

After schools dad would take me riding, he would lead me, and even with leading she still managed to buck me off. One day while in the pen picking up bale string she thought it would be a good idea to trample me. Eight days later i got out of the hospital, bruised and beaten as if i got jumped, but still i tried to ride her.

Soon I could but when ever I would lope on her she would bolt and not stop, if i tried to stop her she would buck me off.

I came home from school one day, and she was gone. I felt like there was nothing I could do, all i did was cry. Mom gave me all the money that they sold her for and put it in my account for a new horse. I didn't want a new horse, I wanted her back. I begged them to put her in training, anything, I missed her like crazy. Of course they said no.

Six months I found out who bought her, so I started babysitting for the lady. It turned out they didn't ride her because they were scared of her. Misty wouldn't even let them put a saddle on her.

I asked if I could ride her, she said yes' but I had to ask my mom first. I did. Misty only let me come near her only me to brush her. It was as if she was scared of everyone else, I knew she remembered me, I knew she really loved me all along.

One year later I bought Misty back. Turning fifteen now I was a lot more brave. My mom and dad were very upset! But I didn't care. They said I could buy a new horse with the money, anyone I wanted, and I did, there was nothing they could do about it.

I worked with Misty every day. We'd take walks, go for rides sit out in the sun, sun bathe. When going out to visit my friends misty would come. We would ride for hours just to get to friends houses. We'd stay for a hour and leave we did everything together, we were insepprable.

As we got better and better we started to enroll in shows, and gym cannas, still no professional training. Misty listened to me, we were a dream team. Show after show, race after race, coming in first place every time.

Now that I am nineteen and I still have my best friend. We love each other. Mom and dad said I would grow out of horses as soon as I got my liscense, but I didn't I got more into it. I would drive myself to out of town shows to compete, stuff I never got to do.

Me and Misty aren't pro's but we don't want to be because, no way we could have such a good bond if we took all the riding so seriously.