There have been many times where I've liked to post all about my fabulous ride on my mare at my other blog, xo, me but didn't feel as though it would be a post for EVERYONE to read. So here I am, adopting a new blog domain, separate from my "other life," where horse people can come see me brag and ooh and ahh over my perfect princess, Callie.
When I was about 10, a farrier at the barn I was taking weekly lessons asked me, "are you sick, too?" I thought he was asking if I had a cold. He clarified quickly: "Horses are a disease. A disease you have for life."
Now, I don't know if I'd call my passion for horses a disease, but I certainly have it for life.
I started riding at the age of 9. I'd always wanted a horse, begged every Christmas, and finally my parents gave in and enrolled me in weekly lessons.
By the time I was 13, I was leasing a thoroughbred mare named Nikki, who had raced under the named "Ex-Courageous" in the early 80's. Nikki had foundered and I basically took care of a large dog. For about two months I was able to ride Nikki, walk trot, until her laminitis got the best of her and she was put to rest.
A few weeks later, I began riding an appaloosa mare named Lady. I missed Nikki, but she and I clicked. I began leasing her and had the time of my life on that mare. She had a beautiful trot that I barely moved to (imagine my excitement riding bareback for the first time, and WELL!) but her canter was simply...lacking. Looking back, I know that lots of transitions and building up her hind end and helping her balance would have done her wonders- but that's another story.)
Lady was bred to a two year old stud colt in 2003. On April 12, 2004, a bay filly named Callie came into the world, and my riding instructor said, "Happy Birthday, Janelle. She's yours."
Any horse person knows that a free horse is never free. After eight months and a few sketchy remarks, some including, "there won't be a bill of sale until she turns two" and "if you move, she has to stay with me for training" I realized that this was not my horse and that I was paying for someone else's. When I saw an article with a picture of Callie and I at a show, and the caption reading, "Owned and bred by...." (you can guess my name was not filled in) I told my parents I wanted nothing to do with horses anymore, handed her my last board check, and said, "I don't want the horse."
When I picked up my things, my dad and I both cried. My lifelong dream of owning a horse had come and gone in the blink of an eye.
...Do you think I'd leave you with a sad ending? The next spring, Callie was for sale. When I inquired about her, I was told she was pending sale to a family in Maine. Apparently, from a source, the family looked at her, got right back in their van, and drove away.
I offered money I didn't have for the filly, who was now a year old. After a few nasty emails back and forth, my offer was accepted. My parents helped me with the initial purchase of the filly and said I'd be responsible for everything else.
Kids. It's true. The horse is the cheap part. Upkeep...way more.
When we picked up Callie, she was scruffy, had a VERY bloated belly and was very thin. And small. At a year old, she was 12.2 hands...the same size she had been at 6 months before we left her. I was told she was getting two quarts of pellets (no baby grain) & three flakes of hay twice a day. As soon as the clearly malnourished filly came out of the stall, I knew better than to believe it.
It took years to get Callie to where she is today. I had vets, trainers, friends, and fellow boarders telling me to get rid of Callie, that she'd never grow, that we'd never get anywhere. For a while I began believing them and thought about who Callie would be perfect for.
The image of ME never left my mind.
I never gave up on the filly, and finally at age 5 she hit 15 hands. Today, I'd argue that she's about 15.1 at 7 years old. We ride dressage, we jump, we trail ride, and we do it all in a Dr. Cooks bitless bridle. We're both a work in progress as I don't take lessons too often, but she is the most willing, fabulous horse I have EVER had the pleasure of riding. A day off? She's perfect. Two weeks off? She'll try even harder. She enjoys a good gallop as much as me and she's also content schooling for a while.
Welcome to our blog. We hope you'll visit again, soon. Don't give up on your dreams of owning the perfect horse. Callie's taught me a lot about that one.
:)
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