It all started when I was ten, and my mom got a call from my best friend, Katrina's, mom, Kelly. Mystic, at the time, was 14 months old. We had bought her older sister, Lara, when I was nine, and she was going to become my young rider mount, which didn't work out, now she is a lovely hunter. So the day Kelly called my mom is the day, I guess, you could say, my life changed. Mystic had gotten in a pasture accident; Kelly wasn't sure she could afford the vet bill and said she would sign her over to us if we paid it. We went for it. Unfortunately, the mare was untrustworthy of humans. It took months to just let us walk her on the line, let alone catch her. I am the only one she truly trusts now.
When Mystic was about to turn three, I met someone who I consider family now. I was leasing her horse, Reckless. Christine had come to my house one weekend to see Reck and I; she took one look at Mystic and Lara and said "sell the chestnut, the black one is gonna be the good one." We kinda passed it off. We were going to sell Mystic and Lara was going to be the better horse. I admit, Christine was right, we were wrong, very, very wrong. So she took her home and broke her. After 90 days, it was time for her to start college again, so she brought her home. Then I finished all the training, dressage, jumping, you name it, and I did it. Not bad for being 12 if I do say so myself. Mystic did go off to get a little bit of jump training when she was nearing the age of five because Lara had shot my confidence with her rearing and Mystic was just insecure in the first place, so we weren't getting anywhere. But when she came back, she was ready to rock.
We bounced around trainers frequently. I didn't want to, but to many of them had told me I wasn't going to be successful with this mare, or in my riding in general because of my disability. Those who have known me for a while knows I don't have sight in my right eye. A cataract took my sight at young age. Now being told I can't be successful doesn't exactly sit well with me. We finally gave up and said "you know what? It's time to go to Mike Huber" or at least thats what my dad said. Going to see Mike Huber, the best eventing trainer in Area V, was an intimidating concept for me. I am known for working three hundred times the normal limit of a human being, but I was starting to believe what people told me, granted I tried not to let it show. I really didn't want to embarrass myself in front of Mike. In my first lesson, I felt like I was auditioning for a spot in their barn. Scariest thing I've had to do, and this is coming from an eventer who is pretty much fearless.
Anyway, I began riding with the Gold Chip crew, but they were three hours away from me, and I couldn't get up there as much as I wanted. I ended up picking up dressage lessons again with a new trainer for when I wasn't up in Flower Mound. Jenna has probably improved my dressage position and my horse's balance the best out of any the dressage trainers I have ridden with. I honestly don't think I would be so close to moving up to preliminary and one star if I hadn't went to Hutto and been a working student for Martin and Jenna this past summer because Mystic and I wouldn't have progressed in such a fast pace and in such great amount if I hadn't. All the lunge lessons and riding different horses on my jump days did me some good. As much as us eventers hate to admit it, dressage is the biggest component in our crazy sport, and with being a student of both Concordia Dressage and Gold Chip Stables, all three of my phases have progressed greatly. It's also a confidence boaster when Mike sees all the work Jenna and I have put into Mystic.
I guess all that leads to where I am now. As of Saturday, I go up to Mike's for a week to get my butt kicked before we leave for the great warm state of Florida. From January 19 to about March 10, Mystic and I will be doing shows and trying to qualify for my life long dream of becoming an Area V young rider and competing in the North American Junior Young Rider Championships. It's not going to be easy, but I believe that Mystic and I could conquer anything anyone throws at us. It's not like we haven't done it before. As I'm writing this, reliving all the memories of our time together, it seems so surreal. I never thought I'd get to where I am now, and I don't think it will stop. To see how far we have come is so, for lack of a better word, awesome to me. That's what happens when you put a person and a horse who have both overcome adversity together; they just click.
I guess it's time to wrap up my first post. I'll try to update as much as I can, which shouldn't be that hard because I'll be in an RV working on homework when I'm not riding. Because I'm always listening to music, every blog will start or end some lyrics to express what I'm feeling or how I'm doing just 'cause I have a niche for finding music to fit my mood. Before I finish up completely, I would like to thank everyone who has been with me as I have worked on achieving my goal. It has been truly an amazing experience for you all to be by my side as I work day in and day out. So just thank you.
"Don't wait for luck
Dedicate yourself and you gon' find yourself
Standing in the hall of fame"
-The Script
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