The very first time I remember getting involved with horses was when I started lessons with a trainer named Trina. It was over at a stable in Lake Forest, Serrano Creek. Things quickly progressed. I went to camps there. I learned how to take apart bridles and clean tack. We even had movie times where we would watch horse movies. I was about 7 yrs old around this time. 
One day things changed. We were getting really good at jumping and doing courses.
It was a huge deal to canter. I took hundreds of lessons, and even showed a horse named Sugar in walk-trot shows. I felt I was being held back to my potential as a rider by not being allowed to canter.
Shortly after my aunt decided to bring her Arabian mare, Elenarada from Corona to Serrano Creek. My aunt had difficulty paying and taking care of her while she attended college. This resulted in her letting me take over ownership. I still remember the day I found out. My dad wasn't supposed to reveal the surprise, but he was never good at keeping things from me.
My aunt left tack and a beautiful bay Arabian mare to me. During this time there was a lot going on in my home life. Elie was my best friend and she helped me through so much.
Lake Forest was too far for us to drive to properly care for Elie that we moved her down to where I live. My aunt had another horse here that she sold so Elie just took his spot. I would visit her almost everyday to give her carrots, brush her, and turn her out sometimes. I didn't know much more then I learned from my lessons to know how to care for my own horse. I thought I was doing the best I could at the time.
My mom made friends with a man named
Pat who grew up in Kansas on a ranch with lots of horses. He decided, as his community service, he would teach me how to ride, and take care of Elie. He taught me to canter, jump, indirect and direct reign. Pretty much everything he knew, he taught me. We would do different exercises with her on the ground. He even helped me fit a saddle for her. We actually did a few walk-trot shows but didn't do very well since Elie wasn't used to the amounts of people and horses. She would get excited and canter in the walk-trot
. Eventually his community service was fulfilled but he enjoyed working with me and Elie so much that he continued anyway. He would pick me up from my house and be at the stables all day.
One day things changed. We were getting really good at jumping and doing courses. We were jumping about 3 to 3.5 ft courses regularly. I must have freaked out over one of them because I passed out and flew off. Elie tripped and landed right next to me. If it weren't for Pat I would not be here. The ambulance came and took me to the hospital. Pat took care of Elie that day while I went to the hospital to have my shoulder x-rayed. Turned out I had a shattered collar bone.
I was out of riding for about 3 months. I can't remember if anyone took Elie out to be exercised during this time. I do remember visiting though. I'm guessing Pat, not having me to spend my afternoons with him, moved on and went elsewhere.
After I got back into riding we needed help financially. Another one of my mom's friends Michele decided to half-lease Elie. Shortly there after Elie foundered. It cost us thousands of dollars for vet bills. Michele helped significantly both in paying and helping with taking care of Elie.
I always had the fear that she wouldn't make it or we would have to sell or give her away.
While Elie was lame Michele convinced me to take lessons on her horse at the other barn
There are 3 stables placed next to one another and Elie was on one end and my trainers and friends on the other. I started taking lessons with Megan. I told her I had done a lot of jumping in the past. When she saw me riding she said she didn't want me to jump. So it was back to step one. Once Elie was back into shape I would bring her for lessons. So I would tack up my horse, or sometimes just jump on, and ride to the other side to spend the day there. Megan was so focused on Elie's head set and keeping her in control.
Elie was an Arabian with extream energy levels. She loved being out, running, and freaked out at everything. She also had a very high head set because of the way her neck was. She loved to watch everything that was going on. Although she was insane for the most part she built my confidence with other horses as well as my balance while riding.
None of my previous trainers really taught me how to deal with a nut case. It wasn't until she was continuously getting out and ridden that she would be calm enough to ride. I just had to figure her out on my own.
Because of her move to the new stable, and her conditions, she became very hard for my mom to afford. We ended up not paying a few months of her board and she was on lockdown. With her condition this was not a good thing for her. Michele stepped in and covered the amount needed for her "bail." She took Elie to her vets home where she had a pasture for Elie to be in. The contitions weren't the best, the owner wasn't the nicest, and I felt like my horse had already been taken from me. I didn't feel welcomed there, not to mention it was far and I didn't have any means of transportation.
I continued to hang around the barn until people started to talk to much. There were rumors that I didn't care for my horse, I was neglecting her, and I was unable to care for any horse. My trainer even turned on me. I loved my horse more then anything else in the whole world. I spent hours just grooming her.
Michele told my mom that if we didn't pay her back within 6 months that she would sell her to a good home. We understood. 4 months later my mom was renting a place with horse property. We got permission to bring my horse and my mom had the money to pay Michele back. My mom called and Michele told her that we had the money and somewhere for her to stay. I guess Michele had already found someone to buy her because she was gone the next weekend before I even had the chance to say goodbye.
Soon after my mom felt bad for everything that happened to me. She bought me a little Arab mare, Racie. She was gorgeous. She just wasn't my horse. My mom also lived far and there were issues with her and my brother that kept me from wanting to visit. I felt bad for the horse and told my mom it would be best for her to sell her.
I went without a horse or a lesson for a couple years. I tried to occupy myself with other things since I couldn't afford and no one would keep me in lessons.
About a year ago my grandma told me about her friend who had an awesome trainer. She wanted to pay for me to take some lessons with her and lease a horse. I was thrilled to meet her. The horse for lease was Mayzee. She was a beautiful draft mare. The only issue with her was she was not what I was used to; she was slow and unresponsive. I loved my trainer Sam though. She taught me more in one lesson then ever before.
At this time I was out of a job and my bank account was dropping. The money my grandma gave me barely covered the gas for my trips there twice a week. I decided to tell Sam I couldn't afford to take lessons anymore. She knew where I was coming from and told me we could work something out.
Ever since then I have been working with her closer to home whenever I have time. The private stable is full of Arabians. She also has a 2 yr old filly and a 4 yr old gelding that I watch her train. I have learned so much in my experiance with Sam that I never knew. Sometimes I think back to the things I could have done for Elie. But I know I did the best I culd at the time.
If I ever get a horse now, or anytime in the future I think I am prepared to be the owner I never could have been before.
I have learned more groundwork, better lounging techniques, western, english, and dressage, and how to build confidence in horses and in youngters.
Thats where I am today...
