Chapter One
I could always remember myself around horses. Not just because my mom owns a horse barn, trains them, and teaches horseback riding to kids, but also that I always had a connection with them. As a child, I would help my mother care for the sick horses, the barn, and when I got older and knew how to ride, I helped teach kids to ride and train horses. Sometimes, I would show my mom's horses, but most of the time she either hierred riders or rode herself. I have my own ten horses to ride and a lot of lessons to teach. On top of that, a lot of stalls to clean out. A lot of work, you might think? Personally, I do not think so. I know what I am doing, and anyway, I love doing it. It is really fun and worthwhile.
Our horse barn works a little differently than most other barns. It is more of a riding school than a barn where you come, take a lesson, and go home. It is actually so much different than that – and I am happy that it is. The students can have two choices for their riding lesson program. Both choices make up a lot more different choices of programs to go and attend to.
The first choice is for students who are not sure yet whether they like horseback riding and are not sure whether they will take it seriously in the future. This choice is for the group of kids that just like riding as a passion and want to know how to do it. The group meets once a week for two hours and students learn to ride and care for their horses. This does not cost a lot to many people's standards. When they are experienced enough, they may choose to continue or drop it. To continue means that the student will have an evaluation to see if they are good enough to qualify. If the student does not make it, then we will definitely give them suggestions of what to do next.
The second choice is if kids are more serious about riding and want to have it as a career and passion. Basically, it is similar to choice one, but you have two lessons a week, each two hours long. This choice goes into more detail, and shows kids a lot about responsibility, training, working with horses, and many other needs horses have. This is my favorite program because people have more options once they are done with the program. It does not really cost more than the first choice, which is great. Also, if students wish to continue, they do not have to be evaluated, so they automatically get into the next program.
But my story is not about the system of the barn, it is just about the many weird things that go on in my life as an equine woman. It is also about heart versus no hear and how it is better to have passion than talent. Perhaps the book's format is more like a diary – each chapter might be two or three days of my life. I don't know about that yet. Perhaps, as the reader, you will think that this will be boring – and I do not mind that. Everyone has a right to their opinion, that is why we live in America perhaps. Perhaps you will know more about the programs at my barn after reading this book and will get inspiration. Perhaps you will learn something about life – and all I know is that I do not know anything about life. But I sure want to figure it out! Let us start from the very beginning – my birth...
My mom says that I was born on a cool Sunday afternoon. It was the first Sunday of May – I was due that same day. The date was May Seventh, Nineteen Eighty-nine. I was born a tiny baby, feet first. My mom's doctor wanted to do a Cesarean, but because my mom was, and still is, as stubborn as a donkey, she gave birth naturally. My mom called me Marona Caitlyn Spitz, but I like to be called Marie for short.
Although mom's barn, The Spitz's Horse, was close to our house – our backyard really, my mom did not work for three months. Then, she hired a nanny and worked. Through my three first years not being allowed to go to the barn, I just watched my mom work outside. I watched through one if the house windows. At four, I begged my mom for lessons so that I could be just like her – so, she gave me lessons everyday for half an hour. I first rode on Rosey, a small pony. I loved her – out of all the lesson horses, I owe her for teaching me to ride. At five, I jumped for the first time. Ahh, how I miss her. Rosey taught me to jump, ride, and love a horse. She died when I was six from being old, which was thirty five years old.
At seven, my mom gave me a pony. Being a daughter of a trainer, I learned to get a good relationship with that plucky gray pony. I called him Merrychad Barry, Chad for short. I showed him a lot – and he won many times. When he was sick, I would stay with him all night, although my mom never wanted me to. When I grew too big for him, my mom wanted to use him as a lesson pony – teaching mostly little kids. But sadly, he got laminates – a horrible leg disease and later that year we had to put him to sleep because he was suffering too much. Tat was when I was ten. At eleven, I decided to get a horse and a foal to train. Not a foal, a two year old. That mare is still talented – I had to sell her to my mother's friend. A beauty she is and was! I loved her dearly, and I called her Rosey's Barryflower. Rosey because of my horse teacher, Barry because of Chad and flower because I thought that flower was a good name at the time. Her barn and short name is Rowry. The horse I bought for me was Cadence Buster, Cody for short. I still own Cody, but my mom and me use him as a lesson horse – he is great with intermediate riders, and we are all proud of him. But that started when I was fifteen.
At fifteen, I decided to do something totally different – not own any horses. Instead, I helped my mom with lessons, training, and other important things needed to be done at the barn. I would still show, on Cody or another lesson horse, just not on my own one. I only decided that because I wanted to finish high school successfully and get into business – so that I would be able to run the barn when my mom goes. And that is what happened. No, my mom did not go yet – thankfully, but the other half. I graduated with almost all A's, and now I am going to a nearby college with a good business major. I love it, and on top of that – I get to practice, have my own horses, and help mom. Just like heaven, I think...
now, I have ten horses altogether, five adults and five young, green horses. I love all of them – they are unique in many different ways. I am starting to think that my mom and me should build three more different stables: one for the lesson program, another for more boarders, and the third for our train a horse, get a friend program. My mom was considering even getting the local public high school to getting an equestrian team! Hey, I like the idea...
So, anyway, below I am going to describe my horses. All of them will be written in detail, I hope... not that all of my horses are different – personality-wise and job-wise. But I love them all, even the more fresh ones. I do not choose my favorites.
The first one is called Spitzerfrennick Jackson. I call him Spitz. Being a big adult, standing at fifteen point three hands high, his breed is a Hackney. I use him for driving races. Being a chestnut, he is really pretty. He has a blazed face and two socks on his back right and front left legs. He also has one stocking on his back left foot and a coronet band on his front right leg. He was born at the Spitz, so that is why I called him something with Spit – to say that he was born at The Spitz Horse Stable. At first, before I got him, I was his trainer, I did not find anything special about him. He was called Two Colt back then for his owner was the stable. Then, one day, a year ago, he was for sale. He looked into my eye, and I fell in love. Had him for a year now. Now, he is eight and a great horse.
Oh, and before we go any further with my detailed writings of my horses, I needed to tell you, my reader, how this place runs. Just the basic information. We have three stables – one is the normal, basic stable, while the other is the breeding center. At the breeding center, the foals are born, stallions get bred there and mares get pregnant there – you get the picture. Although this is typically not where the stallions live, they do when it is breeding season. When it is not breeding season, we have the third stable for the stallion's home. When it is breeding season, we use it as a camp stable. But, all types of horses are boarded here. The breeds that we breed are all light horses, and they are: the Hackney, French Trotter, Azteca, Andalusian, Danish Warmblood, Don, Holstein, Dutch Warmblood, and Swiss Warmblood. We may also be bringing in another breed for my mom and me have one and we are both proud of them. They are called the Rocky Mountain horses. Anyway, let us continue with my horse descriptions.
The second horse is called Bright Planet. Everyone calls him Pluto because of his sweetness and quiet temper. Although being quiet, he still loves to play, and sometimes I play with him. At age nine, was born somewhere else but he is still a Danish Warmblood. He stands at sixteen point two hands high, which is quite tall. Being a light bay, his color is not that unique, but he has a thin strip across his face without a snip. So, it stops by the nose area. I use him for my jumping shows, and he is a really good jumper! I had him since he was five. Actually, rather, it was someone else's horse at his age of five, and I help them train him. Then, the person could not afford him last year, so I said that I would buy him and here he is – my horse.
The third horse is named Spitz's Majesty's Obsidian. I call him King for short. I bet that whoever named him that said, "I called him King because he was high spirited, yet really gentle." And, he is high spirited, but when he works, he is as a gentle giant. Being a black, sixteen hand high Andalusian, it makes sense. I still love him. He has a white sock on his back right leg and a small snip and star. Quite pretty, really. I remember the time when I saw him for the first time – an energetic little yearling. One of the smaller ones. Now, he has grown to be a big horse. I started his training with a student-worker. Last year, I decided to have him when he was looking for a home. Now, he is six. I use him for dressage, a horse dance-type sport.
My fourth horse is not born here, but still a Swiss Warmblood. Her name is Thundering Daisy, or just Daisy. She is seven years old, and I saw that she would be great with jumping for she has long legs, yet she is really pretty. So, I am using her for three day eventing: show jumping, dressage, and cross country. She is a tall horse, standing at sixteen point three hands high. She is of a brown color with a small star on her face. I remember her at a horse dealership when I graduated. Being the first one for me to get, getting her made me really happy – and her special. She was five, nearly six then. Ahh, good old days!
Then, there is this unusual horse. She was not born here, and is a different breed than any of my other horses. She is a Rocky Mountain horse. I also use her as a three day eventing horse. She is great and has a great talent, and has a lot of experience for she is the oldest of my horses. Her name is Delicate Daydream, simply Dreamer. I love her to death – being quite calm in temperament and an easy ride. Sometimes, on special days, I use her as a lesson horse – but not a lot. She is a palomino, a really pretty and unusual one for these horses. I found her starved and scared from being beaten at ten and convinced my mom to save her. She put me in charge of training her. Saving, feeding, and loving her. Last year, when she was sixteen, I said that this is my horse because I showed her for two years previously – and she did perfect with me. Being quite small, she is the smallest in my adult back – fifteen point two hands high, and still, she does perfect for cross country. No, I am going to introduce you to my fresh, green horses.
My first three year old is named Spitz's Permanent Tune. I call him Tune. He is standing, currently, at fourteen point three hands – but still growing. He was born here – all my fresh horses were. He is learning the tack for driving races and I expect him to win since his mother and father won the championships one time or another. He is all chestnut, no feet or head markings. A pretty common color for the breed. Tune is a French Trotter.
My second baby is a year old and a great one. Being bred by me, I still own him. He is named Spitz's Adjacent Justice, Cent for short. I did not really measure him yet for he is still quite small, but he is a beauty. He is a pure Azteca. I am planning to use him for dressage. His color is all white – therefore, no markings. Being really pretty, he is a perfect dressage prospect. Many people want to buy him from me – but I say no.
My third baby is still a baby. She will, and is already called Spitz's Aurora City. Her short name is Aurie. Her breed is a Don, and is expected to grow to a full height of sixteen point one hands high. She will be my other jumping horse after she finishes her training. She was born two months ago. We have high expectations for he – both her father and mother won jumping championships. We expect her to win two, although if she doesn't, we know she will be happy and will stay with someone nice forever. She is all chestnut, not markings.
My fourth baby is two and a half years old – almost started in training. She is named Spitz's Malachite Sunshine, Sunny for short. Being a Holstein, we think that she will grow to be seventeen hands high. This is because her father was seventeen hands, and her mother: sixteen point five. She was also born quite tall and still is. Being an iron gray and her face all white, she is a beauty. She has two white stockings on her back feet too. She will do three day eventing, I am hoping...
My fifth and last baby is three months old. She is a Dutch Warmblood and my only horse being black with no markings on her legs and head. I am thinking that that is going to change, but maybe not. I think that she will be around sixteen hands high since both her parents are around there. Her father was a jumper while her mother was used as a dressage horse. I think that she will be great at boht, so I am probably going to use her as a three day eventer. Her name is Spitz's Tallina Coral, Tally for short.
Well, I hope you, my reader like my horses. They are all great and in fact, I am going to go ride King now and am hoping that he will be great with me, as always.