Just a few weeks ago I was driving an older, well to do woman to Columbia airport. An accomplished horsewoman who had trained to the upper levels in dressage, Ms Peggy was always fun for me to talk to. She had had many warmbloods and Iberian breeds to work with over the years and was telling me that I should look into getting one one day. I laughed and said, "oh Ms. Peggy, I don't think I will ever be able to afford one of those, there is a reason I have a barn full of OTTBs." (also because I love them) She went on to tell me I'd be surprised, on gal she knew was given a fancy warmblood and all his tack because the owner simply decided he/she didn't want to do it anymore. Again I laughed and told Ms Peggy, those kinds of things don't happen to me! That is until...
January 15th I took my 2019 Retired Racehorse Project mount, Fiver/GQ, over to Stable View for a lesson with Nuno Santos. This was Fiver's first real "off property" experience since beginning his retraining off the track. Unfortunately that didn't go as well as I had hoped. I didn't expect much but I was hoping it was going to go better than it had. As I was walking around the covered arena cooling him out, Therese Evans was riding what I figured was just one of her many lovely training horses. I met Therese last year at Stable View as she comes down with her string of dressage and eventing horses from Ohio each year. She and Nuno started talking a min and then they both look at me. "Hey Jordan...this one needs a home." I look around, surely they aren't talking to me?
Then I answered, "Why does it need a home and why are you telling me?!" Knowing full well that I have no money and certainly not enough money for a horse of that quality. Therese explains that she took the horse on as a bit of a charity case so to speak and that he had been the wrong hands before. That she would love to get a little something for him but that finding him his person and the perfect match was her main priority and asked if I maybe interested or knew of anyone who might be. I explained that I had just lost Bandit and when it came to funds, I had none. Then she said "well you wanna get on him?" Did I want to get on him? Who are we kidding, of course I wanted to get on him! So on I got, walk/trot/canter. He was lovely, a gentleman. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him as he seemed so accepting of me and very well trained.
I rode him 3 more times that week before I was ready to approach Therese. After that 4th ride, I brought him back to the barn, thanked her for her time and went for a walk to find Nuno.
That morning as I drove into my barn, I looked over to Bandit's burial and told him that the decision was up to him. If he said it was a yes I'd do it. If he told me it was a no, I'd walk away. Our 4th ride was a hack followed by some jumping. Therese had only taken him for a hack once a few days prior and he hadn't been jumped since he arrived in Aiken the first week of January, but we clicked. Just like we did the first time I sat on him, we just clicked. After a quick chat with Nuno I went back to the barn and ultimately told Therese that while I did not have any money to offer her, I would like to offer Angelo (registered name) a home with me as my personal horse. A horse for me to progress myself on. A horse for me to spoil and cuddle with. Not a resale project. She told me that was exactly what she hoped to hear. That more importantly he had found HIS PERSON in me and a person that will have time and patience for him that he so deserved.
It was a seriously emotional week for me. Things I thought would never happen to me, happened. More specifically things I wasn't expecting happened. All truly wonderful things but emotional none the less. All because Therese's groom. Brie, has followed my progress with my thoroughbreds and suggested to Therese that I may be a good match for Angelo. All I can say to those girls/women out there working their asses off to be successful and make a name for themselves, don't ever give up. Good things come to those who persevere, the best things happen when we least expect them!
Angelo, angel, Bandit is my angel and I truly believe he sent this horse to me. Angelo will show under the name Awesome Journey (AJ) because that is what this will be, an awesome journey, TOGETHER. I have wholeheartedly made this decision to progress myself as a rider, trainer and horsewoman. Cheers to the future, I hope you all will follow along in the journey.
