"Dusty" to Madison Square Garden....

I am so proud to bring videos to this blog....many thanks to Chelsey for her figuring out the task of transferring all of our old time movies to DVDs. The first one is of your first horse show at DuPage County Fair in Illinois and you rode none other than the famous, "Dusty". You were only 11 years old at the time. He was one the greatest school horses ever! I remember so vividly how difficult it was to walk him anywhere near hay or grass, he would basically pretend like we didn't have him on a lead rope and drag you to where he could cop some food. He was strong as hell and sometimes would even try and grab grass while you were on him. I think every barn out there has had a school horse like "Dusty" at one time or another. Anyways, you were so exited to have the opportunity to ride him at the show. Pete, your trainer, who owned him told you to wake him up before going into the ring and boy did you ever! You hit him with the crop 3 or 4 times and it really wasn't inconspicuous in the least. It was kind of funny....I remember being so proud of you....little did I know that it would become your passion for years to come. A girl and her horse..there is nothing like it.

So many years went by between this video and the one below. About 7 years to be exact... 7 years of riding, grooming, lessons, horse shows, barn friends, Halloween barn parties, dressing up horses in costumes, trail riding, countdown, jumping, falling off a horse or two, breaking your arm, Blackie, Phil, Burt, Malmo, Kix, Rudy...etc.

I have just a few regrets in my life and one of them is the fact that when you were going to go to ride Malmo at Madison Square Garden, I was not there. I remember I had just gotten a job at Saddlers Row and I used that as my excuse.....real reason was that I was and always have been afraid to fly. I wanted to be there so badly.....it had been 15 years since you went to NY and I will say I'm sorry I didn't go with you. I know you had a blast and I was about as proud as a mom could be! To this day every opportunity I can I mention that you rode at Madison Square Garden.  Here are some memorabilia you saved from that time. It sure is a good thing that you are a saver....(the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree).

This was your acceptance letter...you were so exited!

"Rudy" in Jumpers...my anxiety levels were sky high during those days

You and Malmo.....A Fantastic Team!





I miss you a ton........m