Do I write this in first person or in third person? The world may never know
I never had much interest in horses growing up. My grandmother used to own horses and so every summer we would fly out to visit her, where I would get my little exposure to them. I have pictures from before I can remember of me riding but my earliest memory of horses was when my sister fell off and I swore I was never going to ride again.
I kept that promise growing up until one day at a sleep away camp when I was in high school, I sat with another girl who was also afraid of horses. It was a little bit of a pride thing, her and I had been fighting all of camp and so somehow I had to prove that I could do something she could, get on a horse. Looking back it was childish, but I’m sure glad I did it. The moment I sat in the saddle, I knew this was what I was meant to do with my life.
I started with doing trail rides once or twice a month. There was a local barn near me and I found it very therapeutic. One ride in particular I was put on an OTTB named Jetta and the guides had gotten to know me enough that they asked if I would be comfortable trying a trot. I agreed and moments later my horse was cantering to try to beat the guide up the hill. I knew in that moment that I needed to do more than what I was doing now. I picked up once a week lessons and that only drove my passion even more.
I knew before I wanted to event before I even really knew what it was. I worked my way from western lessons to english. I played polo, did dressage, and some very low hunters and jumpers.
I studied at USC Aiken in an attempt to reap all the benefits that Aiken has to offer as not only a horse town, but an eventing hub! This is where I leased my first eventing pony and the rest is history.
I’m so thankful for the opportunities that I have had and I cannot wait to see what comes next!