January 2018

January brought a big box full of emotions. It was officially 2018, I had 6 months until Pinto Worlds. The thought usually brought my stomach in knots. I had no idea what to expect! It also brought extremely cold weather and some crazy amazing news.

Showing horses is known to be a little political at times… We’ve all seen it to some extent. I knew that the more we got Athena’s name and story out there the better chance we had at getting noticed. I had a decent working relationship with the Equine Chronicle as an equine photographer, and they noticed Athena’s success and featured a write up on Athena and her story. You can read all about it HERE!

Immediately, Athena had this wave of new fans and followers. So many people were so supportive of the little rescue that could and I was in disbelief how well received she was. It was only a year ago that everyone seemed to tell me she would never make a great show horse, and here were great competitors and trainers praising her and giving us words of encouragement. Every word meant so much to me!

Despite the bitter cold, we worked hard and didn’t let the weather stop us. I often bundled Athena up in multiple layers to keep her warm with her short show coat. It even snowed and got down into single digits! Athena and I were ready to move to Florida at that point.

We started working really hard on our canter. She has a long ways to go but she is improving in so many ways. It takes a lot of strength and endurance to get them to canter the way we need, so it is a lot of hours in the saddle to slow her down and build her up in a healthy way without her getting trashy underneath.

Athena has forever ruined me. In so many ways.  She has checked so many things off my equine bucket list. I know I will never have a horse as smart, as sensitive, and as talented as Athena. I will never have a connection like I do with her. Athena is truly and whole heartedly my once in a lifetime. I am so dang blessed to have found this one in a million horse and to be able to call her my best friend.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting Athena and I!