*this may seem a little disorganized or odd as I got tired of writing and just wanted to get this typed out. I'll edit it later so that it makes more sense :)
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yr. 2007-2011
I started riding hunter jumpers when I was three (2007), and continued until I was seven.
yr. 2011-2013
After losing my confidence and switching barns many times, desperate to find a trainer and horse I trusted, I took a break for two years. I was still obsessed with horses, just extremely anxious about riding them. I was fine with leading, brushing, and being around them, but riding was a hard pass and I'd always end up in tears.
Two years later I found a barn that my friend had recommended to me. It was not a hunter jumper barn, but I only learned that once I started riding there.
Later
I ended up regaining my confidence and making lasting friendships there. I fell in love with the Morgan breed and got my first lease horse, Curi, after a year of riding at this barn. I shared Curi with my younger brother. Eventually (4 months later) my brother lost interest and it was time for me to find something more challenging.
I then had my first Morgan show, where I competed in an open academy class for my age group. I catchrode Bogie, who I went on to lease after. Although the class was a trainwreck, I fell in love with showing and continued riding.
I switched off between leasing two horses, Bogie and Elmer- I am now realizing just how weird these names really are- for the following years.
2017-2019
I got my first horse in December of 2017. Her name was Koko. She was a dark bay Morgan mare. I showed walk-trot with her for a few years.
2019
Later, it was time for me to graduate from walk-trot and compete in the Jr. Exhibitor division.
We took a huge jump here and bought Versace, a blood bay Morgan gelding. We bought him as a green stallion, but trained and gelding him (with the help of my trainer, of course). I showed him for two years..
2021
..and even went on to compete at the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show, where we were 5th (in the nation) and 7th (in the world).
Here, I spontaneously, with my mom and trainer, decided to start competing in and riding western pleasure as well. I had never done this before. The plan was to ride Equitation for this seat.
2022
We then leased Jett for the show season (May-October), a western pleasure horse. He and I went on to have a very successful in the Western Equitation division last season, even though it was my first season riding western and showing in equitation, doing patterns. We went on to have wins at every show (Minus world champs as we didn't go that year) and even won the AMHA (American Morgan Horse Association) Western Seat Equitation Medal class! Although we didn't go to worlds that year, I qualified for the medal final there, which was for the best of the best. I wouldve had to go through three elimination rounds of testing to compete in the World Championship had I gone to compete.
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We then had to make the tough decision to sell Versace as he had picked up some bad habits in the time I had him, which was giving me loads of anxiety and loss of confidence.
I bought Junebug in July of this year, and I think I've found my heart horse. She's a beautiful dappled sooty dark bay Morgan Mare and she's a four year old.
Junie and I plan to qualify and compete at World Championships next year (October 2023)...
But it is currently not show season, so we're currently training and waiting for the season to come. I am beyond excited.
Sunny
