In September of 2009, I almost died.  Shortly thereafter, I found out I was (indirectly) losing my third horse in 2 years.  I was devsatated, and was ready to quit riding, even though I had done so for almost 30 years.  Enter Zoe, an 8 y/o 17 hand humongous Purebred Irish Draught.  My vet found her for me and encouraged me to call the caretakers of this horse.  After speaking to them, I decided that I could not even go to try her, as she was completely dangerous and unmanagebale, and I could not have such a heavy and dangerous horse on my property.  I was warned that she kicked, bit, and threw people into walls.  She was also known to chagre at you if she was turned out in a pasture, and attacked anyone who entered her stall. She had apparently been beaten as a youngster in her stall, and never got over it. As a result, Zoe led a simple life at her previous home, and went from her stall, the first one in her barn, to a paddock for 3 hours a day, and then back into her stall.  She had been obese most of her life, as she barely got any exercise.

My vet made me promise to go try her just once, and if I hated her, I never had to go back.  "Just do it for me" she said.  Since I trusted her implicitly, I begrudgingly went.  Zoe tired to hurt me many times on the ground, but the moment I sat on her back, I felt great things.  She was a worker bee! She loved to be ridden! She half heartedly tried to throw me a couple of times, but I knew it was only a test.  Every test I gave her in the saddle, she passed with flying colors.  I could tell she was an athlete and loved to work.  I tried her maybe 6 times or so, and then decided to buy her as a rescue for $10!!!! I named her "She's Got Game" since she is such a gamer for anything we try.

Zoe was so damaged from her previous ecperiences, that she never left the farm she was born on until she came to my home, and had barely been ridden.  As a result, she was afraid of everything.  My original goals were to get her into some kind of minimal public event or show within 4 months time.  Zoe was entered in her first publiuc appearance, a schooling horse trial, in less than 2 months of owning her, and she came in third in a huge class! First was one of the best professionals in the east, and second was my own trainer!!! We then went to 2 jumper shows, and ended up reserve champion in the first show, and won both classes entered in the second show.  Later this fall we also entered our first sanctioned event after only schooling xc 2x!  She trusted me, I trusted her, and our bond grew while our relationship flourished.

Zoe brought me out of my depression, gave me a reason to ride again, and has given me great joy.  She is a constant challenge, and incredibly diffiuclt to handle at times, both on the ground and in the saddle, but she trusts more people every day in many different ways.  We are constantly building our partnership to be the best it can be, not only for a loving relationship both ways, but for a stunning athletic partnership.  Look out for us in 2011!