My Equestrian Inspiration: A Friend from Long Ago

Friendship among equestrians is a precious thing, and you never know how paths will cross with fellow horse lovers from days of yore. Many months ago, when my horse Knight was diagnosed with kissing spine, I reconnected with a friend I had known years earlier in Illinois. She actually used to ride my horse DC from time to time!

I can’t even remember the year I first met Jessica, but I can tell you that as I passed her in the aisle way at Tower Hill Farm, she was always friendly. She was also at the barn constantly–a dedicated rider. I wanted to ride like her when I grew up. (She’s younger than me.)

Jessica and her wonder mare/kissing spine warrior, Tattoo.

The Up Side of Facebook

I moved to California and were it not for the miracle of Facebook, I might have lost touch with Jessica completely. The last time I believe I saw her was right after she got a filly named Tattoo straight off one of the Chicago-area tracks. I remember meeting the pretty bay Thoroughbred on cross ties during Christmas break or a summer trip home to see my family. I’m guessing this was 12 years ago.

Jessica moved with her family and horse to Arizona about three years ago. I noticed on Facebook she had switched disciplines–moved from the jumper ring to eventing, but I wasn’t aware that her mare had been diagnosed with severe kissing spine.

Before the surgery x-ray. Tattoo later had four vertebrae reshaped.

With the revelation that Knight had kissing spine, I did what any diligent horse owner would do–join the Facebook Group for the malady. And so I landed in the Horses with Kissing Spine Facebook Group. Jessica was in there too! You know how Facebook alerts you to which friends of yours are in the same group. If I remember correctly, Jessica texted me later that her heart sank when she saw I had joined the group.

Knight’s Cheerleader

Well, the quick version of this story is that during my darkest days trying to figure out what kissing spine even was, how bad my horse’s version was, what the prognosis was, what lifestyle changes I could make for him, how I could get him to be the best version of himself despite his condition etc., Jessica’s texts and Facebook messages were a beacon of hope.

In a sea of conflicting viewpoints and mixed messages from “authorities,” my recently-reconnected friend was a cheerleader for my sweet horse she had never met, but knew from social media.

Why was she so bullish on Knight? Jessica’s mare had the surgery for kissing spine and it was VERY successful. So much so that she is schooling at training level eventing and showing at novice level.

Somehow about a week ago Jessica asked me where Knight was in relation to a cross country schooling weekend she was going to be attending in California. I was excited to say, “We’re basically across the street!”

Last weekend I got to see Jessica ride like a boss over jumps I would never dare attempt. I saw the long scar on her mare’s spine–the only evidence now of her kissing spine.

And I was able to introduce Jessica to Knight and vice versa. She hopped on my tubby pony, fresh back into work and she loved him. I think she even used the word “awesome” to describe him. I’m now kicking myself that I didn’t get any pictures or video of my amazing friend and advocate cantering around on Knight.

And speaking of awesome, the owner of the farm I’m now pasture boarding Knight at is a longtime Thoroughbred man. The last couple of times I’ve seen him he’s teased me about being happy to take Knight off my hands if I ever get tired of him. He was at the track when Knight’s sire Tiznow raced in the early 2000’s. He proclaimed Knight a horse “with a good brain” and we’ve already schemed how to introduce Knight into the hunt field.

Things are looking up.

I’m so grateful for Jessica’s friendship and inspiration (and I marvel at her powerhouse mare), and I’m excited for all that’s to come in 2019.

Thank you for reading, and happy riding.

QUESTION: Please share in the comments section (scroll down.) Who is your equestrian inspiration?

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