Fate smiled upon me and I purchased “Mr. B” to be my next horse when he was just a little over 2 yrs. He had a good start to his show career in Country English Pleasure, but he and I never clicked as a team under saddle. My daughter took over the reins, and they did CEP and eventually Hunter Pleasure. They held their own in the early years, but as I watched him exit the ring of his last HP class, with his head held way up and a huge trot, I knew Hunter Pleasure was not where his heart was! We took him home and debated what to do with him. We could not keep him with a trainer year-round and I knew in my heart he could do so much more. We considered selling him at one point, hoping to get him in a show home that would be able to take him to the level he deserved. Of course this never happened otherwise I would not be telling this story.
You see there was still a chapter left to this team that we did not know about at the time. With the help of a very very dear friend my daughter finally learned how to communicate with her horse, work with him, and listen to him, so that he could do the same for her. They finally were becoming a team!
During the next year they became stronger as a team and soon discovered their new love. Thinking back it had always been there, we just didn’t see it. You see, Mr. B although lazy when it came to trotting, absolutely loved to canter and nothing was more beautiful than watching him run free. He always runs with his head held high, and reaching as if there were some mountain only he can see that he just has to climb. He will stop and raise his body, snort and blow at you, all the time saying look at me This is what I love!
Mr. B and Katrina went to their first show doing Native Costume in November of that first year. They didn’t win their first class but won the championship the next day.
They did not show a lot, but when they did, they won at the A show level, not to mention holding their own at the Region level.
2004 Region 15 Champion in the Open and Top 5 in AOTR.
2005 Region 15 Unanimous Champion in Open and Unanimous Reserve Champion in AOTR.
Did thoughts of going to Nationals enter our heads, I would be lying to say they didn’t, but we weren’t quite ready yet.
Like many people, we really wanted to go to Nationals in 2006 – Louisville One Last Time. We had never competed at the Nationals before and had only been there once before just to watch. It was just the idea of it being the last year that it would ever be held there, I wanted to be part of that along with my family, and if at all possible give my daughter the experience of competing at the Nationals. So before the show season even began, my husband and I made the agreement that if Katrina and Mr. B could get a Top 5 at the Region 12 Championships we would bring them to Nationals. This is a secret that we kept very well hidden from Katrina.
It wasn’t easy, we did not have a trainer and did all the work ourselves. I would work with Mr. B during the week doing the biting, long lines and lounging. Katrina would ride on the weekends when she was able to come home from college. If I was home that weekend to watch her ride we would discuss what I saw and what she felt and we would come up with the next weeks conditioning schedule. Many weekends I was away at a show and we would have to discuss things over the phone. This is how it went week after week. Before we knew it, it was time for the Region 12 Championships.
No, they didn’t get the Championship or even Reserve, but they did get their Top 5! We were going to the Nationals! Telling her of our secret back at the stalls after their class was priceless. We had to laugh as we watched her slide down the stall wall to the floor, staring at us as if we had lost our minds. She had no idea about the secret we had kept so well hidden from her.
The next few months went by in a flash, we kept up with Mr. B’s conditioning, adjusting things as needed and hoping we were doing enough. Before we knew it, it was time again and we were off to Louisville. My mother, sister and two of my aunts came down from New Hampshire to share the experience with us, and cheer them on. They knew we had not been with a trainer in many years and wanted to lend us their support and help where they could. It was great having family there with us to share in the excitement.
So it went that in 2006, Katrina and Mr. B were able to add
Region 12 Top 5 AND
Nationals Top 10 to the list of their accomplishments.
This was by far more than we had ever thought possible, and had dared to dream. Her first class was a disaster, but they pulled it together and had great ride in their Open class. Not flawless, but really good, and up against some of the best horses we had ever seen. We were both very pleased with her ride. They had overcome their problems from the earlier class, and had truly looked like they belonged there. That had really been our only goal. So imagine our surprise when they were called back in. I can’t explain to you the range of emotions that passed thru us at that moment. I think Mr. B was the only one not surprised by all the goings on. He actually allowed me to hug him really hard around the neck, something he has never been entirely fond of. He seemed to be saying don’t cry, I always knew we could do it!
The title may be National Top 10, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at them. I don’t think that team could have been more excited then they were even if they had gotten the championship roses.
My vet always says it takes a team to make all things work properly, so I want to take this opportunity to thank all the members of Mr. B’s team from his Vet to his Ferrier, his Dentist to our local feed store, and all of you inbetween. A special thanks goes to a dear friend that was not able to be there, but lent her support and guidance by phone and kept telling Katrina “You know what to do, Just ride Him” All of you had a part in making this possible, and I thank you.
You may be wondering where do I as a client stand in all of this. Without your support as clients none of this would have ever been possible. Thank you all so very much. It is my hope that in reading this it will encourage many of you that may be on the brink of giving up, to keep dreaming the dream. There is a saying that “if there's a will, there's a way”, we are proof of this. Nothing is ever impossible if you give it everything you have, and work towards being the best you can be.
Louisville 2006 - "One Last Time"
Well this year we are beginning a new chapter in our lives and I feel the need to let you, my clients, know just how much your business has meant in our lives. Without your support the story below would never have happened. A huge Thank You to all.
Some, but not all of you know we have Arabians and that my daughter Katrina shows one very special one - BB Blockbuster - aka Mr. B. He is a PB 12yr old Aladdinn/Cognac cross. Standing only 14.3 in height, his heart is 18 hands. I first saw Mr. B when he was only a yearling, and it was love at first sight. He was for sale, but circumstances did not allow me to purchase him at that time. He was sold shortly after and went to his new home. I saw him again when he was two. He had had a terrible accident, and only by the goodwill of his owners at the time, and a third vet who finally agreed to try and heal his legs, was his life spared.
