Hi! My name is Lauren. I'm the owner and trainer of my horse, Dancer! I have loved horses ever since I was about 5 years old. I've always had My Little Ponys and all kinds of horse toys to play with. I used to have a huge stuffed horse that I would put on a swing in the backyard and sit on it. I would sit there all day and pretend I was on a real horse. I even made it little bridles and saddles! I would draw horses all the time too. When there were art competitions for school, I would draw horses and I got a ribbon every time! {I still love to draw and paint, and horses are my favorite subject!}
I begged my parents for riding lessons for a very long time, but they thought it was too dangerous. I told them I'd be very careful, and finally talked them into letting me take riding lessons when I turned 10 and I loved it! The first horse I rode was an Appaloosa named "Kid". He was stubborn, but a good first mount. I rode him for a few months and then he was sold, so I started riding a short Quarter Horse mare named "Red". She was very sweet and calm. I could go anywhere with her and she didn't mind. I liked riding her, but I kind of felt sorry for her because she had one leg that was shorter than all the others. This didn't hurt her, but it made sitting at the trot a little bit of a challenge! One day a girl came out and had a lesson before me, so I couldn't ride "Red". I rode a new horse named "Yeller" instead. He was a tall Appaloosa gelding. I thought he was beautiful! We got along very well and I loved riding him! He was very patient, but would let me know if he didn't want to do something. I liked the challenge and improved my riding skills every week! "Yeller" soon became my favorite horse and I dreamed of owning him one day. The dream didn't last long though. He soon got sold. I went to visit him every day and when he saw me coming, he would wait at the fence. I couldn't ride Yeller for lessons anymore, so I rode a huge Quarter Horse named Charlie. He was very slow! At that time, I had been riding for almost 2 years and my friend, Jennifer, and I were taking lessons together. We wanted to barrel race, so getting Charlie to lope around the barrels took some effort! After a few weeks, we became pretty good at it though. Jen and I hoped to barrel race together soon, but that all changed one day...
I was going to my lesson with Jennifer and as we pulled in, I saw people gathered around the big stall in the barn. We went over to see what they were looking at. I peered inside and beheld the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen! He was a baby Appaloosa, born the night before. You could always tell what he was thinking by his eyes. He would roll them around so you could see the white part when he didn't want to do something! I'd never seen a horse like that before. He just stood behind his mom trying to look over and around her at all of the people.
After my lesson, I went back for a visit with Jen. We tried to get him over to us, but his mom would stand in front of him. When she went to get a drink, I held out my hand and he came to me. He sniffed me and let me pet him. Then, he started chewing on my hand with his little teeth! I was in love with him! My mom came to see him and said he had the honriest(how do you spell that?) eyes she'd ever seen! He would peek over the stall and roll his eyes!
I went to visit him every day and he would recognize me from across the farm. When I would pass his pen, he'd follow me until the fence stopped. When I'd go to the fence, he'd come to me and let me pet him for as long as I wanted. I wished his owners would sell him, but Jen & I both agreed that it wasn't a possibility.
One day, my Grandma came to visit. She had ridden horses as a child and now works at the horse shows. We would talk about my lessons and she asked me about the horses. I told her about Dancer and she wanted to see him. We went out and I was allowed to brush him. While I brushed, my Grandma talked to his owner and then we left.
I, suspecting nothing, was asked to help with Dancer's training{His name is Costar's Last Dance because he was his mom's, Linda's Costar, last baby. Also, when he was born, he got right up and started "dancing" around the stall!} . I learned to teach a baby horse to longe and lead properly. I was having a great time and I loved the challenges of working with a young horse. When I was longing him one day, his owner came up to me and told me that a man was coming to look at him and that he'd probably buy him and take him away to TX.This was a trick, because he thought his youngest son had told me about the "surprise", but he hadn't. I was devastated. I went home and begged my mom to buy him. She told me that she'd have to wait and see, but I was still upset. Finally, she called my grandma and I talked to her. She told me that she had bought Dancer for me as a Christmas present and it was supposed to be a surprise! It was a surprise!! I was so happy and shocked he was actually mine!
Things went great for a while, but when the softball season started, I didn't have as much time to spend with him as I liked. I also had orchestra and piano to attend. I needed someone to exercise him during the day for me so when I came out at night I could work on leading him and gooming him. The man who owned him before agreed (he also owned the farm). I thought things were going OK until I went out early one day. I saw Dancer being treated extremely rough and even whipped! You can't imagine how angry I was! Not to mention, the guy had been feeding him more and more, causing his legs to grow too rapidly and become swollen. I had to get Dancer away! I would miss my friends, but I needed to move.
The new place was very nice. The barn was clean and there was a 100acre pasture along with littler pastures for the horses. Dancer and I continued with our training. He learns very quickly. I have been told by many people that he's "too smart for his own good" and it's true! He would get turned out in one of the pastures during the day, and loved being with the other horses.
When the time came to put a bit in his mouth, he accepted it calmly. I took it in and out for the first few days, and then began to leave it on for 30mins at a time in the evenings. When I couldn't come out, the lady who owned the farm would put it on for me.
I went out one day to get Dancer and he came up to the fence to greet me as usual, but when I tried to lead him to the barn to groom him, he refused. I thought he was just acting his age and being stubborn and thought nothing of it. When it continued, I began to get curious. Then, a huge cut "mysteriously" appeared on his right shoulder. A girl I used to know took lessons there. She was jealous I had a horse before she did and I guess she thought she'd get even. I was told he'd cut himself on the fence, but I just had a feeling it was her. I can't explain it.
I kept on with the bit, trying to ignore everything that was happening. The girl and owner of the farm were starting to act strangely to me along with everyone else out there. I found out later that they were talking bad about me behind my back. The lady suggested to the farrier that Dancer's hooves be trimmed a certain way to avoid some of the pain from the swelling. She then told me Dancer would never be ridden. I ignored her. I would ride Dancer someday and no one was going to stop me!
Soon after this, I was putting the bit in Dancer's mouth and he refused. He did this for several days, each time getting worse. I kept trying, but it was getting nearly impossible. He also started completely refusing to go to the round pen and the barn. I knew something was up. The lady was beating him with the bit at night! I couldn't believe this was happening again! I had to move him again!!
We went to anothe place called Dream Acres. It truly was a "Dream"! It's a great place, and all of the animals are very well taken care of! He stayed in the pasture with some other horses, and could play in the pond when it was hot outside! Peggy helped us in Western Pleasure and Halter and everyone out there was extremely kind! We went on trails behind the pond and rode in the pastures surrounding the farm. It was great!
A week after we arrived, I practiced driving him. He did very good! That day, Jack asked me if I wanted to ride him. I said "YES!!!". He put the saddle on him for the first time and Dancer acted like he was a pro at it! Jack's wife got on before me to make sure he was going to stay calm, and after walking down the aisle of the barn, let me get on! It was the best moment of my life! I was finally riding Dancer!
Dancer's legs are better now and the trimming he had before was actually part of the problem. He now has shoes on and is doing great!
He had a few problems-bucking when I ask him to lope, backing into fences when he doesn't want to work and turning around when I longe him- but we've overcome all of those things! I know I've grown as a rider and horsewoman too, and am thankful for every minute of it! Peggy gave us lessons, and worked with us on flying lead changes and basic Western Pleasure stuff until last winter!
We sold our house, and moved in May 2000. Dancer lives with me now, on 2 acres. He has the whole pasture to himself! I ge up every morning at 7:45am so I can feed him at 8am. It's a great way to start the day! He gets fed again at 6pm, and I usually groom him around 7:45pm. If it's not too hot, I longe him or work on halter.
It's nice to be able to look out the window and see him grazing. I've always dreamed of having a horse on my own land, and now it's finally come true! :^) I plan to start riding English in the fall, and take Dancer to some shows! I think we'll have a lot of fun!