I compete in the Virginia Junior High Rodeo Association and Virginia Cowboys Association. I have four horses on my rodeo team, and each has unique strengths and struggles when it comes to traveling and competing.
I recently purchased a broodmare sound sight unseen. When I picked up Grace in person, she looked nothing like the pictures I had received. She was extremely underweight, malnourished, and had no life left in her eyes.
My filly Jin and I had a special connection from the day I brought her home as an unhandled 10-month-old. She’s always been very trusting of me, and I of her.
I recently had a scare with my mare Nikki. She developed a sudden very upset stomach. She wouldn’t eat her hay, had a temperature that kept rising through the day, was lethargic, and had bad diarrhea. Nikki wasn’t her sassy self, and she had me worried.
My horse Spaz is an athletic, beautiful horse. He’s affectionate and very respectful, and while he doesn’t trust random people, he’ll let me do nearly anything I need to.
My eight-year-old gelding Augustine was diagnosed with gastric ulcers caused from pain associated with an infected eye. While Augustine’s eye was removed shortly after the diagnosis, his discomfort from ulcers continued.
My gelding barrel horse TK Flyin Firewater, better known as Batman, has always been a nervous horse. He didn't always take to discipline well, and when I’d attempt to tune or school him in the barrels, he’d get really worked up.
My off-the-track thoroughbred and show jumper Chance used to be spooky and tense. He’d shy away when I tried to touch his head, and attitude-wise, he was on the unfriendly and "I don't care" side. He’s also a hard keeper, and I was always able to see his ribs too much.
Both of my mares, Josie and Willow, came out of pretty bad situations. When we first brought them home, neither wanted to be touched or caught. Humans had failed them in so many ways.
I recently discovered Redmond Equine, tried three of their products, and fell in love with them all! Before, I felt frustrated, not knowing what to do to help my paint horse Spike look and feel his best. Not anymore.
