We assume so much about people and horses. We see what we think is the perfect horse and then you have him vetted and oops the deal is off.

You get a full picture of what you think a person is like, then you get to know them and boy were you wrong. The old – don’t judge a book by it’s cover thing.

We look at all these movie personalities and athletes and form an opinion of who they are. Sometimes we believe they are really like the characters they portray. Most times we are wrong.

Hopefully when we look at a horse, and we see a rank horse, we can take the time to learn why they behave the way they do. We’ve discussed this many times over the years about being tuned into what the horse is really saying to you. “I’ve been really mistreated. I’ve been hungry, I’ve been beat on, my mouth had been hurt, people are just plain mean. I’ve been hit with buckets, whips, tortured. No one has ever been kind or loved me.” Some horses become fearful and some just have had it and are now getting even, it doesn’t matter who did it, you are going to pay and never will I be hurt again. Now we know, with time and patience, we can over ride this. We can form a lasting relationship, show that horse love, attention, and become the greatest team on this earth.

Sometimes people are like that too. I think we take more time understanding our animals than we do people. We figure people can speak up and take care of themselves, animals can’t. However, not all people will speak up. They’ve been broken too. Here is the Children’s Minister coming out in me.

If you’ve been on my Facebook page lately you’ll know where I’m going with this. If you haven’t, games on. We’ve all witnessed the people who have money and either they, or their parents buy them the best of everything. Horses, clothes, trainers, barns. We, on the other hand, rummage through the ads or auctions and try to find a horse that we can turn into a winner. We usually are on a tight budget so going out and buying a $50,000.00 made horse is not going to happen. Along the way we most likely will fall in love with this horse and it doesn’t matter if the world thinks he/she is the best horse in it’s class, we do and that’s all that counts.

We see the special people at shows or in the papers and magazines and we either hate them, or are jealous, or hate them because we are jealous. But really how much do we really know about these super stars of the horse industry. How many times have we looked at their beginnings. Sometimes they don’t even let on about who they really were. Now don’t get me wrong. Not everyone who was blessed to have wealthy parents, who supported their adventures, is flaunting it, nor are they snobs, but some are and that’s how we see everyone.

Many horses like “Seabiscuit” or “Snowman”, are auction rejects on their way to the killers. Some people in this world are on a like road, and without intervention will come to the same end. You know all the horse movies I’m talking about, of the horses who had their lives turned around because someone took the time to care and give them a chance.

So enter into my life again, someone from my youth. Jessamy Rouson and I got our beginnings at the same hack stable. She had a dream and a goal. I had a dream and a goal. Both in totally different directions. “Jessamy left her home in New York City at fourteen years of age to ride horses professionally (not always getting paid for her effort. I threw this in). She has had a lifetime of success within the International sphere of show jumping and has found it to be a passport to the world. Jessamy has ridden, trained, developed and sold some of the most famous horses in the world, including some Hall of Fame horses. She has also trained with the United States Equestrian Team and has written for the well-respected Barron’s Financial paper regarding the syndication of show jumpers.” Except for my added note, this is from the back cover of her book “From Where My Strength Lies. The Life Of A Horse Whisperer.”

Now I looked at her all these years since our days at Clove Lake Stables, and realized that I had believed she was so lucky, her parents supported her through her beginnings. Mine wouldn’t. Boy was I wrong. I’ve since then apologized to her. She rode anything that no one else was capable of riding just to get to ride and have the experiences. Her trainers were the horses with major problems and attitudes. She lived on boiled eggs because that’s all she could afford. She lived in war zones, her story is truly amazing.

I bought her two books and I was just going to read a few pages but I couldn’t put it down.

It’s an amazing story of how she got to the top. It’s a story that any one of us could have lived if we had the determination and guts to do it. It’s a story of rescued horses that were on their way out. Bought for prices less than we probably paid for our horses. Horses that had no hope and became Hall of Fame horses. Her love, compassion and instincts saved these horses and made them World Class Champions. Even if you aren’t into show jumping, it’s a wonderful read about someone beating the odds. One of us.

We parallel in many of our philosophies and training methods. I haven’t finished the first book yet, but can’t wait to do so, and start on her other book. I will never, especially at this age, rise to do what she has accomplished, but I can appreciate her for who she is, and what she has done. It’s not so much of a how-to-book so far, but like a novel of her life story, and we all love great horse stories.

If you get a chance try it, it’s a wonderful summer read, or something to read by the fire in the winter. It’s heart warming and real – just like us.