Christie Intro, and Deuce Ride #100! (Long)

My name is Christie and, of course, my passion is horses. By way of introduction, here is more about me:

I first rode at a western riding camp when I was ten years old, and then at a saddleseat riding camp when I was eleven. I got my first horse, my summer camp favorite, when I turned twelve. After that I had horses until my junior year in high school, and without any further lessons I now say in retrospect that I could “walk, trot, canter, and stay on most of the time!” I got back into horses my senior year in college, at which time I leased an aged Quarter Horse gelding who had done some low-level dressage.

I entered Veterinary School at NCSU in the fall of 1994, and became friends with a classmate who invited me on a hunter pace. While hanging out with my friend at the barn where she boarded, I began to meet many people who were involved in eventing. I knew I had found the equestrian sport that I really wanted to pursue, and I began to search for my own horse.

I was very fortunate to find a very honest and careful 12yo OTTB gelding named Sam that had evented through training level and schooled preliminary, and I purchased him in February of 1995. I began to take regular lessons for the first time in my life. I spent many hours on the lunge line, and I also had the chance to ride a number of other horses.

I always like to have fun with my horse, and while I had Sam I participated in various activities such as trail riding, hunter paces, and schooling shows including dressage, combined training, 2-phase, and eventing. I have done training level dressage, and have jumped full courses through novice level, although I mainly did beginner novice.

I focused on horses during vet school, and even did an externship between my second and third year (summer 1996) that I arranged with Richard A. Mansmann, VMD, PhD. I worked with Dr. Mansmann three days a week, with a mixed animal practice one day a week, and with my farrier one day a week so I could get comfortable working under a horse.

Unfortunately I began having a number of health problems during late 1996 and into 1997 that resulted in my having to leave vet school at the end of July 1997, after I had already started my senior rotations. I would have graduated in May 1998. What I thought was a temporary leave at the time turned much more serious, and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, and several other illnesses.

I continued to ride as much as possible. Sadly, Sam was kicked in the mandible during a freak feeding time accident in November of 1998 and he had to be euthanized. I was devastated, but I continued to ride until my condition worsened to the point that I was bedridden for several years.

After much searching, I finally found a team of doctors who could help me, and began to see some improvement in my health in 2005. By late 2005 I was fully feeling the need to return to riding.

In March 2006 I found a very green, just backed Paint gelding named Deuce, with the most docile and forgiving attitude and personality. I purchased him, and since that time I have been riding and enjoying him, and just seeing how far I could take him myself. I was the first person to canter him under saddle. We have done trail rides, hunter paces (placing second both times out in the slow division), and little fun shows (walk-trot), as well as just riding around the pasture and on the flat. I recently have begun trying to work more on his canter and picking up the correct leads in an arena, even though I am not a trainer!

I am ready to take the next step, including working to improve my own physical conditioning. I am out of shape and I am unhappy with the weight I gained during those years of being bedridden. I am currently looking for riding instructor(s)/trainers. The hot summer months are the hardest on me, though, so I need all the encouragement I can get! Also, I am reaching the point that I am realizing how much I miss being able to ride a made horse, so I am checking into possibly leasing a horse for a while. My ideal is to have fun and improve my riding and how that translates to and influences my horse’s performance, and ideally to also improve the horse!

I am planning to continue to ride and balance my life schedule. Currently I am not working, but I soon hope to start working for a vet and plan my future from there, possibly including returning to vet school. :)

Sunday was a milestone for Deuce and me! I took him on a trail ride, which was only his second solo trail ride, and it was his 100th time under saddle! He had been ridden walk, trot 12 "whole" times before I got him in March 2006, and the rest have been me. So, from March 25, 2006 to April 25, 2008 I have ridden him 88 times. That tells everyone how much encouragement I need to get things going and get out there on a regular basis, especially since hot weather is hard for me! Any and all encouragement, advice, etc. is appreciated!