Have your ever given or needed a second chance? My second chance -- When I was a baby, I got my hind legs terribly cut up in a barbed wire accident. In today's throw away world, I could easily have been destroyed. But those scars didn't matter to the lady that took me home with her. And in 2010/11, I've became the leading horse in Region 2 (TX, OK, and NM) of the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA)! I'm now in a competition that will air on HRTV in September 2011. If I'm fortunate enough to win, the money will go towards a horse program we just started for abused women. I'm looking forward to being a terrific therapy horse so women regain their self esteem and feel empowered. My owner, Betsi says, a woman who can stand up and show leadership to a 1200 pound horse can learn to transfer that to her life. She has wanted to start this "Second Chance" horse program for a long time. Eventually we would like to pair rescued horses with rescued women. Now about my owner's second chance -- Betsi dropped out of high school and beame a , age Mom at 16. Like me, she could have been a statistic too. But with God's grace, she defied the odds too. Accepted into college conditional on a GED, then later getting her BA and MBA, she started her own company which she has run for the last 20 years. My new Mom and I had a rocky start. I was two and she didn't know about young horses. The first time she took me to a clinic, I got scared when she was leading me and I knocked her flat on the ground! She knew I didn't mean to hurt her. I've always tried to be kind to her. When I turned three, she crazily thought it would be fun to do my first ride and train me herself even though she hadn't a clue what she was doing. What 45 year old, out of shape woman would think that? Thanks to my kind heart, and Ray Hunt patiently teaching her, I never bucked or anything, and we just sort of learned together. One thing she promised me early on was no matter what I did, there would be no yanking, jerking or spurring. That was a good deal for me. I've rewarded her with amacing lightness. I've been patient and kind and put up with a lot. Betsi does stuff wrong all the time, and she's gained a few pounds over our years together, but I forgive her. I always try hard to do what she wants if I can figure out what that is! Second chances are a good thing. When America's Favorite Trail Horse airs on TV, please vote for me!
