By BARBARA CARRAPA
I have always been in love with horses since a young age, but it was not until I was in my 40s that I started riding competitively and could afford a horse of my own.
It all started 9 years ago with my first horse Italo, an older horse with an unknown past but a been there, done that kind of guy. He was wonderful and would always get me to the other side, but he was old when I got him, and only a few years later, I had to make the heart-wrenching decision to let him go.
Fast forward 9 years, and now I have two wonderful horses: Alejandro (aka Alex) and Oscar.
A few days ago, I was reminded of how special my horses are to me and how all of them, past and present, are intimately connected.
My older soul and absolute heart horse, Alex, has been with me for the past 6 years. He taught me so much, got me through a lot of difficult times (including having to say goodbye to a very special horse – Da Vinci), never questioned his job, and kept me safe.
We started in the 2’6 Adult Hunters together and ended up with a lot of success, fun, and unforgettable memories, including the 3’0 Adult Hunters at Las Vegas National Horse Show in 2022, winning a 3’0 Adult Equitation Medal in 2024, and competing in several national derbies.
But Alex is getting older (18 this June) and so two summers ago, I decided to embark with my trainer and a good friend of mine, on a trip to Europe to look for a younger prospect to bring along while we transition Alex to an easier job.
Enter baby Oscar, a beautiful, black Dutch Warmblood with a funny and willing puppy dog personality. Needless to say, we all fell in love with this adorable and very talented young horse–at the time, he was just four years old–and in the summer of 2023, he arrived in Tucson, Arizona, where I live and ride, to start his new life as an amateur horse.
As I am sure everyone experienced with young horses understands, dealing with them is not an easy process. Soon, I realized that in many ways in the saddle, I didn’t know what I was doing and that my older soul, Alex, had willingly put up with all my mistakes and made it all look and feel ‘easy.’
In the last two years, we have come so far, and each of my horses has taught me how to ride the other better.
A few days ago, after Oscar got a quick lunge before my lesson, all of a sudden, he was lame on his right front. I immediately thought the worst (a fracture or soft tissue injury!). Waiting for the vet was like torture, and although I tried to stay positive, PTSD from a previous experience kicked in.
Mentioned above, Da Vinci was a horse I loved deeply. He had broken a leg in his stall, and after surgery and two years of rehab, he tragically broke another one in turnout. I will never forget how, even until the end, his nicker kept me smiling while breaking my heart. I never thought I would be able to pour so much love into another horse, but little did I know…
The x-ray for Oscar turned out to be clean, and the prognosis was that he was foot sore and would need special shoes. After new leather pads (Italian style), a few days of rest, and lots of love and cookies, Oscar is now well and sound. But the wait for the vet also provided me with the opportunity to think and appreciate even more what all my horses have given me.
My life with horses has come with some regrets and sadness, but mostly with happy memories and incredible appreciation. I realized how my goals and schedule mean nothing when faced with the well-being of my horse, and I just want my horses to be healthy and happy. Everything else is gravy.
I realized that what I have been able to accomplish with all of them is the result of a very delicate balance between the love and dedication I have invested in them and the love they have given back, hard work in and out of the saddle, and a lot of luck.
As I think more about all this, I come to understand how all my horses have made me the rider and person I am today, have given me amazing opportunities to grow as a person (sometime through loss), created unforgettable memories and experiences, brought incredible (barn) friends into my life, and carried me through life.
For all these reasons, I will always be grateful to all of them.
