Through the incredible generosity of annikak and my family, Taco is becoming mine! I would never have dreamed that I could compete such an amazingly athletic and kind horse, much less own one. After almost 25 years with horses, I am partnered with a dream come true. And now we have made our partnership permanent.
Over one year ago annikak saw the potential between Taco and me and very selflessly sent him to me as a lease. It's hard to put what has happened over the last year into words, but Taco was such a gentleman from the start and our relationship has developed into something wonderful. He is delightfully affectionate and fun in the barn and unbelievably fun to ride. We have had a fantastic season at Novice and are preparing to move up to Training at Jump Start this weekend, my first. This fall, annikak understood that we were becoming inseparable and we decided that I should buy him and make our situation permanent.
Taco has been very generous and trusting, and this quality took much time and work from annikak, who got him as a CANTER horse and patiently developed his confidence. She also sat through some fairly hair-raising dressage tests and warm-up rings, and never gave up on him. In fact, she did not give up on him through multiple injuries, the last of which many of you will remember as being truly terrifying and nearly the end of him. Her love and that of the support team that she and Taco attracted (including many COTHers) brought him back to full health.
While he was not hurt, however, he was a horse of a lifetime for her, and the two of them competed up to Preliminary, earning the Area 8 Prelim Horse of the Year title. He does not have a cross country jump penalty on his record, and both annikak and I know that all of his show jumping rails are ours alone.
All of this is why I am amazed that she has entrusted her darling Taco to me for him to be my horse of a lifetime. Life truly does smile on one sometimes. I keep pinching myself, but the dream is true.
Thank you Taco, and thank you annikak. Thank you to my OH and parents, who are helping make this possible, and my coach for helping Taco and me build this partnership. And thank you to our friends here and everywhere. It takes a village to create such happiness.
Over one year ago annikak saw the potential between Taco and me and very selflessly sent him to me as a lease. It's hard to put what has happened over the last year into words, but Taco was such a gentleman from the start and our relationship has developed into something wonderful. He is delightfully affectionate and fun in the barn and unbelievably fun to ride. We have had a fantastic season at Novice and are preparing to move up to Training at Jump Start this weekend, my first. This fall, annikak understood that we were becoming inseparable and we decided that I should buy him and make our situation permanent.
Taco has been very generous and trusting, and this quality took much time and work from annikak, who got him as a CANTER horse and patiently developed his confidence. She also sat through some fairly hair-raising dressage tests and warm-up rings, and never gave up on him. In fact, she did not give up on him through multiple injuries, the last of which many of you will remember as being truly terrifying and nearly the end of him. Her love and that of the support team that she and Taco attracted (including many COTHers) brought him back to full health.
While he was not hurt, however, he was a horse of a lifetime for her, and the two of them competed up to Preliminary, earning the Area 8 Prelim Horse of the Year title. He does not have a cross country jump penalty on his record, and both annikak and I know that all of his show jumping rails are ours alone.
All of this is why I am amazed that she has entrusted her darling Taco to me for him to be my horse of a lifetime. Life truly does smile on one sometimes. I keep pinching myself, but the dream is true.
Thank you Taco, and thank you annikak. Thank you to my OH and parents, who are helping make this possible, and my coach for helping Taco and me build this partnership. And thank you to our friends here and everywhere. It takes a village to create such happiness.
I, too, have had the pleasure of meeting Annika and Taco at the Ocala CCI*, and have been amazed at their story, and now am delighted that the fairy tale story continues with a new chapter. Good on ya, Stacey!!!
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