06/18/2026
In Memory of Cold Creek Cash CH (“Riley”)
How do you say goodbye to a horse who was never just a horse?
For 24 years, Riley was a constant in my life. He was there through my teenage years, through growing up, through dreams that seemed impossible, through heartbreaks, victories, and every chapter in between. He wasn’t simply my first Morgan horse—he was the reason Morgan horses became such a huge part of my life.
Everything I have today can be traced back to him.
Riley introduced me to the breed that would shape my future. He sparked a passion that eventually became Blitzen Morgans. He carried me into the dressage arena when I was just beginning to learn the sport and patiently taught me lessons no person ever could. Together we traveled thousands of miles, chasing dreams that often felt bigger than either of us.
Our greatest triumph came when we made it all the way to the World Championships in Oklahoma, where we earned two World Titles together. It was an accomplishment I once could only imagine. But the memories that mean the most aren’t the ribbons or the trophies.
They’re the moments when the odds were stacked against us and Riley refused to quit.
Before Oklahoma, Riley suffered a devastating right hind suspensory injury. There were many who doubted we’d ever make it back to the show ring, let alone compete on the world’s stage. The road was long, uncertain, and often heartbreaking. Yet somehow, Riley found a way. Through patience, determination, and a heart bigger than any challenge placed in front of him, he carried me all the way to Oklahoma and helped make a dream come true.
That was Riley.
He was never the flashiest horse in the barn. He wasn’t defined by his accomplishments. He was defined by his heart.
When I look back over my life, Riley is there for all of it. More than half of my lifetime was spent with him by my side. He traveled across the country with me when Blitzen Morgans was just a dream. He became the longest-standing resident of our farm. He welcomed new horses, watched generations come and go, and quietly became the foundation upon which so much of my life was built.
There are horses we ride.
There are horses we love.
And then there are the once-in-a-lifetime horses who change the entire direction of our lives.
Riley was that horse for me.
The truth is that I don’t know how to process losing him yet. The barn feels different. The farm feels different. Life feels different. Twenty-four years is a long time to have a best friend.
I owe him more than I could ever put into words.
Thank you for every mile, every lesson, every victory, every challenge, and every dream you helped make possible.
Thank you for introducing me to the Morgan breed that would become my life’s passion.
Thank you for making me the horsewoman I am today.
Most of all, thank you for being my best friend when no one else was there..
There would be no Blitzen Morgans without Riley. Every horse here, every student I’ve taught, every title I’ve won, and every dream I’ve chased can be traced back to one Morgan horse who changed my life.
Run free, Riley. ❤
