13/12/2025
My beautiful Fella. The horse my husband brought home to me — and the one who brought my little girl dream back: becoming a horsewoman. 💚
I was in my early 40s when Fella came into my life. He was 3. At the time, horses weren’t part of my world, until Dave and I bought a small property in Santa Rosa Valley. Something quietly woke up in me again.
Dave grew up around horses with Charles — like a stepdad to him — a DVM who showed on the AQHA Halter Circuit and practiced as a vet in Iowa. Horses were woven into his life too.
As a little girl, all I ever wanted was a horse. I drew them, loved them at the fair, and begged for lessons. Eventually, I got my first horse, Sundance — a petite, incredibly sweet mare.
Then came a freak accident. No one’s fault. While I was still in the hospital, my parents sold her. They weren’t horse people, and their little girl had been badly hurt. I understand it now — but at the time, I was devastated. So I buried that deep love for horses for decades.
The day Fella arrived, everything came rushing back. I still cry thinking about it. My whole being recognized this life — the one I was always meant to live. A life with these magical animals in it. Always. 💚
Fella was bred to be a show halter horse — his sire, Mr. Yella Fella, was a multiple AQHA & PHBA World Champion. But Fella had other plans. I wanted to try english riding, and so we did a little cross country riding. He loved the jumps! So there I was, with a Quarter Horse, riding in the Hunter/jumpers.
He wasn’t built for it, but he had so much heart and try — and we even earned a blue ribbon at LAEC (over small jumps) 🥹
Now he’s retired at my ranch in Oregon, and I’m endlessly grateful to care for him for the rest of his life. He means everything to me.
To the — whatever your journey, whatever horse (or dream) finds you… follow it. We only get one life. Make it the one your soul has always wanted. 💚🐎
Photos: Dave & Charles the day Fella arrived from Iowa; me and Fella jumping + at a horse show; a photoshoot to forever capture the two of us; what retirement looks like for him 😉
