by Emily Cristofich, President of Heritage Oak Rescue & Rehabilitation
Panic buying became a thing during COVID times. While most people stocked up on toilet paper, I made the panic buy of a lifetime and bought my first horse, Sancho. The barn I was riding at had temporarily shut down and I desperately wanted to keep riding. At that point I had only been riding less than a year, taking lessons once a week at a hunter/jumper barn. I had no idea what I was doing buying a horse.
Sancho liked to hang out on my cool porch right outside my bedroom door in the summer. I soon found myself in a world of "experts", and me being a complete novice I relied on other people's advice and opinions to fulfil the commitment I made to this animal. I quickly learned that Sancho was too old and arthritic to be the athletic jumping horse I wanted. For not ditching me in the dirt when I unknowingly tried to push him past his abilities I will always be grateful.
Once the hunter/jumper barn opened back up I went all in and bought another horse. An off the track Thoroughbred named Whiskey. He was already going as a hunter/jumper and just at the top of my budget. My trainer helped me purchase Whiskey and I followed all her advice from feed to hoof care. We were jumping, going to schooling shows, and I was very happy when I was riding. Everything in your brain quiets when you are hurling through space on a thousand pound animal.
Whiskey at the hunter/jumper barn.
During this time my confidence grew. I was spending a lot of time at the barn and riding other horses for my trainer. I wanted to learn all I could. I felt behind since I had started out riding at the age of 29. I also rode other horses because sometimes Whiskey would be lame. Usually from a hoof abscess, which is an infection in the hoof that is very painful. Special shoes and injections were recommended, and I followed all the advice because I wanted what was best for my horse.. and to continue riding!
Whiskey's shoes with an old abscess. Getting injections. Our last show.
One day the farrier was trimming Sancho while I was helping clean stalls. I didn't hear any of it but I was told that Sancho had popped out of the cross ties and ran off, bad boy! The next day my trainer told me what actually happened, the farrier had hit Sancho with his rasp and that was why he ran off. I was upset but also the farrier was the one doing Whiskey's expensive special shoes that he needed. It was a dilemma, but I decided to hire someone else to trim Sancho and let it go. The woman I hired to trim Sancho also did bodywork and I figure why not get Whiskey a bodywork session, it would make it more worth her time to come out. I was not expecting what I heard when she saw Whiskey. Not over exaggerating, she told me I was doing everything wrong. Except that she could tell I cared about my horse. She invited me to observe at her training facility. I never went though. Someone had been listening and told my trainer what was said and she threw a fit that someone would challenge the way she does things. Afraid that I would lose my trainer (and friend) and partly not wanting to believe it was all true I mostly went on like it never happened and did not implement any of the advice the trimmer/bodyworker gave me.
I was starting to question things though. Getting into riding at a later age I didn't have the preconceived ideas about horses that people who grew up with them can sometimes have. I eventually decided to take Whiskey barefoot and learned how to trim. That was huge, when I started I could barely get a horse to pick up their feet for me. To make a long story short I broadened my knowledge by seeking out other professionals and not just taking my trainer's advice on everything. I'm still learning, and failing. I'm no expert, but I do think I have a good understanding of horses and I want to pass that information on to beginners so that they don't make the same mistakes I did.
I've been incredibly blessed beyond what I could have ever imagined by settling here in Bandera, TX. After my divorce, losing my property and having to pay board for two horses for years, my Dad purchased property so that I could keep my horses at home. But this property was not just big enough for two horses, it has 12 stalls, an arena, and lots of cross fencing. It is all set up as a horse facility! I know enough to know there is still much I have to learn before I can call myself a trainer. But I love working with horses and making them feel better. I love teaching people about horses and seeing that spark in them when they connect with a horse. I had many people along my journey selflessly take their time to teach me about horses and I want to pass that on.
Sancho, Maz & Whiskey in Bandera, TX.