Horse Stories
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"Skeeter ended up being my red team horse. After Yukon got navicular, I had to ride grumpy old Cloudy, then something went wrong with him and I had to ride the beautiful buckskin Sammy then he had ringbone so it was only temporary. Skeeter was known to Mr. K as a slow horse (he had almost gotten kicked out of red team several times for being too slow) before I had him. When Myrna said one Saturday morning I was to now ride Skeeter (I was first four red team and also a leader in grand entry) I literally cried my eyes out and cursed her name thinking she had lost her mind! I couldn't believe I was going to have to take one of the slowest horses to red team. Well that ride was the funniest ride of my life and boy did I put my foot in my mouth! Myrna knew what she was doing! Skeeter was so damn excited to be in a better position in red team than he was prior apparently because he got so excited he was rearing before grand entry and I LOVED IT! He was so fast and good to ride that I kept getting off of him to check to make sure he had his star and that he was a boy horse because I thought I had to have grabbed the wrong horse but nope it was Skeeter.
I took him to stock show and he was such a gem! Fast and so sturdy! I finally felt so safe and such a sturdy mount as all my other horses before Skeet ended up having leg problems but Skeeter was so sturdy and never cranky with me like Cloudy was the stock show before. I absolutely love the little brown horse and the bond we created in a short time as it was my senior year of red team. This is why my 5 acres and 2 old sassy mares will ALWAYS have a home for him once he's ready to retire." - Bonnie Galley
"Skeeter was just a sweetie! He made the temporary transition to renter so easy for me. I have his name right next to JR on my sweater." - Jessica McCloskey
"Skeeter was my very first tenderfoot horse and then my first gymkana horse and then was my Night Horse horse until he got taken out of red division. Love that guy!!" - Nicole Luchetta
"Skeeter, was one of my favorite horses as a tenderfoot up till AA where I had to stop riding him. Again, one of my early loping horses. The first time I rode bareback was on him. We had loped and gone over some trot poles. I also used him for testing one time." - Audrey Lincoln
"Skeeter is the most well behaved horse I've ever known and even through major discomfort he still performed to the best of his ability. I was very disappointed when I had to leave after my ride with him. No one could ask for a better horse. He will always be my favorite." - Grace Hanley
"I was one of Cruiser's first riders when I was on Royal. He was one of the most stubborn horses and hated the start of drills. After a month or so, he warmed up to me and the idea of doing drills. I had him for the remainder of my time on Royal and he became one of my favorite horses." - Rayne Veazey
"Wildfire was such a sweet girl, and always took care of her rider no matter who it was. She was the first horse I ever rode bareback, and at first I was a little nervous but mostly excited. And I could sense there was that feeling of "its okay I got you", and I was totally comfortable. That trust in her, and how fun that ride was, is what made me want to join Liberty. That soon became my favorite team, and it felt like I was flying. I only was able to ride her about 5 times throughout my Westernaires career but she held a very special place in my heart, and still does. I know there are many more hearts she's touched along with mine, and I hope there are many green pastures for her wherever she's at." -Kenzie Miller
"Wildfire was aptly named! She was such a sweetheart for me, and boy could she move! I rode her for Liberty, and even though she was considerably shorter than JR, she kept up like it was nothing." - Jessica McCloskey
"I took Wildfire to her first show when I was in Crimson (it was the show that didn't have the arena). We were doing the double thread and I had to slow her down a bit because she had such a large stride. She pop-tarted me so bad that I was actually doing half stroud on her with the flag. God love her, we had done it enough (I was her person until I became an owner) that she finished that beautifully until we came to a stop and I could regain my seat. I know my spur was stuck very thoroughly in her side to keep me on and she never once flinched. I really have no idea how I stayed on but if it hadn't been for her keeping her cool and getting through the second half of that thread it might've ended much different. I miss that girl." - Nichole Skillman
"Rayo was my first ride with the Westernaires program. He was the sweetest thing in the world. Rayo helped me fall in love with the program. Photos of my first ride as a tenderfoot on Rayo." - Alia
"I was on Rayo getting ready to go into my first gymkhana when he decided he wanted nothing to do with that and bolted through a bunch of wranglers, including Leisha. I thought Leisha was going to kill me! Ended up having to switch to Trooper, but Rayo was always such a good boy during vaulting!" - Beth Castro
"When we first got Rayo, our horses were lame. A Red Team out-of-town show was coming up and they had too many riders who could not make it. They asked several of the Precisionette girls to go. They rode the van on the way and studied the Red Team drill since they hadn't been through training yet. Kyla took Rayo to his very first show and he did well for her. He holds a special place in our hearts." - Pat Bretz Fear
"Rayo was the first horse I ever loped on when I was a tenderfoot. He was amazing as per usual. I remember trotting by my mom that was in the stands and saying "This horse is amazing". I had been riding him for years, up until AAA. He's forever one of my favorites and has a special place." - Audrey Lincoln
"Flame is the daughter to the sweet girl, Wildfire, you can kind of see the resemblance through the long mane and long legs! I only got to ride her once, but she was amazing! I had her for a base team ride for either Blue Rangers or Shadow Riders back in 2013, I cant quite remember." - Kenzie Miller
"One time on Nighthorse, Flame would not go past my gram. 10 minutes later my gram took off her flannel jacket and she went past her no questions asked. Randomly, when we went to the other side of the arena, my gram put her jacket back on and she wouldn't go past her again. I wish I had another explanation especially since she was in the stands but apparently my grams jacket was not to be trusted." - Laura Carter
"My daughter, Molly is on Colorado Stampede. She remembers a time with Flame when she had just finished grooming her and gave her a little scratch on the neck and Flame turned and gave her a hug." - Becky Godden
"Flame was my very first ride out at Westernaires as a little tenderfoot. I remember I got on her backwards and she stayed perfectly still for me so that I could get turned around XD. She was so fun, and I felt so safe on her! I was on T2 in 2013 I think." - Amy Farler
"Wyoming was the very first mare I got to ride frequently. I went from the troublemakers on white division to this gentle, sweet, and absolutely perfect horse. She takes care of every rider without a second thought. This horse knew Royals drill so well she could do it without a bridle. Her calm demeanor and kind heart makes for such an amazing teammate and sharing a year with her on red division was the biggest honor for me. She's always been reliable, warm, and a safe space to come back to whenever anything went wrong. I could trust her with anything and everything and it proved to be some of my fondest memories on Nighthorse. Running with her felt free and magical. She's truly a special horse and I know she'll be remembered fondly. Photo credit on this to Kirsten Young-Bradshaw for its still the most special photo I have with her." - Tieryen LePlant
"I had Wyoming for a White Knights ride either in 2010 or 2011, and she was just a dream. One of the things I remember most about her is how much of a ham she is. She absolutely loves the camera, and it would always seem like she was posing. Wyoming definitely loves all the attention." - Kenzie Miller
"It was a really cool day and I was riding the horse named Wyoming during tenderfoot class. We had to do paperwork and so I got my partner, the rider and the horse named Doc. Doc and the other rider were not having a good day, Doc started kicking at Wyoming and it started to be a back-and-forth thing so I backed up a little bit and then once I felt comfortable and Wyoming stayed strong and help me get through my nerves." - Alia
"Wyoming was an amazing fill in on Precisionettes for my personal mustang during the equine anemia outbreak when they wouldn't allow owners on the fairgrounds." - Beth Castro
"Wyoming I also loved. She's such an amazing horse, and again I rode her throughout the beginning until AAA. She's such an amazing horse, and again one of my early year horses. I don't remember too much on her but I know that I love her and she and I have made some amazing memories." - Audrey Lincoln