Let's backtrack... Ok, so more about me. My name's Brooke and I am the barn manager at Lucky Clover Stables in Sanford, ME. My parents own the facility... It's a pretty cool gig, I wont lie. We're mainly a hunter/jumper farm, we compete locally and on the A circuit. I've had loads of experience in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. I did the Junior eqs on my Hanoverian gelding, Pal. The hunters on our welsh/arab mare Breezy and other horses at our farm. Lastly, I did the childrens jumpers on Belle, the inspiration for this blog. 

Well... My little sister took over Pal when I went to college, Breezy still competes on the circuit with her leaser, and Belle was retired four years ago... Until today, of course. 

I currently have a six year old ottb gelding by the name of Felix who is my next up and coming, and a crotch rocket of a arab that wants to do the jumpers... We'll just have to see where those two lead. 

So heres the scoop on Belle. I bought her as a jumper  prospect. She was hot, opinionated, hard mouthed and too smart for her own good. She had been pushed over fences too young, and bitted up too quickly. Despite her attitude and her shoddy training she was a trier, and while she was one of the toughest horse I'd ever sat on, I was quite taken by her.

Three years of blood, swat and tears later I had a kick ass jumper. Belle schooled in a snaffle and showed in a hackamore. She was point n' shoot to 4' fences and had an auto swap. Finally, I had the horse of my dreams underneath me. 

Two days before we planned to leave for Vermont Summer Festival, Belle came in hopping lame from her paddock. A thousand dollars worth of x-rays later, it had been revealed that my mare had fractured her coffin bone. She would never jump again.

A year of stall rest, corrective shoeing and various therapies later, Belle was deemed 'pasture sound.' A year after that and fresh x-rays Belle was considered sound for 'light riding.' Just last week Belle's evaluation showed no more degeneration of the coffin bone and we got the go ahead to do moderate flat work.

So guess what? Belle and I are learning dressage! A hunter/jumper kid by trade on a rehabbed ex-jumper? They say anyone can learn dressage, and it is the basis of all riding... All I can say is I'm ready for the adventure!