Her picture caught my attention immediately. She was a lean, yet powerful, light bay with two hind socks, and a thick white stripe down her face. Her eye looked soft and kind. Her ears were alert and her expression was curious. The video of her being ridden at the trot was even more appealing to me. She had a long floaty stride and almost seemed to hover above the ground. She seemed forward, yet a little tense as she was chomping on the bit. The description in her adoption ad sounded like a perfect match for what I was looking for. She was a young 3-year-old off-the-track-thoroughbred. She retired from racing completely sound and was cleared to go into any other sport. The ad said she was athletic, sweet, and the sky was the limit. I set up a time to go meet her.

I had been casually looking for a new horse for the past year. I wasn’t in a rush to get another horse, and I had a specific list of criteria this horse would have to meet to come home with me. You see, I wasn’t looking for just any horse, I was looking for my next “super horse.” A “super horse” is a horse that is incredibly athletic, talented, captivating, spirited, smart, sensitive, quick to learn, and can do almost anything. I was looking for a horse that was young and untrained or had little training, but had the potential to jump the moon, do dressage, chase cows, run barrels, and trek through the mountains, and do all of those things well! You might think that’s impossible to find in one single horse, but I know it’s not. I know that because I already have a “super horse,” Boca. 

I’ve had Boca since she was 3. She’s 20 now. She’s a boss mare and the queen of the farm. She is high-spirited, sensitive, and quick to learn. She can do anything I’ve ever asked her to do: run barrels, jump high, do dressage, chase cows, and trek through the mountains. She’s been a wonderful partner for me and has been with me through so many stages of my life: high school, college, marriage, and children. She’s traveled halfway across the country and back, has gone camping for two weeks straight, has competed in various sports, helped me pass numerous horsemanship levels and tests, and continues to amaze me with her athleticism and beauty every time I play with or ride her.

I had been looking for Boca’s understudy. Not her replacement. I’d been searching for a horse that I could develop and train who would eventually fill in for Boca when Boca’s body can’t do what her mind wants to do anymore. I’ve been trying to find my next “super horse.” I knew I had to be picky. I don’t part with horses that come into my life very easily, and I can’t afford to have a multitude of horses. I needed my next horse to be “the one.”

When I met Paris, the young light bay thoroughbred off the track, I knew she was “the one.” She was gorgeous, athletic, and spirited. Check, check, and check. I signed the adoption contract and brought her home. I quickly realized that Paris was no Boca. Paris doesn’t run when she’s nervous, she bucks and flies through the air. Boca goes faster or runs anytime she’s on adrenaline, but rarely bucks. Paris is innately way more confident than Boca. The only things that initially would get her riled were other horses cantering by her (hello racehorse) or me telling her what to do. I’m happy to say that cantering horses no longer bother Paris (me telling her what to….that’s a different story). When I met Boca she was scared of everything, and still to this day there are a lot of things that I have to convince her are not going to kill her. Boca wants to do what I want her to do, but sometimes tension gets in the way. Paris usually wants to do the opposite of what I want to do and doesn’t have a tense muscle in her body. Paris is extremely friendly towards humans and a little bit pushy. She will happily meet anyone at the gate and follow them around the paddock nudging them with her nose. Boca is reserved towards humans and only has certain people she enjoys engaging with, and a few others she tolerates. It took years for her to meet me at the gate. What came easy with Boca, is coming harder with Paris. And what came harder with Boca is coming easily with Paris.

When I first started working with Paris I compared everything she did to Boca. I was nervous she wouldn’t have what it takes to be my next “super horse,” or Boca’s understudy. I wondered how many times she’d buck me off. I wished she was prone to speed instead of flying through the air. I wondered if I’d be able to bring her along at the same rate I did with Boca. After all, I’m not a teenager with endless hours after school to play with my horse. I have other responsibilities: a business, many students, a husband, and two children who all need my attention and time. Would I ever be able to give Paris the time and the experiences I gave to Boca which all contributed to the “super horse” I have today?

No. The answer is no. I’ll never be able to duplicate the journey I had with Boca. I realized I needed to stop trying to duplicate the journey. Paris is not the same horse as Boca. And I am not the same human as I was 17 years ago, and for the better. I may not have as much “free” time and no plans to take my horse camping for two weeks straight, but I am so much more skilled and knowledgeable now. I have a much clearer picture of the end result or goal. I know what I’m working towards and the exact ingredients and steps I need to get there. I am a better rider, teacher, trainer, and leader. I am a better horsewoman. So no, the journey is not going to be the same, and Paris will never be Boca, but she will be her version of a “super horse.” There will be things she’ll do easier or better than Boca, and there will be things that will be harder or not quite as good. The journey will be different, and that’s okay. I’m learning to embrace the differences and enjoy this new journey, and I know Paris has so much to teach me.