“We have trusted the adults who have made the Arabian horse experience a real-life fairytale for both Alicia and Alayna. We’re also not afraid to admit that at first we didn’t quite know what to make of the equine world. We underestimated how powerful an influence it continues to infuse into our girls’ lives. What they are gaining through their adventures will be life-long.”
“We have the most supportive parents ever!” says Alayna, smiling. “They will go to the ends of the earth for us. When i outgrew Ginger, mom and Dad leased an older purebred Arabian mare, santessaria (bH santana x TAJ egos Delight, by ego) from Holly Turner for me to show. i showed her at Arabian shows in new York, new Hampshire and Connecticut. We won all kinds of blue ribbons and championships in walk/trot pleasure 10 and under.” “We had moved on to Arabian breed shows,” her sister explains. “Alayna and santessaria won everything in walk/trot pleasure, and i showed misty in Half-Arabian country english pleasure 13 and under, and in national show Horse classes. Alayna was aging out of the walk/ trot division; so, mom and Dad bought her a HalfArabian mare of her own in August of 2004, Afire belle (Afire bey V x societys Child, by Traditio), and she became Alayna’s first walk, trot and canter horse.” “i was 10 years old when mom and Dad bought me my first horse,” says Alayna reflecting. “Dad then took another new job, and we moved back to Connecticut. At first, we kept Afire belle and misty at a local farm. We decided we were going to do everything ourselves and just go to shows when we wanted to. That didn’t last long. We then met Karen baldwin through the Arabian Horse Club of Connecticut. Karen invited us to bring misty and Afire belle to her farm, baldwin stables, in Deep river, Conn.”
Alayna Mala 200 | A r A bi A n Hor se T i mes
Alicia elaborates on that chapter of the tale. “i was in the eighth grade then, and when we weren’t in school, we were at the barn riding and working with