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THE BOND BETWEEN
Riders, a Trainer, and an Arabian Horse THE BOND BETWEEN A RIDER, her trainer and a patient, loving Arabian horse is something that cannot be broken. What makes this bond even more special is when one person is not only your teacher or trainer, but also someone who is a constant stream of positive energy and encouragement throughout your journey. Rebecca Richard grew up around Arabian horses because her mother bred and owned them for 40 years.
Her stepdaughter, Taylor, has been riding for six years and is currently 13-years-old. This is a family that is no stranger to the breed. Rebecca says her trainer is the crucial piece in helping her get her seat back, training her and her stepdaughter for shows, and working with her horse, Vasari AF, who was given to her after suffering from abuse by a local farm. “I was told when I got him, ‘You have to put a chain on his nose; he is hard to handle,’” Rebecca said. “What’s hard to handle with him is he gives kisses and hugs and will go anywhere you ask him to go. Not a crazy Arabian, but a loving, dedicated boy to Taylor and I.” Rebecca has post-traumatic stress disorder and lives with a traumatic brain injury since serving overseas. She now has no short term memory and uses a service dog to get through each day. After attending an Arabian horse show for a Leadline class with Taylor, she saw a woman riding a grey Arabian in Western Dressage. She spoke with Terry Grogan, a re12
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Issue 3. 2018
tired Army officer who understood Rebecca’s physical limitations. Terry encouraged her to speak with Kriss Phelps from Crescendo Training Center, LLC and soon after, that’s exactly what she did. “Kriss has this way of reading people, and on multiple occasions, while I was having one of my ‘events’ she spoke kindly and just seemed to understand the horrors I was remembering,” Rebecca said. When Rebecca began with Vasari AF (who was sent to the farm for training) she could only ride him for a few minutes at a time. She said she would at times start crying while on his back because of the flashbacks. She said Kriss never pushed her, but instead, encouraged her to stay positive. “She always adds at the end of a lesson, ‘Nice ride! You did great!’” “Within two lessons, Kriss had her [Taylor] cantering, and last month Taylor took sixth in Dressage. Kriss has always encouraged Taylor to be positive and to always move forward with her riding,” Rebecca said. Last year, Rebecca attended Sport Horse Nationals, which was something she had on her bucket list. Vasari and Rebecca went Top Ten for Level I Western Dressage. “Kriss and Terry kept it from me most of the afternoon. Then, once the final scores were in, they took me to see the results. When I saw Vasari’s name I broke down in tears while Kriss just hugged me and told me, ‘See? Good things do happen to good people,’” Rebecca said. “And I got to take my first victory lap at the awards’ ceremony. He placed because of her (Kriss); I now ride him by myself because of her; Taylor has confidence and more love for Arabians because of her.” Rebecca is looking forward to many more moments with Taylor and Vasari both showing and trail riding, all with Kriss by their sides. ~Alleynah Cofas
Athena+++// (4/26/97 - 2/11/18)
RITA MASON HAS LOST HER “ONCEin-a-lifetime” horse, the Anglo-Arabian mare Athena+++// (LS Zane Grey+// x Little Badger Baby) who crossed the rainbow bridge on February 11, 2018. This lovely gray mare touched many lives. According to Mason, she earned two United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze medals, two USDF silver medals, and one USDF gold medal for her riders as well as qualifying scores for the World Equestrian Games for a para-rider. She was also kind and gentle enough to take four different children in 10 and under Dressage tests safely and give some people their very first rides on a horse. Athena performed demonstration rides at the Western States Horse Expo several times, as well as at charitable events, and she received AHA’s Ambassador Award in 2009. Athena had one foal, the 2012 grey mare Khourajous Zoria+/ (by Legend Of Khouraj) also owned by Rita and also an accomplished dressage horse. We extend our sincere condolences to Rita and all who knew and loved this beautiful mare.