ShowBiz Feature
sorry for myself or live like a man. I always enjoyed working and horses to jump by jumping anything
victim. We kind of lived in a time working hard, I was just one of those on the side of the highway anymore.”
when the extended family was kids, and no one had to motivate “It was the quality of the people that
extremely involved with each other, me. It has been a part of who I attracted me to the horse business
and that also helped me a lot.” am for as long as I can remember.” finally,” Charlie said. “There is
From the donkey, Sultan, came a “I started a new school when I tremendous character in this industry
long string of horse involvements, was in 10th grade and I saw Macella. and also a lot of characters!! In the
much to the chagrin of her parents. And that was IT, don’t know why, end we made the decision based on
They had no idea where the passion but it just was. I knew nothing the fact that these were the people we
came from, but they relinquished about her, all I knew from that first wanted to be bumping shoulders with
the vote and Macella went through minute was if I could be around on a daily basis. The people were a
Pony Club, a stint working at the Macella, work hard and do ‘business’, big factor, the horses are a given, you
race track, riding trails and just “all then my life would be OK.” better be able to love them and want
things horse.” Her first horse show Macella said, “Charlie was a new to be around them when you are bone
was Hayfork County Fair in Redding, kid at Calistoga when I was in 9th tired. In the end, it was the people and
California where she showed Trail on grade. I took one look at him and friends we had met along the way.”
a quarter horse named “Cricket”, a said ‘Wow, this is interesting.’ He
chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. became the football star and went to
“My first hunter-jumper show was Montana State on a full-ride football
when I was 8 years old on a white scholarship. He has a kindness in his
horse named ‘Dolly’, borrowed from person that is beyond comprehension,
Scott Sonders, a barn mate. I jumped and I have always thought that the way
is all I remember about it but I loved he has such a generosity of spirit is
the feeling. During high school I rare and unique. He always wanted to
rode at Golden Gate race track and be in some kind of business so I drug
worked the thoroughbred sales. My him into the horse business with me.”
parents were a bit more than alarmed “In typical Libra fashion, we are
by the horse bug at the time.”
Finishing high school and then Sitting across the table from Charlie,
on to college, Macella graduated he draws you into his philosophy on
from the University of San Diego life as his demeanor changes and he
with a double Major in History and talks about his beliefs and principles.
Biology. A decision was imminent “I have a rule that I live by: I cannot
and with her parents hesitant be nicer to ‘you’ (others) than I am
blessing she began a career in horses. to Macella. She is the person in my
“I promised my parents that I would life I get to be the kindest to. Sure
only do the horses for five years, and we disagree, we are both strong and
I am still here today. It’s a long five determined, but in the end she is far
both Libra’s, we put our noses down more important to me than fighting
and marched forward through thick to be ‘right’. If we can carry that out
and through thin and all that life into the world, our friendships and
presented,” said Charlie. “We started especially the time with the horses in
with a three year plan and said we the ring, we all win. Being ‘right’ is not
would then decide what next. At always the best way when it comes to
three years into it, we DID talk about the horses, they don’t understand that
it and by then I had a better ‘flavor’ approach and usually there is no ‘win’
of the industry. With Macella’s in to for either the rider or the horse.”
education and my driven passion for “What’s next for me?? That’s a tough
hard work, we had so many options, and interesting question,” Charlie
years!!!” she says with a laugh that but we chose to pick this one.” muses. “I hope to always be involved
makes everyone around laugh along. Macella interjects, “When we started with horses; Macella’s passion has
Now to the love of her life, in 1983, we were sooooooo poor! We gotten under my skin. I can also see
Charlie O’Neil, and definitely a love didn’t even have an arena. We rode up becoming involved in the governance
story that books are written about; and down Highway 29 in the middle of the sport, AND I would also love
one we can all go “AWE” about. of Napa Valley; that is where we did to have the time to invent stuff. I
“Destiny is how Macella and I our training and jumped whatever we see so many things that a simple
met,” says Charlie with a bit of a had set out there, or whatever was in invention would make so much
nostalgic tone. “Even as a kid I had the way. Eventually, we built a small simpler. I’m kind of all over the place;
a driving desire to be a business arena and didn’t have to teach the there is so much I would love to do.”
Previous Page : Peter Charles, Charlie, Macella - This Page Top to Bottom: Charlie, Angela, Mo, Dad and Mom; Macella showing support; Ken
Stevens, Charlie, Macella and Marianne Stevens - Opposite Page Top to Bottom: Peter Charles’ place in England; Nate Roach & Charlie; Polo
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