By Jeanette Sassoon
In 1996 Valiant was diagnosed with an extensive case of Uveitis and lost his sight in both eyes.
This was the beginning of an experience of under- standing horses in a whole different way for me. In order to communicate with Valiant, I had to under- stand him and all his natural tendencies including his fears, needs, comforts and idiosyncrasies. Becoming quiet within myself and watching his body language was the key.
Valiant and Jeanette vacationing in Wyoming
To me, love, kindness, loyalty, determination, courage, truth and patience collectively mean one word, TRUST. In my mind, Valiant is just another way the incredible universe works when you believe and have faith. The words of Napoleon Hill ring true, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
Valiant’s Beginnings
Valiant was sired by Valant, a stunning and gentlemanly black Dutch
Warmblood stallion with four white socks
and a blaze. His dam was an understated, elegant, black Westphalian/Trakehner mare named Caprice. I owned the pair and felt they would create a beautiful baby for the future.
The breeding was successful, and a colt, dark like his sire and dam and sporting a small star, arrived on schedule. The sweet, healthy, happy and energetic lit- tle guy I named Valiant was soon developing into a cocky, free-spirited youngster, way too smart for his age – and for his own good! As a novice rider, I wasn’t sure how I was going to tame this wild horse as he had his own agenda – I could only guess that my early imprinting didn’t work as well as I’d hoped! Clearly, my work cut out for me.
Valiant was one of seven horses I owned at the time. The other six were in various stages of training and so was I! In the
unevolved state of a beginning dressage rider, I was determined to learn the art of dressage as fast as
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