recounting how it took fifteen minutes for her just to get out of bed. Taking simple steps were torturous. She underwent an intense rehab for the next four to five months. “Doctors told me to never ride again, at least competitively in dressage.” In late April of 2011 Jamie moved to Salmon Arm,
British Columbia, a summer tourist area known for its lakes and mountain views. Jamie’s back had improved, and she started to think about riding again despite the doctors’ warnings. “People with way worse injuries than mine still ride. Look at all the different para-dressage riders,” she reasons.
Second Chances Before long Jamie decided to try to
find a horse somewhere in the area to ride. Given that Salmon Arm was not known for its dressage, she figured she probably wouldn’t find anything fancy, but she thought something with a little dressage talent would be nice. She began by contacting the big local show barn, Topline Stables. The farm’s owner and manager Sonya Campbell mentioned that she knew of a talented horse called Cello hanging out in a field and put her in touch with Rebecca. In the local horse community, rumors about Cello were flying around. Some told Jamie that he was ruined, and others, more worryingly, claimed that he was dangerous. Given her back injuries and surgeries, should she take the risk of sitting on a horse with a mixed reputation who has been out of work? Yet the more she heard about Cello, the more she had to see him for herself. Jamie called his owner Rebecca, who was honest about
his past, how little dressage training Cello had and how the last rider had problems working with him. “He’s been standing in a field for months,” she warned. Even though Cello was ten years old, he was technically a green horse with very little training. They trailered Cello to the indoor arena at Topline so
that Jamie could try the horse while surrounded by four walls. The experience was a little chaotic since outdoors a horse show was going on and, of course, he hadn’t been ridden in so long. “So naturally Cello was very tense and excited from all the commotion,” says Jamie. “But underneath it all, I thought I felt a nice horse that needed to be given a chance.” In June, Jamie began carefully working with Cello three to four times a week. Keeping him relaxed with lots
of stretching exercises was critical. Through the summer months, a bond between the two was developing and she liked what she was feeling in the saddle. Little by little, Cello was accepting the contact on his mouth. He started to carry himself in a nice dressage frame, and he could lengthen and shorten his stride. In a very short amount of time, Cello was demonstrating that he had talent for dressage and liked it. “This past summer has been amazing for both Cello
and me,” says Jamie with a calm enthusiasm. “I’m back in the saddle enjoying dressage riding again, and surprisingly, Cello is one of the nicest horses I’ve ever ridden! When he gets worried or tense, or when I feel a spook is coming, I lighten the contact and diffuse the tension by patting and talking to him. Trying to ‘work him through it’ only makes it worse. He needs his confidence restored with patience and calm tactics.” Cello had the winter off, but by the end of their first riding season last fall Jamie was amazed at his progress and hidden talent. “I found that the movements are not hard for him,” she happily reports. “We have schooled half passes and some half steps which indicate that he has talent for piaffe and passage. I am so excited that I have found this nice horse sitting in a field in what seems like the middle of
nowhere. What are the chances of that happening? How lucky am I!”
Future is Bright Physically, Jamie says she has good days and bad days. She
believes that her back is about 80% healed. Knowing that she’s riding dressage again is helping to lessen her pain. Fortunately Cello’s trot is fairly comfortable to sit. As a young 26-year-old, with three back surgeries behind her, Jamie’s life is just beginning. She plans to start nursing school in the fall of 2012, and of course, she will keep riding Cello to progress his dressage training. She looks forward to taking him to his first show in 2012 at Second Level. Perhaps Jamie and Cello have developed a special
bond since they have something in common. Each one suffered physical problems at a time when their careers were poised to begin. In 2011, both horse and rider has had a second chance to start again. It’s never too late to start making music, and for Cello, it’s finally his time.
ABOVE: Jamie (l), Cello and Rebecca (r). Photo courtesy Jamie Hoare Warmbloods Today 63
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